Even when it rains, the world is getting drier. This isn’t a paradox – it’s the alarming reality revealed by groundbreaking research published in Nature. Scientists have discovered that the atmosphere’s increasing “thirst” for water is making droughts 40% more severe globally over the past four decades, even in regions where rainfall hasn’t significantly declined. “Drought is based on the difference between water supply from precipitation and atmospheric water demand,” explains Chris Funk, director of the Climate Hazards Center at UC Santa Barbara and co-author of the study. “Including the latter reveals substantial increases in drought as the atmosphere warms.” … Continue reading Atmospheric Thirst Worsens Droughts 40% Globally: Air Demands More Water as Planet Warms