Air's Growing Thirst Makes Droughts 40% Worse Despite Rain

[{"selector":"#anim-2748a95c-d2c4-489e-a851-08da5ff7b773","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-008314de-6b73-4528-81ea-3034be779ade","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2cf34dc-5d29-4bde-b275-ed608dcbb226","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18626e3c-a8af-4886-8b4c-5073eaff1897","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Hidden Drought Crisis: Even when it rains, our planet is getting drier. Scientists discovered why - and it's worse than we thought. Govind Tekale

Red wood ants produce formic acid from their venom gland at the rear of their abdomen, creating defense systems that shield forest ecosystems.

[{"selector":"#anim-c7bdb87b-559b-4fff-9bf5-d8448bc913fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f0b4c02-3d5e-48b7-b90f-31907de999d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c929ec7e-1102-437d-beb7-d8731fde16cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8459977c-711c-49db-997a-fe1242cd3706","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88850239-4f18-4fea-8191-167dd0ba9bb7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: FOX (Pexels)

Think of it like a giant, invisible sponge hovering over Earth, sucking moisture from soil, rivers, and plants faster than they can recover.

[{"selector":"#anim-7bf674a6-dd1f-416d-bba0-920bd70af50d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22ce75fa-7cb4-445c-87f6-d1a0fd5ab2f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9ee6145-b413-4fbe-8b77-def6726679aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7a70700-a518-4ab0-b3aa-d6e2d37253be","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a70325c7-1424-44b8-a2ce-36c8717d5bdd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Kiptoo Addi (Pexels)

The numbers are alarming: From 2018-2022, drought-affected land expanded by 74%, with most of this growth linked to the atmosphere's increasing thirst, not less rain.

[{"selector":"#anim-a150c7cf-0b63-495f-9c95-250757bfa85b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f761283-5b3c-4e85-8063-b04ec77f5003","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4e80cf1-181b-4e38-a160-97e690d60d97","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9571747f-2254-4d86-bf31-6eee6e662281","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe82a940-93c6-44a2-bdec-b948d670f7cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Hydrosami (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Why is this happening? For every 1°C rise in temperature, the air's capacity to hold water vapor jumps by 7% - creating a moisture-hungry atmosphere.

[{"selector":"#anim-24f7412b-5949-4206-b808-491d38076baf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c332dd0-334c-496c-9db0-aff80f7bed23","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.724%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e91b58d8-0e48-475a-bc9e-f303ad00a31c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c86ca4e-25c1-4198-966f-3e3517ad24cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-232d4f9b-35b4-44ac-82ed-9fb1de90fde1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Ana Morais (Pexels)

2022 broke records as the most drought-stricken year in four decades, with over 30% of global land experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions.

[{"selector":"#anim-e6f8b135-886d-40de-bce1-cd13f25f5d09","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6cb7a39-ab55-410e-bae3-64c0ef97b56b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd6e53c3-c303-40b6-9e4e-875a2900886f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bd368b6-f4e0-4197-a89c-5cd0cd37f717","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6e58b67-f17b-491e-b585-e1d74a8321f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Joetography (Pexels)

The Western US was hit particularly hard - atmospheric thirst caused 61% of the 2020-2022 drought severity, while reduced rainfall only contributed 31%.

[{"selector":"#anim-7c7891b3-2f2c-4b46-a2da-60715b59365c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56fef2bb-9f6f-4307-8ad5-780875320338","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.724%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cc0861b-62f8-4155-8b4d-21399a6b6861","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31bdf928-c055-4310-b223-a3a67eea9fb1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55c79375-e08a-4dbe-8137-7a79c374a9ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Sreyasvalsan (CC BY-SA 4.0)

"Most people don't realize the connections between warming and the desiccating influence of the atmosphere," warns climate scientist Chris Funk.

[{"selector":"#anim-de19c1ac-84c3-4c80-b5e4-ea51fdf5ab1c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9646b95-c3b5-4c3c-a023-2b5169a48b38","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49441a6f-c87e-487c-a66f-e2dab5a31ee3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b7a2a84-256f-4181-b491-cbfd096e20de","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08007c78-97bc-4b6c-b9d2-3e31a36f6e5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Rosser1954 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The impacts reach beyond water shortages - drier vegetation fuels wildfires, crops need more irrigation, and rivers evaporate faster, threatening city water supplies.

[{"selector":"#anim-d6d93a8d-4e79-4566-88b0-987bf3fe3983","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20d4e573-715f-4d95-994e-3f9144e1dfea","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.67903%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65ca06c8-53d1-46de-9e5b-c9d4dd39e062","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49796021-3213-41e4-84e3-0c7e062cf6bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d948ac41-4ba6-4e48-9b04-bf9f38bfee24","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Engin Akyurt (Pexels)

Scientists are urging communities to prepare by adopting micro-irrigation, water-retentive soil treatments, and drought monitoring systems that track atmospheric thirst.

[{"selector":"#anim-b6fab39b-b0f4-493b-a314-098c226b2607","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e7a3030-cb60-4467-b387-951da308e7f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e35e0c96-05c7-42e5-b384-785debd65836","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-387c95bd-b74a-45ed-8e7e-7510755f6be0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-368ef57d-8e9c-44e2-9b70-adedab145214","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Feyza Daştan (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-f19a3641-7d0f-4d86-9e1a-a49fa31b0314","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed6c567c-47df-4e95-8c54-7b839055df05","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5122ab77-d39c-431d-9be5-da66a5cc5e0a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9439268b-ffb4-4602-b7a7-6722dc6ce0f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-101be160-d3cc-4c3b-9626-9bb2a094ece0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Manitoba Wildfires Kill 2, Force Over 1,000 to Flee as 124,000 Hectares Burn Near Lac du Bonnet and Bird River Learn more