New Study Warns About the Threat of Day-Zero Droughts

It is one thing for a region to be undergoing a typical drought. It is another thing entirely to be dealing with a "day-zero drought." What is this weather event, and what are the potential impacts? A recent study is bringing the concern into the spotlight. Read on for all that you need to know about day-zero droughts.

Understanding the Concept of a Day-Zero Drought

Climatologists define day-zero droughts as periods of extreme and unprecedented water scarcity. This specific type of drought happens when a number of factors work together to create the perfect storm. Some of these factors include low water levels in rivers, shrunken reservoirs, a prolonged absence of rain, and increasing demands on water for people, industries, and agricultural interests.

Scientists are predicting that several areas around the world will be vulnerable to day-zero droughts in the coming decade. According to a new study published this week in Nature Communications, vulnerable areas include parts of North America, southern Africa, and the Mediterranean.

Climate change is largely to blame for the increased threat of day-zero drought conditions. The burning of fossil fuels at an alarming rate is disrupting the normal patterns of the global water cycle, triggering scarcity concerns. While scientists are generally aligned in their predictions that day-zero droughts are an escalating worry, what is less certain is exactly when and where these water shortages will happen.