Droughts sparked by heat waves rising, study findsAP, WASHINGTONHeat waves that lead to sudden and damaging drought are spreading across the globe at an accelerating rate, highlighting how climate change-fueled extremes could build dangerously off each other, a new study found. However, what is rising especially fast is the more damaging type where the heat comes first and then triggers the drought. That is because when heat strikes first, the droughts are stronger than when the droughts come first or do not come with high heat, coauthor and Hanyang University climate scientist Yeh Sang-wook said. “The study illustrates a key point about climate change: The most damaging impacts often come from compound extremes. Others include the 2022 heat and drought around China’s Yangtze River, and the record heat and drought in the Amazon from 2023 to 2024, Kim said.

Source: Taipei Times March 07, 2026 17:26 UTC