A study published by the prestigious journal **Nature**, carried out by the **Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE)** of the **Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)**, has confirmed that [global warming](https://noticiasambientales.com/ciencia/una-grave-crisis-silenciosa-un-informe-revela-el-impacto-del-calentamiento-global-en-los-ninos/) intensifies the severity of **droughts worldwide**.
The research, which involved the collaboration of **57 scientific institutions**, confirms that although the total amount of precipitation in the Mediterranean region has remained stable over the past **150 years**, **global warming** has intensified the severity of droughts.
## The impact of atmospheric evaporation on worsening drought
The study reveals that the **demand for atmospheric evaporation** has become a **critical factor**, enhancing periods of [**water deficit**](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/crisis-hidrica-global-el-impacto-ambiental-en-la-agricultura-y-exportaciones-agravan-escasez-de-agua/).
This phenomenon occurs when **atmospheric temperature rises**, driven by the **emission of greenhouse gases**, which **increases water evaporation** and **exacerbates drought** in regions affected by lack of moisture.
From 1901 to 1981, drought trends remained **relatively stable**, but from 1981 onwards, the landscape changed dramatically.
– In the last 42 years, drought severity has increased by 40% worldwide, attributed to atmospheric evaporation.
– Between 2018 and 2022, areas affected by drought expanded by 74% compared to the period 1981-2017.
– The year 2022 set a record, with 30% of the land surface experiencing moderate to extreme droughts, with 42% of this impact being a consequence of increased evaporation.
## Increase in extreme weather events
Despite **no significant changes in precipitation** being detected, the study highlights that the **frequency and magnitude of torrential rains and floods have increased**.
Researcher **Sergio Vicente-Serrano**, a specialist in **droughts and climate change**, explained that although **a clear decrease in total rainfall** is not yet observed, climate models project that by the end of the 21st century, this reduction could materialize.
## An unprecedented environmental challenge
The analysis led by the [**CSIC**](http://www.csic.es/es) and published in **Nature**, highlights the **advancement of the climate crisis** and the need to adopt **urgent measures** to mitigate the effects of **global warming**.
The **intensification of drought**, driven by the **increase in atmospheric evaporation**, is a **key factor in the transformation of global climate**, and its impact will continue to worsen if **adaptation and emission reduction policies** are not implemented.
