Warning issued over ‘day zero drought’ in U.S.

Human-caused global warming is disrupting the global water cycle in ways that could bring severe water scarcity sooner than expected, according to a new study.

The research identifies the potential onset of extreme shortages, referred to as “Day Zero Droughts,” within the next decade in several parts of the world.

Using a large ensemble of climate simulations and a probabilistic framework, the study, published in Nature Communications, estimates the “Time of First Emergence” of Day Zero Drought (DZD) events—moments when compounded factors such as rainfall deficits, declining river flows, and rising water consumption collide to trigger crisis conditions.

Read more at Newsweek