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A global study reveals that droughts are longer, hotter and more frequent around the world; Brazil appears twice among the ten most severe cases, with devastating impacts in the Amazon and Southeast, according to a WMO report and unpublished data from the journal Science.
Extreme droughts are putting a real “get out of here” on global weather patterns. And it’s not just an illusion: the world is becoming increasingly dry, hot and unpredictable. A massive study has revealed that mega droughts increase in frequency and intensity, and Brazil, unfortunately, entered the top 10 worst on the planet twice.
The warning doesn’t just come from hard science — it’s knocking on our door. In 2024, the country experienced the worst drought in its recent history, affecting almost 60% of the country’s territory. Rivers dried up, communities were isolated, and fires raged relentlessly. The climate is crying out for help, and we need to listen.
What are these extreme droughts that scare the world?
The difference between a drought and a mega drought is the weather. While common droughts last for weeks or a few months, these new giant droughts last for at least two years — and are much more severe. The study published in the prestigious journal Science analyzed more than 13 thousand events between 1980 and 2018. Researchers have identified that these droughts do not appear suddenly: they set in slowly, spread and, when we notice, the damage is already too great.
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According to researcher Simone Fatichi of the National University of Singapore, these prolonged droughts are not mere “meteorological events.” They are persistent anomalies, where the rain disappears, the demand for water increases, and the land simply cannot keep up. In some cases, evaporation and plant transpiration (the so-called evapotranspiration) only make the situation worse. In other words, the problem is more serious than it seems.
Brazil tops world ranking of most severe droughts
Yes, Brazil appears twice on the list of the 10 most severe droughts on the planet. The survey found that South-Western Amazon, between 2010 and 2018, experienced one of the worst water crises in history. Rivers such as the Madeira, Negro and Solimões reached ridiculously low levels. The result? Isolated communities, compromised navigation and stressed vegetation.
Between 2014 and 2017, the Southeast region was the scene of a brutal drought, which hit states such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. That was when we first heard about “dead volume”. The Cantareira System, responsible for supplying millions of people, fell below 5% of its capacity. In Minas, the situation of the reservoirs was close to chaos — and the hydroelectric plants almost stopped working.
Amazon and Southeast: the extremes of the Brazilian water crisis
The prolonged drought in the Southwestern Amazon was so severe that even the trees, known for their resilience, showed signs of collapse. The number of fires between 2015 and 2016 jumped 30% above the historical average. The hot, dry soil became fuel for uncontrollable fires. By 2024, the Rio Negro reached its lowest level since 1902, and the region faced a logistical blackout, with river transport cut off in several areas.
In the Southeast, in addition to drinking water, there was a lack of electricity. Furnas almost dried up. The Paraíba do Sul River, which is essential for Rio de Janeiro, saw its flow plummet. And in Espírito Santo, rivers that supply Greater Vitória almost disappeared. The water crisis has become a national problem — and has raised the alarm about what may yet come.
How is the world being affected by extreme droughts?
The global study showed a worrying pattern: in hot regions, the lack of rain is the biggest culprit. In colder regions, the problem is the water that is lost to the atmosphere. mega droughts increase because of three main factors: global warming, decrease in rainfall e more intense evapotranspiration.
An interactive map (see below) shows that some regions have lost up to 60% of their normal rainfall. Others have seen an increase of up to 18% in water loss. In Africa, the Congo Basin has experienced the longest drought of all: almost ten years of drought. In Mongolia, vegetation has shrunk by 30%. In Brazil, the Cerrado and Pampas have lost vegetation cover, and even the resilient Amazon has begun to give way.
What do the experts say and what is the way forward now?
Fábio Luengo, from Climatempo, explains that the Amazon is only the way it is because of the Andes Mountains and the ITCZ, a humidity band that feeds the forest. Without them, it could be a desert. Alexandre Prado, from WWF-Brazil, is blunt: “What we projected would happen 20 years from now is already happening now.”
The WMO, a UN agency, released a report stating that 2023 and 2024 were critical years for Brazil. The fires were the worst since 2010, and more than 1.200 municipalities were hit by severe or extreme droughts. In October 2024, more than 500 cities reported agricultural losses above 80%.
The impact affects everything: biodiversity, agriculture, energy, transportation and even public health. The water shortage in rivers compromises hydroelectric plants and threatens the supply in cities. And worse still: the semi-arid and central regions of Brazil are expected to suffer even more by 2060, according to Cemaden projections.
Science has already sent a message: the weather is changing — and we need to take action. The challenge is huge, but we have the knowledge and tools to face this new era of droughts. The problem is that time is running out. The future, as experts say, has already begun.
To face the mega droughts that increase In Brazil and around the world, we will need serious public policies, investment in environmental preservation and, above all, unity between society, science and government.
Because if the planet is screaming, we can no longer pretend we aren't hearing it.
Source: G1
