Drought

Climate warming accelerates evaporation. This, in turn, promotes dry periods and droughts. back to Climate Change

Without precipitation, water levels in rivers and lakes fall – especially where little or no meltwater flows in. continue to Water Balance

Lack of precipitation contributes to heatwaves – partly because the sun shines more, but also because the cooling effect of evaporation is missing. continue to Heat

Winter snowfall allows glaciers to compensate for summer ice losses – but only if sufficient snow actually falls. continue to Glacier Retreat

For once, some good news: less snow means less risk of dry snow avalanches. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards

Without an insulating snow cover in winter, soils cool again – which helps preserve permafrost. But if snow is lacking in spring or melts early, soils warm and permafrost declines. continue to Permafrost

A warmer atmosphere influences the occurrence of prolonged drought. It rains less frequently, and when rain does fall it is often heavier and less reliable. back to Climate Change

As drought intensifies, water levels drop further and this can become problematic for wildlife and vegetation, as well as river transport. Heavy rainfall after drought can cause flooding because the soil can no longer absorb water. continue to Water Balance

Without sufficient precipitation, soils and plants cannot store moisture – and therefore cannot cool the air through evaporation. Temperatures rise further as a result. continue to Heat

Glaciers are losing massive volumes because sufficient winter snowfall is becoming increasingly rare, while glacier melt in summer accelerates. continue to Glacier Retreat

Less snow also means fewer dry snow avalanches – particularly at lower elevations. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards

If insulating snow is absent high in the mountains during summer, permafrost warms at depth – albeit with some delay. continue to Permafrost

Rising temperatures cause extreme drought in some regions, while others face flooding. back to Climate Change

As a result of extreme drought, streams and rivers run dry. Soils also become severely parched. Because they can absorb almost no water in this state, a single heavy rainfall event is enough to cause rivers to burst their banks. continue to Water Balance

Drought fuels extreme, long-lasting heatwaves. Temperatures remain unbearably high for extended periods. continue to Heat

Glaciers melt rapidly and no longer recover at all in winter. Smaller and medium-sized glaciers disappear completely; large glaciers lose massive volume. continue to Glacier Retreat

Warmer winters mean no lasting snow cover below 1900 metres above sea level. Avalanche releases below 2200 metres above sea level become rare. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards

Snow scarcity combined with spring and summer heat leads to massive permafrost warming. In some locations, it disappears entirely. continue to Permafrost