Australia is at risk of facing a decades-long super drought

Research by Australian scientists shows that the Land of Kangaroos could face the risk of a drought lasting 20 years or longer, much longer than any recent drought.

Australia may face mega-droughts lasting decades. This is a warning recently issued by researchers from the Australian National University (ANU).

According to ANU research, a megadrought is a particularly severe, long-lasting and widespread drought.

 Climate change can cause decades-long megadroughts in Australia. (Photo: Getty)

In the study, scientists used multiple climate models to simulate droughts that occurred in Australia between the years 850 and 2000 to predict how these patterns might change in the future. future.

They found that the average duration of drought in the southwest and eastern regions of Australia was longer in the 20th century than in the pre-industrial era.

Scientists warn that Australia may soon face megadroughts lasting up to 20 years, with the effects becoming increasingly severe due to climate change.

Study co-author, expert Georgy Falster of ANU's Research School of Earth Sciences, emphasized that one of the team's notable findings is that drought in Australia can last much longer than any other drought. any recently.

Droughts can last 20 years or longer. She confirmed that megadroughts are part of natural variations in Australia's climate. However, what is worrying is that human-caused climate change will increase the likelihood of mega-droughts in Australia.

The researchers focused on assessing the situation in the Murray-Darling basin - Australia's largest agricultural region including areas in South Australia (SA), New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Capital Territory ( ACT).

They found that human-caused climate change has contributed to longer-lasting droughts in the basin , as well as Southwestern Australia. These areas will likely record reduced rainfall in the future due to climate change, increasing the risk of drought.

To reduce the impact of future droughts, the researchers recommend that Australians prepare water management and storage plans, as well as establish community support networks.