Get used to the heat: Scientific study says heatwaves and droughts will hit many parts of the world simultaneously

In a new study published in the journal Earth's Future, researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden, together with Belgian, French and German universities have shown that in the near future several regions of the world will no longer just be affected by isolated climate-related events.

It warns that heat waves, droughts, and forest fires will not only become more frequent but will increasingly strike simultaneously in many regions worldwide. Researchers analyzed climate models and found that multiple extreme events will become the new normal, particularly in areas with dense vegetation.

The study, published in Earth’s Future, highlights that regions such as the Mediterranean, Latin America, and the Nordic countries will experience more frequent combinations of heat waves and wildfires. The findings suggest a paradigm shift, where isolated climate disasters will be replaced by back-to-back or concurrent events, amplifying their impact on ecosystems and human societies.

Lead researcher Professor Gabriele Messori emphasized the urgency of adapting to this reality: “We have long known that there will be more heatwaves, forest fires, and severe droughts in many regions. What surprised us is that the increase is so large that we see a clear paradigm shift with multiple coinciding extreme events becoming the new normal.”

For more details, read the full study on Uppsala University’s website.