Revisiting the Impact of Moisture Transport Deficit on Droughts: Prospective Climate Change Analysis and Emerging Hypotheses

ABSTRACT Droughts are among the most significant natural hazards on a global scale, exerting considerable influence on ecosystems, economies, and societies. This comprehensive review systematically examines the pivotal function of moisture transport deficits in the genesis and progression of droughts in the context of climate change. We synthesize current knowledge of mechanisms that govern the advection of moisture from oceanic and terrestrial sources, emphasizing their impact on the formation of precipitation deficits and the perpetuation of protracted drought events. Furthermore, climate projections and modeling methodologies are analyzed to identify regions at high risk of intensified drought due to alterations in moisture transport. A review of recent studies confirms that deficiencies in moisture transport can amplify the severity of droughts, either by reducing direct precipitation or intensifying atmospheric evaporative demand. This work also emphasizes the need to improve drought prediction capabilities through probabilistic models and moisture tracking techniques, in order to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies in the face of a changing climate. This article is categorized under: Climate, History, Society, Culture > Ideas and Knowledge Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Observed Impacts of Climate Change