evaporation

Thanks to analysis of the chlorine isotopes3 contained in salt extracted from the Mediterranean seabed, scientists have been able to identify the two phases of this extreme evaporation event.

"Warming temperatures increase both the evaporation of water from the surface to the atmosphere, and the water-holding capacity of the atmosphere, increasing the frequency and intensity of drought conditions," he noted.

While trees can reduce temperatures effectively, they simultaneously increase humidity due to evaporation.

Scientists have provided strong evidence that the dynamic behind this is an increase of greenhouse gasses from human industry that trap heat, cooking the oceans to extreme levels that cause greater evaporation.

The threshold for extreme drought is reached after six months of very low rainfall or very high levels of evaporation from plants and soil - or both.