It’s hard to say that droughts are directly caused by any one factor, but we know that climate change is increasing the drying trend across Australia. There is no denying that climate change is making the frequency and severity of droughts worse. We’re living out the reality of this right now.
The average temperature has risen by about 1 degree celsius across Australia, contributing to an increase in the frequency and intensity of hot days and heatwaves. Increased temperature increases the process of evaporation, in turn increasing the severity of droughts.
We’re also expecting to see an increase in the severity of other extreme weather events, including flooding and heat waves.