Drought

Buried beneath Jerusalem: a massive First Temple dam and the ancient climate crisis that sparked it

A mystery of ancient engineering revealed - was this the answer to Judah’s worst drought?

The huge uncovered dam.
Researcher Daniel H. James installs a drip rate monitor upon a flowstone in Grutas Tzabnah (Yucatán, Mexico) as part of the wider cave monitoring campaign.

13 years without rain: The catastrophic drought that crippled the Maya

A TAXI driver splashes water on himself to cool down during a heat wave in Tehran last summer. A 40% drop in rainfall over recent months, coupled with excessive water use, has fueled the crisis, says the writer.

Israel's water tech is the key to peace in the Middle East - opinion

 A Palestinian carries water amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip February 4, 2025

Gaza faces a man-made drought as water systems collapse, UNICEF says


2,800-year-old fortress surfaces for the second time in 51 years due to drought

Severe drought in Turkey's Keban Dam in Tunceli revealed the military barracks of the ancient Pertek Castle, which emerged for only the second time since the dam started operating 51 years ago.

 Pertek castle (Pertek kalesi) located in Pertek district of Tunceli province, Turkey.

Rains bring relief to drought-stricken Iraq, experts urge action to prevent more desertification

Although the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have swelled in recent heavy rains, a dry climate is the norm in Iraq, and with Turkish and Iranian dams cutting off water flow.

Iraqi rescuers search for survivors over the site where an overloaded ferry sank in the Tigris river

Saving the Panama Canal will take years and cost billions, if it’s even possible

The channel is Panama’s biggest source of revenue, bringing in $4.3 billion in 2022. 

 DOCK WORKERS on a small rowing boat pull a rope between the dock and vehicle carrier ‘Sirius Leader’ as it prepares to enter the Miraflores locks while transiting the Panama Canal last September.

Horn of Africa drought not possible without climate change - study

In addition to less rain falling on the Horn, a warming climate means more water is evaporating from soil and transpiring from plants into the atmosphere.

 People affected by the worsening drought due to failed rain seasons, gather at the Alla Futo camp for internally displaced people, in the outskirts of Mogadishu

Did climate change destroy the Hittite civilization? - study

A three-year drought likely resulted in catastrophic harvest reduction or even complete failure, which spelled doom for the Hittites. 

 Midas Mound Gordion and landscape and cereal crop.

Attila the Hun may have raided the Roman Empire because of drought - study

The researchers examined a reconstruction of tree rings and used historical and archaeological evidence in order to reach their findings.

The Hunnic raids on the Roman Empire are part of what led to its downfall.

Hunger levels in West and Central Africa set to hit all-time high - UN

Food insecurity is at an all-time high, especially in West and Central Africa - which have historically fallen victim to the issue of world hunger.

 WFP warns millions facing hunger as driest weather in decades ravages Horn of Africa

Climate disasters put plight of displaced in COP27 focus

As climate change fuels the movement of migrants throughout the world, the subject becomes a center point at the COP27 conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

 ATTENDEES STAND during the COP27 climate summit in Sharm e-Sheikh.

Ancient dinosaur tracks exposed along riverbed after drought in Texas

The tracks most likely belonged to an acrocanthosaurus, who roamed North America around 113 million years ago.

 (illustration) One of the more than 250 ancient trackways is visible at the Cal Orcko dinosaur track site, inside the FANCESA cement quarry in Sucre, Bolivia, August 7, 2006

Nazi warship, sunken during WWII, exposed amid drought on Danube

The vessels were among hundreds scuttled along the Danube by Nazi Germany's Black Sea fleet in 1944 as they retreated from advancing Soviet forces.

 Wreckage of a World War Two Nazi German warship is seen in the Danube in Prahovo, Serbia August 18, 2022.

Yangtze tributary runs dry as China faces another month of drought

China warned on Wednesday that the severe dry spell along the Yangtze could last well into September as local governments race to maintain power.

Rescue workers search on a sunken ship in the Jianli section of Yangtze River, Hubei province, China, June 2