Australian flash drought research: Recent activities and ways forward
9 affiliations
- 1Climate Change Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 2ARC Centre of Excellence for Weather of the 21st Century, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 3School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- 4National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- 5CSIRO Environment, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- 6Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geospatial Information Systems (CAMGIS), School of Civil, Environmental and Sociotechnical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 7School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 8Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 9Climate Variability and Hazards, CSIRO Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Abstract
The study of droughts is undergoing a substantial shift, with increasing interest in understanding flash droughts, droughts characterized by their rapid (i.e., typically < 3–4 weeks) onset. This growing interest is largely driven by the negative impacts of such droughts on agriculture, ecosystems, and the new ecohydrological insights that can be gained. Global studies consistently highlight Australia as one of the continents most affected by flash droughts. Australia is unique in its highly diverse vegetation and the notable resilience of many ecosystems to extreme events. However, much less is known about flash drought patterns and impacts in the Southern Hemisphere, where climate drivers differ, seasonal temperature contrasts are weaker, and vegetation systems are often more strongly influenced by water availability and other biotic and abiotic factors. Australia’s climate is highly variable, and its history of frequent drought events makes it a key region for flash drought research. This article: (i) provides an overview of current knowledge on flash droughts in Australia; (ii) explores key lessons learned from past events; and (iii) identifies critical gaps in understanding. Additionally, we discuss the (iv) future trajectory of flash drought research, focusing on the potential role of climate change and emerging technologies in improving prediction, monitoring and management. By understanding flash droughts more comprehensively, we aim to better inform adaptive strategies for agriculture and ecosystem management in Australia.
Related
- Presynaptic mechanism of epileptiform activities in forward-programmed human excitatory neuronal networks
- Carbon nanoparticles synergistically improve drought tolerance and nutraceutical innovation in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.): Antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-fibrotic activities enhanced via flavonoid accumulation.
- World Wide Eyes: Social Media-Assisted Wildlife Research. Assessing Supplementary Feeding Areas for Eastern Australian Humpback Whales as a Case Study.
- How Many Factors Underlie the WAIS-5? Evidence From the Australian and New Zealand Standardization Sample.
- Fall of amalgam restoration: a 10-year analysis of an Australian university dental clinic
BibTeX
@article{dikshit2026australian,
title = {{Australian flash drought research: Recent activities and ways forward}},
author = {Abhirup Dikshit and Jason P. Evans and Pallavi Goswami and Dejun Cai and Tim R. McVicar and Alfredo R. Huete and Biswajeet Pradhan and Ailie Gallant and Hanh Nguyen and David Hoffmann and Teresa J. Parker},
journal = {PLOS Water},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pwat.0000628},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/water/article?id=10.1371/journal.pwat.0000628},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Australian flash drought research: Recent activities and ways forward
AU - Abhirup Dikshit
AU - Jason P. Evans
AU - Pallavi Goswami
AU - Dejun Cai
AU - Tim R. McVicar
AU - Alfredo R. Huete
AU - Biswajeet Pradhan
AU - Ailie Gallant
AU - Hanh Nguyen
AU - David Hoffmann
AU - Teresa J. Parker
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
JO - PLOS Water
DO - 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000628
UR - https://journals.plos.org/water/article?id=10.1371/journal.pwat.0000628
AB - The study of droughts is undergoing a substantial shift, with increasing interest in understanding flash droughts, droughts characterized by their rapid (i.e., typically < 3–4 weeks) onset. This growing interest is largely driven by the negative impacts of such droughts on agriculture, ecosystems, and the new ecohydrological insights that can be gained. Global studies consistently highlight Australia as one of the continents most affected by flash droughts. Australia is unique in its highly diverse vegetation and the notable resilience of many ecosystems to extreme events. However, much less is known about flash drought patterns and impacts in the Southern Hemisphere, where climate drivers differ, seasonal temperature contrasts are weaker, and vegetation systems are often more strongly influenced by water availability and other biotic and abiotic factors. Australia’s climate is highly variable, and its history of frequent drought events makes it a key region for flash drought research. This article: (i) provides an overview of current knowledge on flash droughts in Australia; (ii) explores key lessons learned from past events; and (iii) identifies critical gaps in understanding. Additionally, we discuss the (iv) future trajectory of flash drought research, focusing on the potential role of climate change and emerging technologies in improving prediction, monitoring and management. By understanding flash droughts more comprehensively, we aim to better inform adaptive strategies for agriculture and ecosystem management in Australia.
SN - 2767-3219
ER -