Articles | Volume 30, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-2473-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-2473-2026
Research article
 | 
29 Apr 2026
Research article |  | 29 Apr 2026

The dynamics of spatio-temporal droughts in Northeast Brazil

Joao Dehon Pontes Filho, Francisco Assis de Souza Filho, Ályson Brayner Sousa Estácio, Ticiana Marinho de Carvalho Studart, and Eduardo Sávio Passos Rodrigues Martins

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Cited articles

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Andreoli, R. V. and Kayano, M. T.: ENSO-related rainfall anomalies in South America and associated circulation features during warm and cold Pacific decadal oscillation regimes, Int. J. Climatol., 25, 2017–2030, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1222, 2005. 
Banfi, F., Cammalleri, C., and De Michele, C.: A joint spatio-temporal characterization of the major meteorological droughts in Europe, Environ. Res. Lett., 19, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad6ba9, 2024. 
Cammalleri, C. and Toreti, A.: A Generalized Density-Based Algorithm for the Spatiotemporal Tracking of Drought Events, J. Hydrometeorol., 24, 537–548, https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-22-0115.1, 2023. 
Cancelliere, A., Di Mauro, G., Bonaccorso, B., and Rossi, G.: Drought forecasting using the standardized precipitation index, Water Resour. Manage., 21, 801–819, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-006-9062-y, 2007. 
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We developed a new way to understand how droughts grow, persist, and decline over time and space.  Applied to Northeast Brazil, a region frequently hit by severe droughts, the approach identified four recurring patterns of drought behavior. Most droughts there expand quickly, last for a long time, and end suddenly. Our method can help decision-makers better understand and manage droughts, supporting stronger preparedness and resilience in regions at risk.
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