Droughts have major social and ecological impacts, including shortages of drinking water, crop failures, tree mortality, forest fires, and reduced ecosystem productivity. Shifts in the hydrological cycle and continued warming with climate change are leading to rapidly evolving droughts that are more intense and longer lasting. . Extreme but short-term droughts (< 1 year) can have a wide range of consequences depending on the severity and timing of the drought, as well as the resilience of the ecosystem. (More on science.org)