Many parts of the world are expected to suffer large droughtsperiods of extreme and unprecedented water scarcity, which could occur since this decade in some “hot spots” on the planet, such as parts of North America, the Mediterranean and South Africa, according to a new study.

It is known that the climate changefueled by the burning of fossil fuels, disrupts the global water cycle and causes water scarcity. What is not clear is when and where the Extreme water deficiencies. The new research gives some answers, some unexpected, said Christian Franzke, a climatologist at South Korea’s Pusan ​​University and a study author published on Tuesday at Nature Communications.

Scientists have used a large number of climate models to evaluate the time and likelihood of ‘zero day’ droughts. It is about ‘unprecedented water scarcity phenomena, events that haven’t happened so far“, Explained Franzke. “Is the moment you open the tap and no water comes out“, He told CNN.

‘Zero Day Droughts’ arise from the combination of many factors: Prolonged lack of rainfall, low levels of rivers and reservoirs, as well as rapidly increasing water demand for humans, agriculture and industry.

Almost three -quarters of drought vulnerable areas, including those with large dams and tanks, face high risk of serious and prolonged droughts by the end of the century, if people continue to burn fossil fuels, the study found.

More than one -third of these areas, such as West America, could face the situation since the 2020s or 2030. The fact that “zero day droughts” can happen so soon, with today’s overheating levels, was “something that surprised us,” Franzke said, though Franzke said.

Cape Town, South Africa, was in critical condition in 2017 and 2018, after one of the most serious years of droughts recorded. The city avoided destruction thanks to strict water saving measures and more rainfall in 2018.

Chenai, in Southeast India, came very close to getting out of water in 2019, when the reservoirs collapsed. Water was transported with tankers to neighborhoods, with residents waiting for hours in hot heat.

Today many cities are fighting to avoid “zero day”, from Tehran and Kabul to Mexico City and Los Angeles.

Cities are at particular risk, as growing populations are intensifying the demand for water resources already under pressure due to climate change and mismanagement. Low -income communities are expected to be disproportionate, according to the study.

Some parts of the world, such as the Mediterranean, South Africa, Asia and Australiathey are expected to experience more prolonged “zero day droughts” with shorter breaks between them, limiting the recovery time. This can have disastrous consequences for agriculture and ecosystems and, for some areas that will be particularly affected, raises the question “if people can live there in the long run,” Franzke said.

The findings clearly show the need to accelerate the transition to pure forms of energy, and also to improve water management, as huge quantities are lost through leaks in the pipelines. Research should also guide the industry, he said, pointing out the growth of aquatic industries, such as the production of semiconductors and data centers, in lack of water, such as Texas and Arizona.

A threshold of the study is that it does not include underground water resources in calculations, as the models used were not designed for it. However, Franzke said they incorporated some measures to take it into their analysis.

Richard Allan, Professor of Climate Science at the University of Readingwhich was not involved in the research, said that this is “important new evidence of how drought will intensify as global warming is combined with the demand for fresh water from societies”. The research is “a guide rather than perfect prediction”, said the Allan in cnn“But it paints a picture of an increasing pressure on aquatic resources in many ways, which is already visible.”