A flash drought is a new form of drought that develops rapidly due to intensifying heatwaves and increased evaporation driven by climate change. Unlike conventional droughts — which develop slowly over extended periods as precipitation remains insufficient for a prolonged time — flash droughts can emerge within just a few weeks to months even when rainfall is not significantly deficient, driven by high temperatures and strong evaporation.
Flash droughts reach severe levels within a short period as a result of various meteorological anomalies, including changes in precipitation, temperature, wind, and solar radiation. In particular, the simultaneous rise in surface temperatures and abnormal depletion of soil moisture places extreme stress on vegetation, leading to widespread crop losses and disruptions to water supply.
[Flash Drought ⓒESG.ONL]
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, published in 2021, projected that the frequency and intensity of flash droughts will increase markedly worldwide under both the 1.5°C and 2°C global warming scenarios. In South Korea, however, flash droughts have yet to be clearly defined in domestic policy, meaning they are not reflected in early warning systems. National drought statistics are currently recorded and managed only on a monthly early warning basis, with weekly early warnings used only as informal supplementary data — leading to growing criticism that systematic monitoring of flash droughts is not being conducted.
As climate change intensifies heatwaves, polarizes precipitation patterns, and disrupts atmospheric circulation — causing rapid depletion of soil moisture — flash droughts are no longer rare occurrences. The flash drought in Gangneung marks the first nationally declared drought disaster in South Korea, foreshadowing the climate crises that will recur in the years ahead. The Korean Peninsula is particularly vulnerable to flash droughts due to its characteristic pattern of concentrated summer rainfall and dry winters, making the urgent establishment of early warning systems — alongside comprehensive response measures including agricultural water management and ecosystem protection — an essential priority.
by Editor O