Integration of climate aridity changes and agricultural drought

Integrating drought —a temporary state of dryness— with aridity —a permanent state of dryness — is crucial for enhancing long-term water resource management and agricultural productivity in regional planning. In this study, the Aridity Index (AI), defined as the ratio of precipitation to reference evapotranspiration, and the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI), reflecting temporal anomalies in evapotranspiration, were analyzed across the Iberian Peninsula over the past two decades (2003–2022). Results revealed a transition towards lower values of AI, indicating climate changed towards dryness, and an increase in drought intensity within the study areas. Notably, droughts were observed in both humid and dry zones, underscoring dried conditions not necessarily led to droughts. These findings highlighted that integrating the long-term variability of drought and aridity can significantly aid policymakers in planning for drought mitigation and response strategies, as well as enhance communities’ resilience to climate change.