Droughts pose a persistent threat to food and water security worldwide. Understanding the evolution of droughts across spatial and temporal scales, climate drivers influencing these extremes, impacts of climate change on droughts, and repercussions of droughts on food and water security are essential for effective planning and development of mitigation measures. Consequently, there is a critical need for advancements in modeling, monitoring, prediction, and risk assessment to strengthen resilience against droughts. In this session, we welcome research contributions encompassing, but not limited to, the following areas: (1) analyzing changes in the severity, duration, intensity, frequency, and spatial extent of droughts under a changing climate; (2) exploring novel methodologies for drought characterization and prediction, e.g.,machine learning techniques; (3) understanding the climate drivers of droughts and their spatial/temporal evolution, including flash droughts; (4) characterizing drought risk, vulnerability, exposure, and adaptive capacity; (5) proposing novel methods for short- and long-term drought management strategies.

• NH - Natural Hazards