A new research has found that regional droughts and heatwaves are taking place at the same time in many parts of America. Owing to it, more extreme conditions are happening than they would have if these events take place separately.

Researcher Amir AghaKouchak from the University of California at Irvine said that in the past, scientists have studied droughts and heatwaves separately. Owing to which, they are unable to know the risk that global warming has on environmental conditions.

Study researchers said that global warming does not cause droughts, but increasing temperatures could strengthen the severity level of droughts and lead to quicker onset of droughts. Dr. AghaKouchak said that with rise in temperatures and temperature extremes, heat waves and drought will overlap more often.

The impact of drought at the time when heat waves are also on is far greater, affirmed the researchers. The researchers used a tool that they have taken from economists' toolbox in order to identify the trends in a significant manner.

The researchers have looked at drought and temperature data between 1960 and 2010 in lower 48 states. Heatwaves were groups as three; five and seven-day durations and temperature ranges were also sent.

It was found that most of the US has witnessed a rise of between 20 and 80% in droughts and heatwaves. The findings provide a hint about what can be expected with global warming. Dr. Smith said, "What these authors are saying is the climate hiatus doesn't apply to extremes, if anything the opposite".