significantly in eastern parts of North and South America,
northern Europe and northern and central
Asia whereas precipita-
tion declined in the Sahel, the Mediterranean, southern Africa and
parts of southern
Asia. Globally, the area affected by drought has
likely2 increased since the 1970s. {WGI 3.3, 3.9, SPM}
Some extreme weather events have changed in frequency and/
or intensity over the last 50
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