Drought　is　currently　one　of　the　most　severe　natural　disasters　affecting　the　world.　Therefore,　characterizing　the　temporal　and　spatial　characteristics　of　droughts　is　critical　to　managing　drought　disasters　and　coping　with　global　climate　change.　In　this　study,　we　apply　the　ensemble　empirical　mode　decomposition　(EEMD),　empirical　orthogonal　function　(EOF)　decomposition,　and　the　drought　event　division　method　of　run　theory　to　analyze　the　temporal　and　spatial　characteristics　of　meteorological　droughts　across　the　globe　from　1901　to　2020　using　the　self-calibrated　Palmer　drought　severity　index　(scPDSI).　We　found　that　the　world　was　gradually　becoming　wetter　from　1901　to　2020,　but　the　severity　and　duration　of　severe　and　extreme　drought　events　also　increased.　In　contrast　to　the　PDSI,　which　showed　no　obvious　short-period　changes,　the　annual　drought　severity　(ADS)　had　short　cycle　changes　of　8　and　17　yr.　Based　on　the　EOF　decomposition　results　of　drought　characteristics,　dry　and　wet　trends　of　local　PDSI　are　inconsistent　with　increasing　or　decreasing　trends　of　severe　and　extreme　drought　events.　This　research　on　the　temporal　and　spatial　decomposition　of　severe　and　extreme　drought　events　provides　a　new　perspective　on　drought　research　and　analysis,　which　is　critical　for　the　further　characterization　of　drought　and　the　prevention　and　management　of　drought　disasters.