European Commission researcher warns Europe’s drought will be worst in 500 years | Climate news

A senior scientist at the European Commission’s (EC) drought control agency has warned that the drought that has scorched much of the European Union is set to be the worst drought since the 16th century. .

Andrea Toreti, senior researcher at the EC Joint Research Council, who compiles data for the European Drought Observatory, said: “Right now … this looks to be the worst year” of the year. 500 years, although a full analysis would need to be performed retrospectively. .

“We haven’t fully analyzed the event yet, but based on my experience I think this is probably more extreme than 2018,” he said, responding to a question from Sky News during a briefing. .

“2018 was so extreme that looking back at the last 500 years, there is no other similar event,” explains Mr. Toreti, who published a study of the historic drought a year after the event. . four years ago.

That year, exceptionally dry and hot weather caused yields of key crops to drop by as much as 50 percent, but “favorable” wet conditions in Southern Europe caused harvests to skyrocket.

The extremely rare ” seesaw ” effect has helped shield the block from the effects of drought in the region by preventing higher volatility and price spikes.

This year “by contrast, most of Europe” suffered from double heat waves and dry weather, he said, as Drought affects food and energy production, drinking water and wild animals.

“This year is really special,” he added.

The latest data from the European Drought Observatory (EDO) shows that about 45% of the bloc’s territory is in “warning” conditions, the second of three types of drought, for the 10 days leading up to May 20. 7.

More worrying is that 15% of the land area has turned into the most severe “alert” state, meaning that not only is the land withered after a light rain, but also crops.

EDO combines measurements taken on the ground, satellite data, and complex images and computer models to paint a picture of how the territory is coping.

Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by the current ongoing drought, has declared a state of emergency for the areas around the Po River, which accounts for more than a third of the country’s agricultural output. country.

France has set up a crisis team to deal with its worst drought on record, leaving parched villages without safe drinking water and farmers warning of winter milk shortages.

Large areas of Romania, Hungary and Ukraine are also withering and wildfires in Spain and Portugal.

Mr. Toreti said the growing shortage of water in reservoirs, rivers and underground storage means the territory needs higher-than-normal rainfall to make up for it.

The amount of land under drought is expected to continue to increase.

“We have estimated the situation is getting worse in most of Europe,” Mr. Toreti said.

Climate divergence is making droughts in the Mediterranean more severe and more likely, although it is not possible to blame all droughts globally.

The causes of drought are complex, but climate change affects it in two main ways. It concentrates rainfall into shorter and more intense bursts, making it harder to retain and delivering hotter temperatures, which evaporate more water.

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