A study from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research found that climate change intensified the 2022 drought in Central and Southern Europe, attributing about 31% of its extraordinary intensity to human actions. This drought resulted in severe water shortages, significant agricultural losses, and record low soil moisture. Researchers indicated that this event is the most extreme drought recorded since 1960, with critical implications for water management and agricultural practices in the region.
A study conducted by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has revealed that climate change significantly exacerbated the severity and extent of the 2022 drought affecting Central and Southern Europe. This event, which persisted through the summer, led to extremely low soil moisture levels in numerous regions, sparking a renewed focus on the relationship between anthropogenic climate change and extreme weather phenomena. The research indicates that approximately 31% of the drought’s extraordinary intensity is attributable to human actions that have led to climate change, along with the previous years of diminishing soil moisture. During the summer of 2022, the drought had profound socio-economic repercussions, with major disruptions across various sectors. Water restrictions affected half of Italy’s population, while over a hundred municipalities in France relied on truck deliveries for drinking water. Agricultural yields for significant crops, including grain maize, sunflowers, and soybeans, saw reductions of about 15% compared to prior years, and extensive forest fires were reported across Italy, France, Slovenia, and Romania. Furthermore, navigation on key waterways, such as the Po and Rhine rivers, faced restrictions, and hydroelectric power generation was compromised due to reduced water discharge. The IPCC has previously acknowledged that human-induced climate change influences drought occurrences; however, the current understanding of its impact on specific drought events was limited prior to this study. Using a hydrological model developed at UFZ, researchers analyzed soil moisture data and river discharge volumes across the affected regions. Their findings indicated a staggering deficit of around 280 cubic kilometers in soil moisture, equating to about 120 million swimming pools worth of water missing from the soil. They also noted that the affected area was about 1.64 million square kilometers, marking a new record for drought coverage in the region since 1960. The analysis underscored that the summer of 2022 recorded the most extreme drought conditions since at least 1960, with water levels at their lowest since satellite monitoring began in 2002. Anomalous weather patterns, including a lack of precipitation from March to August and significant heat waves, were primary contributors to this drought. The average temperatures during the summer months were found to be 1.9 degrees Celsius higher than the average from 1981 to 2010. The study illustrated that climate change profoundly intensified the drought through increased evaporation rates linked to higher temperatures. Specifically, it was determined that about 38% of the overall drought-influenced area was directly related to climate change. The research highlights the prolonged nature of the impacts of climate change, suggesting that the effects observed during the 2022 drought can be traced back to changes in climate that occurred prior to the start of the water management year in late 2021, emphasizing the diverse and complex impacts climate change has on hydrological systems.
Climate change has been increasingly recognized as a significant factor influencing extreme weather events, including droughts. The summer of 2022 witnessed an unprecedented drought across Central and Southern Europe, prompting investigations into the extent to which human-induced climate change aggravated this phenomenon. Scientific studies indicate a growing need to understand the specific contributions of climate change to individual instances of drought, particularly in an era where such extreme weather phenomena are becoming more frequent and severe due to anthropogenic influences. The data regarding soil moisture levels, temperature fluctuations, and seasonal precipitation patterns are crucial to comprehending the complexities of drought conditions in Europe.
In conclusion, the 2022 drought in Central and Southern Europe serves as a vivid illustration of the substantial impact of climate change on extreme weather events. The study conducted by UFZ demonstrated that human-induced climate changes were responsible for approximately one-third of the drought’s severity and geographic spread. With significant socio-economic consequences, including agricultural losses, water supply disruptions, and heightened risks of wildfires, it is imperative to recognize the ongoing influence of rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns on regional climates. The findings underscore that the long-term effects of climate change on drought conditions warrant increased attention and action to mitigate potential future impacts.
Original Source: phys.org
