According to data from Copernicus, the European Earth observation program run by the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA), the drought in Europe in the summer of 2022 was the worst in 500 years.
Images from the Sentinel 2 satellite released this Tuesday (6) show large areas changing from bright green to dry brown between July 1 and August 31, 2022.
The most serious damage to vegetation is evident in England, northern France and the southeastern regions of Germany, Poland and Eastern Europe. The data were compared to another 2014 study on the 1540 drought.
A survey by the Global Drought Observatory (GMO) also indicates that 47% of Europe was in worrying conditions in August: the most serious signs were a lack of moisture in the soil and adverse effects on vegetation. In addition, the water level in rivers including the Rhine, Danube, and Po has dropped so much that navigating these rivers has become impossible, while the extraordinarily hot and dry weather has greatly increased the risk of wildfires.
The drought has been described as the worst drought Europe has recorded in 500 years: In fact, the last major drought hit the continent in 1540. The extreme heat wave that occurred at that time was very persistent, lasting 11 months and causing more than 90 colds. and 95 days less precipitation than the average for Western and Central Europe in the 20th century Hydrological drought was equally extreme: rivers such as the Rhine and Elbe decreased in total volume by up to 90%, and the smallest streams dried up completely. .
Last week, a report by the European Drought Observatory had already pointed to a decline in river transport, electricity production and crop yields due to weather.
“The severe drought that has affected many parts of Europe since the beginning of the year has been expanding and worsening since the beginning of August.” . . .
source: Noticias
