After a dry European spring, farmers in some parts of the continent are concerned about this year’s crops.
And concerns are not universities for Europe. Since the burning of coal, oil and gas leads to a global temperature push -up, other parts of the world experience long -term drafts.
But not all the daroths are the same, and each type comes with its set of its results.
Meteorological and Agriculture
A study was released this year Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) showed that the extreme draw period has increased globally in the last 40 years. The global average of the Drowht-Knitting land has increased by about 50,000 square kilometers (about 19.300 sq mi) every year, which is to reduce the size of Slovakia.
People in northern Chile have been living with drought for the last 14 years, while in South -Western America – Erizona, New Mexico and parts of California in states such as in states, for example – the last three -year HVEs were extremely drought.
Fixed by meteorological drowht Comparing real conditions for the average amount of rainfall in a certain area makes the theme area specificThe German weather service, for example, describes a meteorological draw with a short rainfall of an unusually dry season of one or two months with short rainfall.
If the land is passed, farmers are having trouble getting water, plants are not growing properly and crops are reduced or even completely fail, it is known as agricultural pass.
Hydrologist
This occurs when the water level in rivers, lakes and underground natural reserves falls below a specific minimum, and freshwater supply is almost completely dry.
Hydrological drawwas occur after a long meteorology. For the German weather service, this means a period of unusually arranged conditions of at least four months.
More and more areas around the world are experienced above average dryness. By 2050, the World Bank has predicted that people living in parts of Africa, South East Asia, America and South America will see even more problems.
In Cyprus, rivers and reservoirs are empty
The Mediterranean Island of Cyprus is currently experiencing both agriculture and hydrological. The rain has been rare for several weeks – the reservoirs are empty, the riverbed are dried and dusty and farmers do not have enough to keep their crops alive. Recent media reports have said that this year’s crop is in danger of failure.
To affiliate the professor at the Energy, Environment and Water Research Center of Cyprus Institute, Adriana Brugman said, “It was already bad last year, but this is the second year which is very drought.”
Brugman said that the winter months are usually more rainfall, which gives a chance to replenish lakes and rivers. But when it does not rain, the reservoirs in Cyprus remain empty.
“We are not in a good position,” he said.
Sociologist
This is not always easy to distinguish a strict difference between different types of drowht, as many events can occur in parallel.
Most droughts who actually notice, according to WSL’s Dark Kargar in Switzerland, belong to the socio -economic child. These occur when extremely dry conditions have a direct impact on society and economy – when lack of water makes some goods or electricity more outbreaks, or even rare.
During the period of extreme drawouts in Spain and Italy in 2024, there were times that were ration. In the same period in neighboring France, reactors had to temporarily shut down several nuclear plants due to insufficient water to cool. And in Zimbabwe, a hydroelectric plant was unstable to provide electricity due to lack of water, resulting in power shortage.
Thus drought can have dramatic social and economic consequences. In many areas including Sudan, South Sudeen and Mali, Constant drowns have increased appetite,
“If we in the US, in the US, where there has been a shortage of water for the last decade, there are results of bees on the water supply,” said Kargar. “The same thing in Chile, where there is some real loss.”
The western states of California and Nevada have experienced months of months, contributing to situations that have been observed during the winter months of devastating forest fire – most specially in Los Angeles in January 2025.
Ecological draft
According to the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Germany, the effects of severe drawt are often underestimated – even if they often cause much more economic damage than storms, floods or heavy rains.
Unlike these extreme weather events, dried droughts do not come up with an initial warning signal. And how bad a drowht will end the stag is only known after a long time. In the US alone, droughts are responsible for a loss of $ 6-9 billion every year.
As a result, researchers have exposed the fifth type of phenomenon: ecological pass. This explains how the period of extreme drowht can unstable animals, plants and entire ecosystems.
A severe decline in groundwater level and soil moisture can have irreversible effects for ecosystems – and people. Thesis included the failure of the broad crop, the death of the tree, the productivity of the low ecosystem and the water supply, the WSL researchers highlighted their studies.
Drowht is not a scenario. A severe drowht is almost noticeable on grasslands, but the thesis seems easy to bounce back after the rain returns. On the other hand, the forest may not be easily cured and experience permanent damage from the same season conditions.
So the draw takes risks in other disasters. A heavy rain after a long period of dryness, for example, can dry the soil. The ground cannot absorb a sudden mass of water, provoking floods, landlines and mudflos.
What can we do to save water and avoid close?
Before becoming even more serious in the future, experts say that we should do everything to limit climate change as soon as possible.
At the same time, people will need to be fast favorable without rain. It is necessary to find ways to use water available in both home and industry more efficiently. Places like Singapore talk of water conservation.
The state of the city in Southeast Asia is a world leader when it comes to collecting rain water. Water reservoirs have set a bee through the city, which is ready to collect any rain falling from the sky. Thesis reservoirs deliver drinking water during the dry season period, and help to cool the city during summer waves. Water treatment plant rebuild waste water, converting it back into drinking water.
So far, Singapore is one of the few countries doing so much for water conservation. Its strategy is an excellent example for other cities and regions, and can help prepare for water scarcity.
Efficiency is another possible way to save water. Worldwide, the city loses vast versions of precious resources due to dripping or broken pipes. In Italy, some 40% of the country’s freshwater is independent in the way of the consumer; In Europe, almost a quarter of drinking water is wasted due to insufficient management practices.
Regular repair and maintenance of pipes, including regular checking them for leaks, will help protect water supply worldwide.
This article was original in German.
