Drought Intensifies in Europe: Rivers and Lakes Drying Up

The extreme heat waves affecting Europe are causing water loss across a wide area, and the severity of the drought is increasing every year. According to a study by scientists at the World Weather Attribution (WWA), human-induced climate change has made heat waves in Western Europe about 80 times more likely and in Eastern Europe about 40 times more likely. The study found that fossil fuel emissions have increased soil drying in Western Europe by a factor of 5 and in Eastern Europe by a factor of 11. Experts emphasize that despite the rainy winter in Western Europe, the high temperatures in the summer have become the main cause of drought. The drought conditions, which were previously considered 'moderate', have now reached 'extreme' levels. The analysis, which covers the period up to the end of June, also highlights the impact of drought on water resources and agriculture. Many countries have implemented restrictions on water use, and in some regions of southern England, hosepipe bans have been put in place. While wildfires continue to affect Spain and France, farmers are struggling with the driest soil conditions in years.