Source: China News Network
The summer of 2022 was particularly difficult for European countries. Not only did it experience "one of the three hottest Julys since meteorological records were recorded," but it could also experience "the worst drought in about 500 years." Europe, which is already "exhausted" due to the energy crisis and food crisis, is not only facing "baking" tests, but also facing many tests.
One of the hottest summers ever
The World Meteorological Organization recently pointed out that July this year was listed as the hottest in july since the meteorological record was recorded, breaking the high temperature record in many parts of the world, and the persistent and strong heat wave especially affected many parts of Europe.
On the temperature map, a fiery red. Parts of Portugal, Spain, France and the United Kingdom have all measured temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius.
This summer could be one of the hottest summers on record on the Continent. Not only in Europe, but also in Antarctica, it is difficult to escape the threat of heat waves.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service project observed that Antarctic sea ice reached the lowest point in July recorded in 44 years of satellite data, well below the lowest point in July last year. Antarctic sea ice has been well below average since February, especially in June, when it hit a record low. The observations from July this year undoubtedly continued this trend.
WMO Director-General Taras has said this year's heatwaves have become the norm. Heatwaves in Europe will become more frequent, intense, and will continue for longer.
Although Europe experienced several extreme heat waves in July and record-breaking heat in many countries, the World Meteorological Organization noted that the temperature and rainfall trends in July continued in August. At the same time, drought began to affect many aspects of social life.
The worst drought in 500 years
Recently, Andrea, a researcher at the European Commission's Joint Research Center who collects data for the European Drought Observatory, warned that Europe may suffer its worst drought in about 500 years.
The latest data from the European Drought Observatory (EDO) shows that in mid-to-late July, 47% of the EU was in a "warning" state, and 17% of the land was in the highest level of "alert" due to drought.
Meteo france said the country was experiencing its worst drought on record, with average rainfall in France averaging less than 10 millimetres in July and only 15 percent of previous years.
On August 5, France's Minister of Coordination for Ecological Transformation and Land, Besch, said that there was no drinking water in the water supply pipes of more than 100 french municipalities, which needed to rely on water tankers for water supply, and he did not rule out the possibility of distributing bottled water in the most difficult areas to reach.
The situation in France is only a microcosm of Europe.
At the beginning of August, the average water storage rate of the country's reservoirs was only 40%, far below the average of about 60% in a decade, according to official Spanish data. "We are in a particularly dry, very difficult year." Spain's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Eco-Transition Rivera said.
In Italy, the water level of the longest river, the Wave River, drops sharply, and large sandy banks are exposed to the sun. The low water level even allowed a bomb left over from the Second World War that had been submerged to appear on the riverbank.
Troops from the Swiss canton of Obwalden were also mobilized to transport water from Lake Sarnen in helicopters to the "thirsty" cows. Even the Netherlands, which focuses on flood control, has recently declared water shortages, followed by drought-fighting policies.
The energy and food crises have worsened
As the drought continues to worsen, countries have also encountered difficulties in water-based energy use, which has exacerbated the European energy crisis. The European Commission said nearly half of EU countries were hit by drought, affecting agriculture, energy production and water supply.
The Rhine, the "lifeblood" of Europe's economy, has now seen its water level drop to near-no-navigation. The low water level will not only affect the output of Germany's two major coal-fired power plants in the coming month, but also put pressure on the transportation of coal, oil and so on.
Shipping capacity in the lower Rhine has been halved, the lifeblood of coal transport from the Dutch port of Rotterdam to Germany. In response to the gas crisis in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Germany is importing coal in large quantities and increasing the supply of coal power plants, and drought has made the energy problem more difficult.
At the same time, the food crisis caused by high temperatures and droughts has also become more prominent.
The global food crisis has just eased as Ukrainian ports resume food exports. But there are warnings that extreme weather and supply chain issues have exacerbated the food crisis and could continue for some time.
A recent report by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre for Scientific Services predicts that eu cereals, corn, sunflowers and soybeans will fall by 8-9% due to hot and dry summers, well below the five-year average.
Spain, the world's largest olive oil exporter, has a dismal olive harvest, with production in unimported areas expected to be below the average of 20 percent over the past five years. French farmers have also warned that corn production will fall by 18.5 percent from last year. The French Farmers' Federation noted that the drought has led to a reduction in food and feed, and there may be a shortage of milk in the coming months.
"The drought of the previous months, combined with the high temperatures and low precipitation rates that occurred in many regions in July, could adversely affect agricultural production and other industries such as river transport and energy production," said The Copernican scientist Wan boge. ”