Europe is bracing for a dry summer caused by climate change. The southern part of the continent will be most affected.
Scientists warn that rising temperatures are putting Europe on course for another harsh summer after last year’s hottest season on record. The heat then triggered a drought that European Union researchers say was the worst in 500 years.
As Reuters reports, the south of Europe will be hit hard this year. Some regions are already suffering from water shortages, and farmers are expecting their worst harvests in decades.
Climate change is making the region hotter and drier, and years of consecutive droughts have depleted groundwater reserves. Soils in Spain, southern France, and Italy became dry. Low water levels in rivers and reservoirs threaten hydroelectricity production this summer.
As reported, the situation is currently the most difficult in Spain. Scientists assume that the drought will only worsen, and the rains will not solve the problem, because they are localized in the summer.
According to the agency, not only Europe suffers from water shortages. The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in decades, while Argentina’s historic drought has hit soybean and corn crops.