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Dried up rivers and empty lakes. Experts warn of a hotter summer for Europe

2023-02-25 16:06:35Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Dried up rivers and empty lakes. Experts warn of a hotter summer for Europe
Pedal boats stranded on shore at the edge of Lake Montbel in southwestern France on February 21.

This winter's unusual temperatures, low levels of rain and lack of snowfall in Europe have marked the decline in river and lake water flows across the continent. Experts warn that last year's severe droughts could be repeated and the coming weeks are crucial.

We are usually used to seeing the images of dried up riverbeds and shrinking lakes during the scorching summer months but this year it is also happening in the winter.

An unusually warm and dry start to the year has affected much of Europe, including central and south-western France, northern Spain and northern Italy.

What does this mean for the water supply?

According to a study published in January by researchers at the Graz University of Technology in Austria, which used satellite data to analyze the world's underground water resources, the water situation in Europe has become quite precarious.

"A few years ago, I would never have imagined that water would be a problem even in Europe," said Torsten Mayer-Gürr, one of the researchers, "we have to think about water supply."

A record-breaking dry spell in France

France, which is experiencing its worst drought in 60 years, may soon have water restrictions. The country suffered 32 consecutive days without any rain, from January 21 to February 21," Simon Mittelberger, a climatologist at Météo-France, told CNN, the longest period since records began in 1959.

It has a detrimental effect on the nation's rivers and lakes, Mittelberger said, but also on the nation's soils.

Snowfall has also been low. Lack of snow in winter can threaten water supplies in spring and summer, as there is less snowmelt to fill rivers.

Last summer, France suffered its worst drought in history, but this year the situation could be even worse.

Lake beds and dried up channels were exposed

The water levels in Lake Garda are so low that it is now possible to walk across it. A few months ago, this crossing did not exist.

It is also much more difficult to navigate Venice now, as some of its canals have become too shallow to keep gondolas afloat, partly due to the lack of rainfall.

The city, which has long feared floods, is now facing the opposite problem.

Italy's longest river, the Po, which runs through the agricultural heartland of the north of the country, has 61% less water than usual for this time of year.

Last summer, the Italian government declared a state of emergency for the area around the Po River, which experienced the worst drought in 70 years.

Dried up rivers and empty lakes. Experts warn of a hotter summer for Europe
Last summer, the Italian government declared a state of emergency for the area around the Po River, which experienced the worst drought in 70 years.

Environmentalists fear the worst is yet to come. "2023 has only just begun, but it is showing worrying signs in terms of extreme weather events and drought levels," said Giorgio Zampetti, general manager of Legambiente, an Italian environmental group.

Fear of water supply

People walk on the island of San Biagio along a strip of land that was previously submerged in water, in Lake Garda in northern Italy, on February 21.

In Spain, which experienced the hottest year on record last year, there are also concerns about water supplies.

"We cannot guarantee the supply of drinking water or for economic uses by relying exclusively on rain," said Teresa Ribera, Minister for Ecological Transition, in a press conference recently.

Vendi ka miratuar planet për të investuar rreth 24 miliardë dollarë në menaxhimin e ujit, duke përfshirë masat për të përmirësuar kanalizimet dhe trajtimin e modernizimin e ujitjes.

Ka një shqetësim në rritje për shkak të mungesës së reshjeve në javët e fundit

Që nga viti 1980, uji mesatar i disponueshëm është ulur me 12%, me parashikime që mund të ketë një rënie të mëtejshme deri në 40% deri në vitin 2050.

“Javët e ardhshme do të jenë vendimtare”

Ndërsa Europa më parë është goditur nga thatësirat e verës, ekspertët tashmë kanë frikë se thatësira jashtëzakonisht e madhe e dy muajve të fundit mund të sinjalizojë një realitet të ri, shkaktuar pjesërisht nga rritja e temperaturave mesatare globale.

"These conditions were rare in the past, but climate change is altering the rainfall regime in Europe and making these extremes more frequent and more intense," Andrea Toreti, a climatologist at the Joint Research Center in the United States, told CNN. European Commission.

"There is a growing concern due to the lack of rain in recent weeks and also considering the drought of 2022. The next few weeks will be decisive," Torerti said.

While Toreti said attributing the winter drought to climate change requires specific analysis that has yet to be conducted, he added that such events "are an expected effect of climate change in terms of more frequent and intense extremes."


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

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