Latest news with #DroughtObservatoryIndicator
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
Over half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought since April
A cow drinks the last remaining water as livestock wait for emergency water supplies amid a severe drought that has dried up Suva Planina mountain's main springs, near the town of Bela Palanka, Serbia August 12, 2025. REUTERS/ Djordje Kojadinovic PARIS — More than half (52 percent) of Europe and the Mediterranean basin was hit by drought in July for the fourth consecutive month, according to an AFP analysis of European Drought Observatory (EDO) data. Drought levels in the region are the highest on record for the month of July since data collection began in 2012, exceeding the 2012-2024 average by 21 percent. Monthly records have been broken every month this year. The Drought Observatory Indicator determined by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service uses satellite imagery to measure three parameters: precipitation or rainfall, soil moisture and the state of vegetation. Findings are then categorized into one of three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert—the last level signaling that vegetation is developing abnormally. Eastern Europe and the Balkans are particularly affected, with a high amount of soil under alert in multiple countries. In Hungary, the percentage of soil under alert increased from nine percent in June to 56 percent in July. In Kosovo, it went from six percent to 43 percent, and in Bosnia-Herzegovina from one percent to 23 percent. Multiple heatwaves have swept the Balkans since the start of the summer and a record number of wildfires have broken out. Some are caused by poorly managed and illegal dumpsites bursting into flames under the scorching sun, smothering towns and cities with toxic smoke. Further east, Turkey has been hit by a prolonged drought affecting more than 60 percent of soil since March, leading to thousands of fires this summer. On August 8, wildfires in the west of the country forced authorities to suspend shipping in the busy Dardanelles Strait and evacuate three villages. In Western Europe, the situation is more mixed. In France, 68 percent of soil was affected by drought in July, up from 44 percent in June. France experienced one of its largest wildfires in history last week when flames tore through 13,000 hectares (more than 32,000 acres) of the southern Aude department, killing one person and injuring several others. The country is now facing its second heatwave of the summer. In the United Kingdom, which had its driest spring in more than 50 years, drought levels improved in July although more than two-thirds of the country remains in water deficit. In the south, Spain and Portugal remain relatively spared with low drought rates (seven percent and five percent respectively). — Agence France-Presse
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Almost half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought
AI- Generated Image PARIS: Europe and the Mediterranean basin has been hit by a long-lasting drought covering over 45 percent of the region since mid-March, according to AFP analysis of European Drought Observatory (EDO) data made available on Tuesday. It is the first time since data collection began in 2012 that such an extensive part of the region has been hit by a drought for more than three consecutive months, heightening the risk of wildfires. A series of fires broke out in Turkey and Greece at the start of the summer, where on average 72 percent and 56 percent of soils have been dry since mid-March. Greek firefighters said on Saturday that they remained on high alert because of the high temperatures and strong winds blowing throughout the country. The Drought Observatory Indicator determined by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service uses satellite imagery to measure three parameters: precipitation, or rainfall, soil moisture and the state of vegetation. Findings are then categorised into one of three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert -- the last level signalling that vegetation is developing abnormally. The EDO data -- up to June 20 -- shows that drought in the region has worsened. Since the start of June, seven percent of soils have been on alert, twice as much as in mid-March. Eastern European countries are the most concerned. Record highs for this time of year were registered in Ukraine and Belarus, where respectively 31 percent and 25 percent of land is on alert. To the west, the United Kingdom has been hit by a large drought drying up over 70 percent of its land since the end of March. England, in particular, experienced its "driest spring in more than 100 years", the official weather service said. Further south, Spain and Portugal have been mostly spared from alarming levels of dryness, with respectively four percent and less than one percent of lands on alert from June 11-20. This is a lot less than usual at this time of year: between 2012 and 2024, on average 32 percent of Spain and 27 percent of Portugal were on alert. Both countries experienced heavy rainfall at the start of spring, including the deadly floods in the Spanish region of Valencia. French weather service Meteo France warned that "unusually dry vegetation in July" could "fuel wildfire outbreaks", with the first major fires of the summer breaking out in France over the weekend.
Korea Herald
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Almost half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought
PARIS (AFP) -- Europe and the Mediterranean basin has been hit by a long-lasting drought covering over 45 percent of the region since mid-March, according to Agence France-Presse analysis of European Drought Observatory data made available on Tuesday. It is the first time since data collection began in 2012 that such an extensive part of the region has been hit by a drought for more than three consecutive months, heightening the risk of wildfires. A series of fires broke out in Turkey and Greece at the start of the summer, where on average 72 percent and 56 percent of soils have been dry since mid-March. Greek firefighters said on Saturday that they remained on high alert because of the high temperatures and strong winds blowing throughout the country. The Drought Observatory Indicator determined by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service uses satellite imagery to measure three parameters: precipitation, or rainfall, soil moisture and the state of vegetation. Findings are then categorised into one of three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert -- the last level signalling that vegetation is developing abnormally. The EDO data -- up to June 20 -- shows that drought in the region has worsened. Since the start of June, seven percent of soils have been on alert, twice as much as in mid-March. Eastern European countries are the most concerned. Record highs for this time of year were registered in Ukraine and Belarus, where respectively 31 percent and 25 percent of land is on alert. To the west, the United Kingdom has been hit by a large drought drying up over 70 percent of its land since the end of March. England, in particular, experienced its "driest spring in more than 100 years," the official weather service said. Further south, Spain and Portugal have been mostly spared from alarming levels of dryness, with respectively four percent and less than one percent of lands on alert from June 11-20. This is a lot less than usual at this time of year: between 2012 and 2024, on average 32 percent of Spain and 27 percent of Portugal were on alert. Both countries experienced heavy rainfall at the start of spring, including the deadly floods in the Spanish region of Valencia. French weather service Meteo France warned that "unusually dry vegetation in July" could "fuel wildfire outbreaks," with the first major fires of the summer breaking out in France over the weekend.
