The 2018–2020 European drought set a new record for heat and intensity
In short: Researchers benchmarking historical weather data found that the multi-year drought in Europe from 2018 to 2020 was an unprecedented event. By comparing this period to records dating back to 1766, they identified it as a new benchmark for drought intensity, characterized by extreme heat and a broad geographic reach.
The study used historical data and climate model simulations to show that the 2018–2020 drought reached a temperature anomaly of +2.8 K. While the study highlights the severity of these events, it relies on model projections for future predictions, which remain subject to the uncertainties of climate modeling.
Why it matters: Past records show that modern droughts are becoming more intense and are likely to last longer in the future.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Rakovec et al. (2022). The 2018–2020 Multi‐Year Drought Sets a New Benchmark in Europe. Earth s Future. · cc-by
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