More than a quarter of the European continent and the Mediterranean basin suffered from dry soils in early April, according to satellite data from the European “Copernicus” program, analyzed by the AFP agency.
According to the analysis carried out, 28.65% of the territory studied by the European Drought Observatory (EDO) -that is, from Europe to Turkey and the Caucasus, in addition to the Maghreb coast- was in a state of drought since 1 April until last April 10.
The main affected areas are Scandinavia, Ireland, northern Poland, Spain, Turkey and the western shores of the Black Sea, as well as the northern Maghreb and the Caucasus.
In total, 25% of the observed area is in a situation of soil moisture deficit, generally as a consequence of the lack of rain, and 3.57% is in “anomaly in the development of vegetation”, the state higher alert.
This plant “stress”, synonymous with significant agricultural losses, is found mainly in the Maghreb, in some areas of southern Spain, central Ireland and Turkey.
The proportion of too dry territories is relatively stable compared to March (27.7% from March 21 to 31, 28.9% from March 11 to 20).
However, at the beginning of April, 8.6% of the surveyed area returned to normal after a period of drought, especially in the northern half of France.
The Combined Drought Index was updated in March using “Copernicus” satellite imagery and a precise comparison with previous years, namely 2022, marked by heatwaves and historic droughts, was not immediately available.
Source: TSF
