Chance of drought in Belgium eleven times greater due to climate change

WWA examined two regions: a western and an eastern region. The eastern region extends roughly from Belgium to Poland. Countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, and Slovenia are also included in this region. The weather conditions observed in the past six months in this region occur only once every fifteen years and have become approximately eleven times more probable as a result of human-induced climate change. In the western region, which includes England, Wales, Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy, the probability is five times higher. Climate change can exacerbate droughts by altering precipitation patterns and increasing evaporation due to higher temperatures. The record heatwave affecting Europe this year has led to extreme drought and the depletion of water reserves, according to the study. The heatwaves and droughts are causing crop losses, wildfires, and historically low river levels. Additionally, the combination of a wet winter and a dry spring created optimal conditions for forest fires, the report states. The lack of rain cannot be solely attributed to climate change. However, the heat has increased the evaporation potential fortyfold. Droughts like those observed this year would have been less severe in the past. Because the extra heat causes moisture to be drawn from the ground more rapidly, the current drought conditions are more severe. WWA examined the role of human-induced climate change by comparing data and climate models with a warming of 1.4 degrees Celsius to a pre-industrial climate. The analysis focused on rainfall deficits, potential evapotranspiration (PET)—the amount of water the atmosphere can absorb with unlimited water supply—and soil moisture.