Nonot gone 2022 the climate in Europe is not good: Last year was the driest and second warmest year on record.
But not only that, because carbon emissions from summer fires were the highest in 15 years.
The State of the Climate in Europe? Not yummy
These very bad data regarding the fire frequency rate emerge from theESOTC, the annual report on the state of Europe’s climate disclosed these days by scientists of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The analysis serves to inform the institutions and political decision-makers, but also the simple European citizens, on the impact of climate change in a clear and comprehensive wayfavoring the development of measures to counter global warming.
According to new data on the state of Europe’s climate, carbon dioxide emissions linked to forest fires have hit a twenty-year high in some regions of the continent (Getty Images)
Extreme events are on the rise
The researchers compared data collected from 1850, the start date of monitoring to today and the results highlighted a significant increase of the rate of episodes and extreme natural phenomena precisely because of the hotter and drier conditions that have occurred on the continent.
And in European countries, total emissions estimated for the summer of 2022 were the highest since 2007. «France, Spain, Germany and Slovenia, moreover – write the authors of the report – recorded the highest summer forest fire emissions in 20 years».
Unprecedented heat
Much of Europe has suffered intense and prolonged heat waves and the scarce rainfall, moreover, has led to a widespread drought. In short, an unprecedented heat with temperatures across Europe rising at twice the global average rate.
State of the climate: drought at an all-time high
2022 it was also the driest year on recordwith 63% of European rivers experiencing flows below the average for recent decades. Soil moisture – write the authors of the study – was the second lowest in the last 50 years.
The mountains are no better
In the end the lack of winter snow and the high summer temperatures, the report continues, led to a record loss of ice in the Alps, which exceeded five cubic kilometers of melted ice mass.
In many European areas, the experts conclude, up to 30 days of snowfall less compared to the average calculated on the basis of historical records. Spring precipitation was also lower than expected for much of the continent.
The dramatic effects on nature, society and human beings
Such changes, scholars comment, must be taken seriously because unfortunately they can negatively influence many aspects related to nature and society.
Causing negative consequences on areas that can range from agriculture to energy up to river transport. But high temperatures, scientists still point out, they also pose a risk to human health.
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