Climate crisis-driven heat ‘sucking soils dry’ as extreme drought hits Europe
New scientific analysis confirms that the climate crisis is actively drying out Europe. High temperatures are causing rapid evaporation from rivers, lakes, and soils, significantly intensifying drought conditions across the continent. While drought is often associated with a lack of rainfall, this summer shows that extreme heat acts as the primary driver by sucking moisture directly from the land.
The data indicates that current soil dryness in western Europe is five times more likely due to fossil fuel pollution, with conditions in the east being eleven times more likely. Researchers note that what is currently classified as extreme drought would have been considered moderate before the onset of human-induced global heating. This shift is not a future projection but a current reality impacting major infrastructure and ecosystems.
The agricultural sector faces heavy losses, with approximately 9 million tonnes of grain expected to vanish this year. France anticipates its worst maize harvest in five decades, while Romanian farmers report the loss of over a million hectares of crops. Rivers such as the Rhine have fallen below 1976 record lows, which restricts cargo transport and diminishes hydropower production. These disruptions threaten to increase food and energy costs for households throughout Europe.
Experts warn that these conditions occur at 1.4C of warming. If global temperatures reach 2.8C as predicted, the likelihood of these intense evaporative events could double. The pattern involves wet conditions transitioning into extreme dryness, which creates prime circumstances for dangerous wildfire seasons. Emergency water restrictions, including hosepipe bans in parts of southern England, are already in effect as governments scramble to manage depleting resources.