This is also indicated by data from the Global Drought Observatory
47% of Europeans were in an alarming state in August
: The most serious signs were the lack of moisture in the soil and the negative impact on vegetation. In addition, water levels in rivers including the Rhine, Danube and Po have dropped to the point where they are navigable, while the exceptionally hot and dry climate has greatly increased the risk of forest fires.
The drought has been described as the worst in Europe in 500 years: the last major drought actually hit the Old Continent in 1540. The
extreme heat wave
during this period was very persistent with a duration of 11 months and resulted in about 90-95 fewer rainy days than the average of 20th century western and central Europe. The hydrological drought was just as extreme: Rivers such as the Reno and Elbe broke off by up to 90% and the smaller watercourses dried up completely.
According to data from
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service
forest fires in Europe have caused the highest emissions in the last 15 years. The combination of the August heatwave and ongoing drought conditions across western Europe led to an increase in wildfire activity, intensity and persistence.
According to data disseminated by CAMS Global Fire Assimilation System, which uses satellite observations of wildfire location and fire radiance – a measure of intensity to estimate fires
emissions of air pollutants
Smoke included – total emissions for wildfires in the European Union and UK from 1 June to 31 August 2022 are estimated at 6.4 megatons of carbon, the highest level for those months since the summer of 2007.
CAMS, conducted by the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission and funded by the European Union, reports that the emissions recorded in summer 2022 were largely caused by
devastating fires in south-west France and the Iberian Peninsula
France and Spain have had the highest emissions from wildfires over the past 20 years.
In other areas of the Northern Hemisphere, which typically experience peak wildfire activity during the summer months, total estimated emissions were significantly lower than in recent years, despite some wildfires. The Sakha Republic and the Cukotka Autonomous District in far eastern Russia have not recorded the same number of fires as in recent summers: most of the fires this summer occurred further south, on the territory of
Khabarovsk
.
The most central and western regions of Russia, including the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District and the Ryazan District, have seen an increased number of forest fires, which have resulted in thick smoke developing for several days
deterioration in air quality
. Estimated total emissions from fires in the areas of Russia’s central federal district were the highest since the great peat fires that ravaged western Russia in 2010.