Meteorological and hydrological droughts (no further updates)

Description

Drought has been a recurrent feature of the European climate. From 2006–2010, on average 15 % of the EU territory and 17 % of the EU population have been affected by meteorological droughts each year.
The severity and frequency of meteorological and hydrological droughts have increased in parts of Europe, in particular in south-western and central Europe.
Available studies project large increases in the frequency, duration and severity of meteorological and hydrological droughts in most of Europe over the 21st century, except for northern European regions. The greatest increase in drought conditions is projected for southern Europe, where it would increase competition between different water users, such as agriculture, industry, tourism and households.

Reference information

Websites:

https://www.eea.europa.eu/ds_resolveuid/IND-105-en

Source:

EEA

Published in Climate-ADAPT Jun 7, 2016 - Last Modified in Climate-ADAPT Dec 12, 2023

Date of publication:

2017

Keywords:

CLIM018, drought, river flow

Climate impacts:

Droughts

Adaptation Approaches:

Climate services, Observations and Scenarios

Sectors:

Disaster Risk Reduction, Water management

Geographic characterisation:

Europe

Macro-Transnational region:

Adriatic-Ionian, Alpine Space, Atlantic Area, Baltic Sea, Central Europe, Danube Area, Mediterranean (Euro-Med), North West Europe, North Sea, Northern Periphery and Arctic, South West Europe, Black Sea Basin (NEXT), Mediterranean Sea Basin (NEXT)