Brussels: Human-caused climate change has significantly intensified Europe's 2026 drought by escalating heat-driven evaporation, leading to dried-out soils and depleted water resources, as revealed by a scientific analysis from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group.

According to Anadolu Agency, the study highlights that while deficits in rainfall contributed to the drought conditions across Europe, the exceptionally high temperatures primarily increased the atmosphere's demand for moisture. This process accelerated evaporation from rivers, lakes, soils, and vegetation. Researchers observed that climate change has altered drought patterns in Europe, making rising temperatures a crucial factor in agricultural and ecological drought.

Dominik Schumacher, a scientist at ETH Zurich and one of the study's authors, explained that climate change has led to an enhanced tendency for unusual soil drying early in the year. He noted that as temperatures rise, the atmosphere's thirst increases rapidly, extracting moisture from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and soil. The analysis indicated that in western Europe, April-June soil moisture deficits similar to those recorded this year are now about five times more likely due to climate change, while the highly evaporative atmospheric conditions have become approximately 80 times more likely.

In eastern Europe, January-June soil moisture deficits have become around 11 times more likely, and exceptionally high evaporative conditions are estimated to be about 40 times more likely than in a climate without human-induced warming. The researchers emphasized that climate change has also increased the severity of drought conditions by raising potential evapotranspiration, causing rainfall deficits that previously would not have led to severe drought to now result in much drier soils.

The study outlined widespread consequences across Europe, including severe pressure on agriculture, water supplies, river transport, and energy production. France is anticipated to record its worst maize harvest in 50 years, with more than 1 million hectares of maize lost in Romania, according to the report. The researchers also highlighted intensifying wildfire conditions across western Europe, especially in Spain and France. Over 10,000 people were evacuated overnight from the tourist area of Cap-Ferret in France's Gironde department after a wildfire consumed more than 2,000 hectares, according to local authorities.

Schumacher pointed out that the combination of a relatively wet start to the year followed by extreme heat had created favorable conditions for large wildfires. Mariam Zachariah, a researcher at Imperial College London and a member of the WWA study team, warned that such drought conditions could become even more frequent if global temperatures continue to rise. She emphasized the urgency of rapid, aggressive emissions cuts to prevent Europe from facing scorching, dry summers repeatedly in the future.