A new study has revealed that human-caused climate change has increased at least 20 times the likelihood of droughts in the Northern Hemisphere.
The study was conducted by researchers from the World Weather Attribution network, which includes a constellation of pioneering scientists in the field of study of the causal relationship between extreme natural phenomena and climate change.
The study said that the risk of soil drought, such as that witnessed in Europe, China and the United States, could recur under the current climate once every 20 years, compared to once every 400 years or even less than that in the absence of warming.
Drought has serious repercussions from the decline in the productivity of agricultural crops to forest fires, and from water scarcity to the disruption of river transport and electric power production.
The study indicated that "climate change caused by human activity has increased the probability of occurrence of surface drought by at least five times, and increased the probability of occurrence of agricultural and environmental drought by at least 20 times."
Many European countries suffered from the phenomenon of drought in the summer, starting with France, where rivers dried up, and several regions were forced to impose a rationing system for water use. Parts of the United States and China have also been affected by this phenomenon.
The repercussions of this drought were reflected on the agricultural sector, as crops fell at a time when the world is witnessing a rise in food prices.
The drought also led to wildfires and disruptions in the production of electricity, especially hydraulic and nuclear power.