Spain, which is emerging from a prolonged drought, should prepare for increasingly frequent and severe dry spells due to climate change, according to a scientific report published on Thursday.
The report by climate and oceanography experts from the global Clivar network, which studies climate change, states that the Mediterranean nation has long experienced “semi-permanent water stress” due to its geographic location.
While rainfall in recent years has been around average, rising temperatures have caused higher atmospheric evaporation, leading to longer and more intense droughts, the report stated. It noted that Spain has already recorded “the highest frequency of severe droughts in the last 150 years” since the start of the century.
These worsening droughts will heighten the risk of extreme wildfires, extending their peak period from June to September. They are also expected to impact Spain’s economy, particularly agriculture and tourism.
“Optimal conditions for summer tourism will deteriorate,” the report warned, though it suggested that tourism may improve during the spring and autumn seasons.
Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET, said on Tuesday that the country’s current drought, which began in 2021, may be ending due to recent heavy rainfall. However, the dry spell has already led to reduced cereal, olive oil, and wine harvests, prompting authorities to draft emergency plans to ship fresh water by boat to Barcelona.
