He keeps testing it fiery nightmare in France. Firefighters from several European countries, including Germany, Romania and Greece, are in France to help put out several wildfires raging amid successive heatwaves and a historic drought.
The current heat wave in France began on July 31 and is the third in a year after those who experienced it in late June and mid-July. July has been the country’s driest month since March 1961.
Lowering of the water level in the Rhine and Danube
At the same time, in the Rhine, which for centuries has been the mainstay of the economy of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the water level has dropped so much that no ships can pass. In addition, the Danube, which stretches for about 2,897 kilometers and flows through Central Europe to the Black Sea, also tends to dry up.
UK is in a state of drought
On Friday, the UK government announced that parts of southern, central and eastern England have been officially declared in a state of drought after an extended period of hot and dry weather.
The National Drought Group was convened after England’s driest July since 1935. This month saw only 35% of the average rainfall, while parts of England and Wales have issued a four-day ‘extreme heat’ warning.
Water companies will start implementing pre-agreed drought plans to help conserve supplies, and the government said the public and businesses in drought-affected areas are encouraged to use water wisely.
The last time a drought was declared in England was in 2018.
The source of the Thames dried up
The Thames’ headwaters have dried up more than ever before, and experts warn the country is not ready for a drought. The Thames stretches for 356 kilometers through southern England. passes through Gloucestershire in the west and through the center of London before emptying into the Essex Sea in the east.
The natural spring that feeds the river dries up for most of the summer. However, this year the area of the dry river bed has increased significantly more than in previous years, according to observations by conservationists.
University of Reading climate expert and hydrologist Hannah Cloke said poor rainfall has caused river and groundwater levels to drop, with water leaving canals to irrigate crops, fill reservoirs with potable water and be used by industry.
Source: Kathimerini
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