Calay News
“I need water,” says farmer Lars Jonsson as he looks out over his field in eastern Denmark, where the yellowish soil and unusual dryness, a consequence of the drought sweeping across northern Europe, are a cause for concern. During this early summer, the northern hemisphere has experienced extreme weather events, such as mega-fires in Canada and drought in Spain.
Even in northern Europe, known for its coolness, the drought has left its soils arid and increased the threat of wildfires, as happened in Sweden in 2018. Lars Jonsson, a Danish farmer in his 60s, has been running a pig and grain farm north of Copenhagen since 1989. Due to the lack of water, his cereals are 25% shorter than normal. According to the European Copernicus service, 89.5% of the Danish territory was in a state of drought at the end of May.
Drought was not previously considered a result of climate change in Denmark, but now periods without rain are becoming longer and more frequent. Lars Jonsson ponders what crops he might plant in the future, considering options such as sunflowers or soybeans, even though irrigation of cereals is banned in his area.
The drought is also affecting other northern European countries. Finland and Sweden have experienced a high percentage of their territories affected by drought, with Sweden experiencing its driest June in a decade or two. Norway is also facing an unusual drought, although overall there has been a 20% increase in precipitation since 1900 due to climate change.
Prolonged drought and rising temperatures lead to an increased risk of forest fires in these countries, which has led authorities to implement bans on campfires and barbecues outside gardens. These dry and hot conditions are becoming more frequent and pose a challenge for farmers and water conservation in the region.
