Rains were unusually heavy in most of Spain in April, and this may make one believe that the looming shadow of drought is no longer hanging over us.. However, a detailed analysis of the situation shows that this is not the case. The rains that fell during the month of April failed to close the precipitation deficit that the Peninsula has pulled down this year in general.
A survey conducted by the portal hour Referring to the evolution of the last decade, however, There is still a precipitation deficit (which is increasing) on the Atlantic slope, while a surplus or at least a normal situation can be seen in the east and southeast. A similar situation is observed in the Basque Country and Navarra.
If the evolution of the last decade is observed at certain points, it is clear that the trend points towards less and less rainy years outside of these areas.
In Córdoba, Santiago de Compostela or the Canary Islandspoints very far from each other, downward trends in precipitation regime have been seen in the last ten years and a deficit of 30% is seen in the La Palma example.
However, while the Atlantic slopes show a deficit, Navarre and the Basque Country, in addition to the Mediterranean, is generally in surplus in recent years. Rains are often heavy in these regions (with the risks this represents), but at least there is no meteorological drought in the Mediterranean region today.
stations like these Utiel (Valencia), Elche, Huercal-Overa (Almeria) et al show above-normal precipitation between 2019 and 2021.
LorcaIn Murcia, it would have been at least 200% more than the normal recorded in the December-April period.
On the contrary, in the Atlantic regions the panorama is diametrically opposite. vigo It barely recorded 54% of what would have been normal precipitation in those five months. Same goes for cities. Zamora Villardeciervos (38% less than normal) or soria (72% less than normal). But even in the Mediterranean there are exceptions, as in Barcelona 46% less than usual was collected in these five months.
So, is the drought in Spain already over? “The answer is clear: no.. The rains failed to stave off the drought, and even more clearing accumulated on the Atlantic slope. In the east, on the contrary, it has accumulated much more than usual, with a greater excess, “says Roberto Granda in the aforementioned meteorological portal.
Poor condition of reservoirs
As a result, The condition of Spanish reservoirs remains poor overall. The very low level of the Guadiana and Guadalquivir basins is particularly striking. The same thing happens with Tagus.
Segura barely reaches 44%, but in this case it is predictable that it will continue to rise and also the soils are highly saturated with water due to the heavy rains in the last two months. However, it is also important to take into account what happens to underground aquifers, in which case they continue to come under significant pressure due to massive consumption from various sectors, adds Granda.
“Meteorological drought may have been partially alleviated alongside agricultural drought. It rained to allow crops such as grain to continue. However, precipitation is insufficient in many regions. It is clear that the country and we are still in a bad situation. So we can talk about the drought in Spain. A prolonged drought that has dragged the Atlantic slope for many years,” concludes this expert.
Reference news: https://www.eltiempo.es/noticias/sequia-no-ha-terminado-en-espana
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Source: Informacion
