Increased future occurrences of the exceptional 2018–2019 Central European drought under global warming

Since the spring 2018, a large part of Europe has been in the midst of a record-setting drought. Using long-term observations, we demonstrate that the occurrence of the 2018-2019 (consecutive) summer drought is unprecedented in the last 250 years, and its combined impact on the growing season vegetation activities is stronger compared to the 2003 European drought. Using a suite of climate model simulation outputs, we underpin the role of anthropogenic warming on exacerbating the future risk of such a consecutive drought event. Under the highest Representative Concentration Pathway, (RCP 8.5), we notice a seven-fold increase in the occurrence of the consecutive droughts, with additional 40 ([Formula: see text])…

• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: RA 3235/1-1
• GA
  Grantová Agentura České Republiky

  Awards: 19‐24089J, 19-24089J