Másfélfok: An increasingly large area of Hungary may be affected by drought

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Last year was the worst year in our country in terms of drought in terms of the observations of the last 48 years, and according to preliminary data, the average yield of corn was also the lowest at that time – meteorologists Anna and Rita Pongrácz and climate researcher Péter Szabó write on the specialist portal. According to their joint analysis, based on the Pálfai drought index, an average of 37 percent of Hungary was drought-free between 2001 and 2020, and according to several climate simulations, we must prepare for an increase in drought areas in the future.

In terms of territorial distribution, the Great Plain and the Little Plain are the most at risk, typically the number of drought-free years is the fewest here

The frequency of moderately severe and severe drought years is currently only 1-2 years every 20 years on average, but this may increase significantly (up to 8) without reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If, on the other hand, the reduction of emissions were to take effect immediately, by the end of the century, according to some simulations, the proportion of the drought-free area could increase somewhat, they wrote.

According to the article, preparing for drought and developing adaptation strategies have been important in domestic agriculture until now

According to experts, such adaptation can be, for example, the construction of irrigation systems, the preservation of forest strips protecting fields, the use of soil cultivation or agro-technologies that help water retention, the selection of the appropriate crop type or the most tolerant crops.

MTI