Dr Katie Facer-Childs from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology says there is not a straightforward answer to when this drought might end, because it has not been caused simply by a lack of rainfall, but also higher than average temperatures.
“This year we’ve gone through meteorological, soil moisture, and river flow drought,” says Facer-Childs.
Meteorological drought is when rainfall is below normal.
Next comes soil moisture drought, which begins to affect agriculture. Soil is like a type of reservoir – those stores are depleted by thirsty trees and plants, and evaporation during hot temperatures.
Then comes river flow drought, where river levels fall, and, finally, if dry conditions persist for long enough, groundwater and reservoir levels decline, leading to the most serious impacts.
“However, we have not yet reached severe groundwater and reservoir drought, so that means there’s hope,” says Dr Katie Facer-Childs.
The British Geological Survey, external says no groundwater sites around the UK are currently reporting record lows – with nearly half at normal levels.
