The Paso Lucero bridge is pictured because the Corriente river under is seen affected by a protracted drought, in Corrientes, Argentina February 13, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Extreme excessive temperatures in Argentina linked to local weather change exacerbated the impact of a historic drought that has hit the South American nation’s farm areas since final 12 months, scientists mentioned in a report on Thursday.
Scientists affiliated with the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group mentioned {that a} speedy evaluation confirmed local weather change didn’t scale back rainfall straight, however that prime temperatures probably decreased water availability and worsened the impacts of drought.
The drought has hammered soy, corn and wheat crops within the nation, the world’s prime exporter of soy oil and meal and the No. 3 for corn, resulting in sharp cuts in harvest forecasts. Drought has additionally hit smaller neighbour Uruguay.
The lack of rain is linked to the presence of the La Niña local weather phenomenon, a cooling of the equatorial Pacific that cuts rainfall in components of Argentina. WWA scientists nonetheless mentioned that the intense temperatures are a product of worldwide warming.
“The region is also experiencing intense heatwaves, which climate change has increased in frequency, intensity and duration,” the WWA mentioned in a report.
Last week a lot of Argentina’s agricultural space suffered a brand new heat wave that lasted a number of days and shortly consumed precipitation that had fallen in late January and February in areas that desperately want water after sizzling climate final 12 months.
“Higher temperatures in the region in late 2022, which have been attributed to climate change, decreased water availability in the models,” the WWA mentioned.
“(This indicates) climate change probably reduced water availability over this period, increasing agricultural drought, although the study could not quantify this effect.”
