On Tuesday, June 17, is the World Day of Fighting Desert and Dry. As the ecohydrologist Dr. Sebastian Szklarek said, Poland is not in danger of deserting in the next decades, but the problem of drought is serious. – They happen more often, cover larger areas of the country and are more intense – noted the scientist.
A scientist from the European Regional Eco -Drology Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences pointed out that drought has a real impact on the economy and, above all, on agriculture. On the occasion of the World Day of Fighting on Presseine and Dry on June 17, the expert said that easily accessible water resources in Poland not only decrease, but are also poorly used. – When heavy rain rains, we often hear: “Oh, that's good, it will be less dry”. Meanwhile, it is the most spectacular rainfall that complement our water resources in the slightest. The land that has been dry for a long time does not take rapidly falling water. Such rainfall resembles watering the dry plant, when instead of soaking, the water flows down the surface. Only on a national scale this effect has serious consequences – the expert pointed out.
45 percent of agricultural and forest surfaces threatened with drought
The scientist explained that terms such as “deserting” or “steppe” describe landscape changes, in which areas so far covered with vegetation gradually, due to loss of humidity, lose it, transforming into dry, sterile spaces resembling deserts or steppes. Although this situation does not apply to Poland directly, the problem of changes in the structure of vegetation and the decrease in soil moisture exists and deepens from year to year. According to the Institute of Environmental Protection of the National Research Institute, as much as 45 percent of agricultural and forest areas in our country are at risk of the occurrence of agricultural drought. Regions in the center of the country, like Greater Poland, are particularly vulnerable. The result that we can already observe is a reduction in crops, worse quality of crops, their greater susceptibility to pests, and thus higher food prices and problems in the agricultural sector. – Contrary to popular belief, drought is not only a lack of rain. This is a disorder of the water balance, i.e. a situation in which more water is falling from the landscape than you get to it. In practice, this means less rainfall and at the same time more evaporation. This second value is also increased by high temperatures and wind – said Dr. Szklarek. All these adverse processes are driven by climate change. Precipitation has been less frequent in recent years, but more intense, even navile. As a result, although sometimes a lot of water falls, it happens in a short time, which is why it has no chance to soak into the soil and instead of supplying plants or completing underground resources, it flows quickly on the surface, often causing flooding. Then there are long periods without rain. – This can be compared to a potted plant. If we do not water it for two weeks, and then feed it with the entire watering water at once, most of this water will pour out and dirty the window sill, and the plant will dry out anyway. Such extremes are not served either – an ecohydrologist illustrated. In addition, higher and higher temperatures mean that the water disappears faster from the landscape – it evaporates from puddles, but also from soil and plants, deepening the problem of deficiency. Due to such a changing water balance of entire regions, not only fields, but also forests, rivers and water reservoirs are threatened. – The low level of water resources is one thing, but an equally serious problem is the drainage of rainwater too quickly as well as the concreted cities and the lack of natural forms of retention – emphasized the researcher. – For decades, thinking about getting rid of water has dominated with us: dehydration of fields, drying the areas. Meanwhile, we should stop it where it falls – in the landscape, in the soil, in small tanks. Each drop matters – he added.
Drought has many names (PAP/EPA Małgorzata Latos)PAP/EPA Małgorzata Latos
Water retention
Sebastian Szklarek believes that the biggest challenge is adaptation to changing climatic conditions. It means, among others Playing wetlands, retention of water where it has fallen, the use of natural retention methods and changes in agriculture, e.g. introducing crops more resistant to drought and rational water management. The expert reminded that for decades, urban buildings and water engineering focused on draining rainwater as soon as possible, treating it like waste. Meanwhile, in current conditions, it is a valuable resource that should be stopped and reused. In addition to system activities, this means the need to implement small retention solutions, re -use of sewage, introducing greenery and water reservoirs into cities and constantly educating society. – In Poland, access to drinking water is not at risk for now, because most of us use underground shots that are more stable than surface. In addition, large shots, e.g. in Vistulaoften use water from under the bottom of the river, i.e. even if the water mirror falls, the consumption will still be possible. But over time, we may begin to appear, as, for example, it is already in some regions of Spain. You have to prepare for them properly – he pointed out.
How to save waterPAP
Source of the main photo: Adobe Stock