dw.com
Extreme Drought Grips Germany After Driest Spring Since 1881
Germany's spring of 2025 was the third driest since 1881, with only 96 liters of rain per square meter nationwide, causing extreme drought, low river levels, forest fire risks, and agricultural concerns, particularly in the northeast where rainfall was around 40 liters per square meter compared to over 300 in the Alpine foothills. This follows a long-term warming trend, with a spring average temperature 1.9 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average.
- What are the immediate consequences of Germany's exceptionally dry spring of 2025, and how significant are these impacts on a national scale?
- Germany experienced its third driest spring since 1881, with only 96 liters of rain per square meter, significantly below the 1961-1990 average of 188 liters. This extreme drought has caused low river water levels, increased forest fire risks, and agricultural concerns, particularly for corn and sugar beet crops.", A2="The exceptionally dry spring follows a long-term warming trend in Germany, with 2025's average spring temperature 1.9 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average. This drought, impacting the entire growing season, is particularly severe in the northeast, where rainfall was only around 40 liters per square meter, compared to over 300 liters in the Alpine foothills. This disparity highlights the regional variations of the climate crisis.", A3="The severe drought and high temperatures will likely exacerbate existing challenges in German agriculture, potentially impacting crop yields and food security. The high public concern regarding heatwaves (32 percent of respondents in a recent survey) underscores the urgency for climate adaptation measures, especially investments in urban heat protection. Future planning must account for more frequent extreme weather events.", Q1="What are the immediate consequences of Germany's exceptionally dry spring of 2025, and how significant are these impacts on a national scale?", Q2="How do the regional variations in rainfall across Germany contribute to the overall impact of the drought, and what are the underlying causes of these differences?", Q3="What long-term implications can be expected from the combination of extreme drought and rising temperatures in Germany, and what measures are necessary to mitigate future risks?", ShortDescription="Germany's spring of 2025 was the third driest since 1881, with only 96 liters of rain per square meter nationwide, causing extreme drought, low river levels, forest fire risks, and agricultural concerns, particularly in the northeast where rainfall was around 40 liters per square meter compared to over 300 in the Alpine foothills. This follows a long-term warming trend, with a spring average temperature 1.9 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average.", ShortTitle="Extreme Drought Grips Germany After Driest Spring Since 1881"))
- How do the regional variations in rainfall across Germany contribute to the overall impact of the drought, and what are the underlying causes of these differences?
- The exceptionally dry spring follows a long-term warming trend in Germany, with 2025's average spring temperature 1.9 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average. This drought, impacting the entire growing season, is particularly severe in the northeast, where rainfall was only around 40 liters per square meter, compared to over 300 liters in the Alpine foothills. This disparity highlights the regional variations of the climate crisis.
- What long-term implications can be expected from the combination of extreme drought and rising temperatures in Germany, and what measures are necessary to mitigate future risks?
- The severe drought and high temperatures will likely exacerbate existing challenges in German agriculture, potentially impacting crop yields and food security. The high public concern regarding heatwaves (32 percent of respondents in a recent survey) underscores the urgency for climate adaptation measures, especially investments in urban heat protection. Future planning must account for more frequent extreme weather events.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the drought as an extreme and unprecedented event by highlighting the low rainfall compared to historical data. The use of phrases like "ekstremalną suszę" (extreme drought) and emphasizing the low rainfall figures in the introduction sets a tone of alarm. While this is factually accurate, the framing could be improved by including more context about the variability of rainfall and the long-term trends.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and factual, relying heavily on statistics and quotes from meteorological services. However, the repeated use of phrases emphasizing the severity of the drought could be seen as slightly loaded, though not overtly biased. For example, replacing "ekstremalną suszę" with "poważna susza" (serious drought) would slightly reduce the intensity.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the extreme drought in Germany, but omits discussion of potential mitigating factors or government responses to the drought. While it mentions concerns in agriculture, it lacks detail on the economic impact or governmental support measures. The article also doesn't explore differing regional responses to the drought or differing levels of preparedness across the country. This omission limits the reader's ability to understand the full scope of the issue and its implications.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplified picture by primarily focusing on the negative impacts of the drought without exploring potential counterarguments or alternative perspectives. While the consequences are serious, the article doesn't offer a balanced view by considering potential long-term adaptation strategies or the possibility of future rainfall.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article reports extremely low rainfall in Germany during spring 2025, resulting in the worst drought since 1881. This is linked to the long-term warming trend and has significant consequences for agriculture (corn and sugar beet growth), forestry (increased risk of forest fires), and water resources (low river water levels). The 44-48% rainfall deficit compared to reference periods (1961-1990 and 1991-2020) clearly indicates a negative impact on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The high temperatures add another layer to the negative impacts.