zeit.de
Record-Low Rainfall and High Temperatures Mark Germany's 2025 Spring
Germany's spring 2025 was the third sunniest since 1951, but also one of the driest since 1881, with only 96 liters of rain per square meter nationwide, causing low river levels, wildfire risks, and agricultural concerns; the northeast was particularly affected, receiving only around 40 liters.
- What were the key impacts of Germany's exceptionally dry spring of 2025?
- Germany experienced one of its driest springs on record, with only 96 liters of rain per square meter nationwide from March to May 2025—a level exceeded only twice since 1881. This extreme drought caused low river levels, increased wildfire risks, and agricultural concerns.
- How did the 2025 spring rainfall compare to previous years and long-term averages?
- The 2025 spring rainfall was 48 percent below the 1961-1990 average and 44 percent below the 1991-2020 average. The northeast was particularly affected, receiving only around 40 liters per square meter. This follows a trend of increasingly warm and dry springs.
- What are the potential long-term implications of this drought and the continuing warming trend for Germany?
- The ongoing warming trend is exacerbating the effects of drought, as seen in the exceptionally warm spring of 2025 (9.8 degrees Celsius on average, 2.1 degrees above the 1961-1990 average). Continued warming and potentially drier conditions may pose significant challenges to German agriculture and water resources.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and introduction immediately highlight the record-breaking dryness of the spring, setting a negative tone. While the article presents data, the emphasis on the extreme dryness and warmth overshadows other aspects of the spring weather. The positive aspect of increased sunshine is mentioned later, less prominently.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and factual, using descriptive terms like "extreme dryness" and quantifiable data. However, phrases like "Sorgen in der Landwirtschaft" (concerns in agriculture) could be considered slightly loaded, implying a negative impact without specifying the extent.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the dryness and warmth of the spring, but omits discussion of potential effects on specific sectors like agriculture beyond a general mention of concerns for crops like maize and sugar beet. It also doesn't explore the potential social and economic consequences of the drought. The article mentions the BUND's warning but does not elaborate on the specifics of the warning.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a clear dichotomy between the exceptionally dry northeast and the comparatively wetter Alpine foothills, but omits discussion of regional variations within those broad categories. The dryness is presented as an absolute, ignoring possible localized variations within the northeast.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article reports an extremely dry spring in Germany, the driest since 1881 in some areas. This is consistent with the impacts of climate change, characterized by more frequent and intense droughts. The low rainfall, high temperatures, and increased sunshine hours all point towards a worsening climate situation, threatening various ecosystems and agricultural production. The quote about the significantly lower rainfall compared to the average further emphasizes this negative impact on climate action goals.