Europe Exhausts Water Supplies: Ukraine in the Red Zone of Risk.

According to ТСН: We are used to assessing the amount of water by the level of rivers or rain outside, but the real situation is often hidden underground. A large-scale study lasting over two decades revealed a worrying trend: Europe is gradually 'drying up,' and this phenomenon covers vast areas from sunny Spain to the Ukrainian steppes.

Method of Water Research from Space

Scientists applied an unusual approach: instead of traditional measurements of depth in wells, they used satellite technologies to analyze changes in the Earth's gravitational field.

The principle is extremely simple: water is heavy. When there is a large amount of water in a region (in rivers, lakes, soil, and underground), gravity is slightly stronger there. If the water decreases, the force of gravity falls. Satellites act as large scales in orbit, allowing for the estimation of water supplies on the continent.

Drought Map: Water Loss

Data collected from 2002 to 2024 show a clear divide in Europe: the north and northwest, particularly Scandinavia, are becoming wetter, while the south and east are rapidly losing moisture.

The 'red zone,' where fresh water supplies are decreasing, includes Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Romania, and importantly, Ukraine. Scientists claim that this is not just a temporary phenomenon, but a consequence of climate change, becoming a new reality.

Why Rain Doesn’t Help

You may ask, 'But it rains, sometimes even floods occur!' And here lies the paradox. The climate is changing so that precipitation is becoming extreme.

Instead of long-lasting rains that gradually seep into the soil and replenish underground waters, we observe heavy downpours. The water fails to be absorbed into the ground and quickly runs off into rivers and seas, causing floods but not filling our 'underground reservoirs.' Dry periods between these downpours are becoming longer and hotter, evaporating the residual moisture.

Consequences of Water Resource Depletion

Depletion of groundwater is a serious challenge. This 'hidden' water supports our fields and serves as a source of drinking water for millions of people.

• Agriculture: Crops are becoming more dependent on artificial irrigation, while water supplies for this are decreasing.

• Food Prices: Since Southern Europe, particularly Spain, is a major supplier for the entire continent, water problems here will affect the wallets of all Europeans.

• Ecologies: Drying soils change the environment, making it vulnerable to fires.

Scientists warn that the climate crisis has already arrived. What was once considered a problem for distant desert countries has become a reality for Europe and Ukraine. This is a signal for us that we need to learn to save every drop, repair leaky pipes, collect rainwater, and implement new technologies in the agricultural sector.

It is worth noting that three major Ukrainian cities may disappear underwater. Global warming threatens to flood Odesa, Mykolaiv, and 75% of Holi Prystan.

Given this data, it is essential to realize how climate changes affect Europe's water resources. The rapid depletion of water supplies raises concerns not only in Ukraine but across the continent, as the future of agriculture and food security depends on proper water resource management.