This summer was unusually dry. The soil and plants were so parched that the green plains turned yellow. This change was so significant that even the satellites circling above our heads did not miss it. These were later also captured by floods in Europe.
Records were falling during the holidays. The average global temperature between June and August was 0.69 degrees Celsius higher than the average temperature between 1991 and 2020, according to the European Union’s Copernicus meteorological service, which compiled data from satellites, ships, aircraft and stations around the world.
“Over the past three months, we’ve had the hottest June and August ever, with the highest temperatures in one day, as well as the hottest summer period from June to August,” named by the deputy director of the Copernicus service Samantha Burgess.
According to her, these records were only the beginning. Extreme heat-related phenomena are said to be even more intense and the consequences more devastating.
Above-average temperatures bring extreme weather, such as droughts or floods. These were so extensive this year that they were also captured by satellites from space. Meteorologists from Hungary drew attention to the changes.
Drought in the countryside
“At the beginning of summer, the Carpathian Basin was still green. However, the great heat in July and the minimum rainfall caused the landscape to resemble a semi-desert in August.” wrote the meteorologist Sándor Varga.
The entire development was captured by NASA Terra/MODIS satellite images. The Időkép website edited a video from them.
The good news is that it will be possible to detect impending drought in the future. Scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California discovered that plants recognize them months before the event itself. It is then sufficient to observe a phenomenon called solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), which weakens during the crisis.
Although invisible to the human eye, it can be detected by special instruments aboard satellites such as NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2).
“When plants photosynthesize, they absorb sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into nutrients. During this process, some unused particles of light escape and create a subtle glow – SIF,” he explains Nicholas Parazooan Earth scientist at JPL. “It becomes more intense when the plant consumes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus supports its growth. On the contrary, when it doesn’t have the right conditions, the brightness fades.”
Using data from satellites, experts can record fluctuations in the amount of water in the soil 6 to 12 weeks before a flash drought. Even if we can’t stop it, forecasts can help prepare for it.
Satellites and the flood
The satellites did not miss the low-pressure storm system that plagued Central Europe from September 11 to 18, especially Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria, where up to three times the amount of precipitation typical for the entire month of September fell during the week.
Images from space released by NASA’s Earth Observatory clearly show how the streams have overflowed. According to them, scientists can thus detect in the future how rivers change their course and which areas may be at risk of extreme floods.
Resources: www.bluemarble.nasa.gov, www.seznamzpravy.cz, www.space.com, www.idokep.hu
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Title: The Summer of Sizzles and Soils: A Comedy of Climate Change and Cosmic Observations!
Ah, summer! The season we all love for sunburns, barbecues, and that annual game of “How Long Can I Last Without Watering the Plants?” This year, however, nature seemed to turn the dial up to frighteningly hot. I mean, we’re talking about a summer so dry that it made the Sahara look like a water park!
According to reports, the global temperature between June and August was 0.69 degrees Celsius higher than usual—yes, that’s a number that makes your head hurt more than a night spent binge-watching “The Office”! Samantha Burgess, the deputy director of the Copernicus service, declared it the hottest June and August IN THE HISTORY OF EVER! That’s right! Your great-grandparents would have literally broken into a sweat just hearing about it.
But what’s a summer without a little drama? Just as we were dealing with heat waves dying to get their fair share of attention, the weather took a sharp u-turn—floods. An extreme version of “Surprise! It’s raining!” hit Central Europe. I mean, can we get a rain check here or what? You can’t spell ‘flood’ without ‘fun’—wait, yes you can, and it’s not fun at all! As much as I enjoy a good shower, there’s such a thing as too much, folks.
Now let’s talk about our friends up in the sky—NASA satellites! Yes, those orbiting cameras are having the time of their lives capturing our planet’s escapades, showing us that plants and soils are in a bit of a pickle. It appears that the Carpathian Basin went from looking like a lush green fairy tale to a semi-desert faster than you can say “Where’s my sunscreen?!” Sándor Varga, a meteorologist, described the transformation perfectly: one minute you’re frolicking in the fields, and the next, you’re thinking about whose idea it was to skip watering the lawn!
But every cloud has a silver lining… or in this case, a glowing plant! Scientists have discovered that plants can sense drought months before humans do. Yes, folks, soon, we won’t need a weather app; we’ll just take our plant for a walk, and if it looks a bit droopy, it’s time to fetch the watering can.
Nicholas Parazoo from JPL explained that plants photosynthesize and emit a glow—like those disco balls in the 70s, but much less funky—called solar-induced fluorescence (SIF). The problem is, when they’re not getting enough water, they dim down. So, if your houseplant seems less party animal and more wallflower, it might be time for an intervention!
And guess what? Satellites are like digital babysitters for our rivers too! They’re keeping an eye on which way the water flows, predicting where the floods might sneak up next. Imagine telling someone, “I know your house is prone to floods because a satellite told me!” That’s science fiction becoming science fact, and I love it!
So, what’s the takeaway, folks? Climate change is playing us like a bad relationship—just when you think it couldn’t get worse, it flips the script. But knowledge is power, even if that knowledge sometimes comes from a satellite in the void of space. So next time you look at your garden, remember: your plants might just be lecturing you on water scarcity while you think you’re staring at a lovely green oasis.
In conclusion, let’s raise a glass, preferably filled with water (because climate change is real, and our plants are counting on us). Here’s to hoping next summer features slightly less drama, more hydration for our vegetation, and less need for emergency flood warnings. Cheers! 🌿💧
