Spain is moving from a Mediterranean to desert climate, study says

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new study from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya warns that Spain, including Barcelona and Majorca, is on track to shift toward a desert-like climate by 2050 due to global heating
• Rainfall could decrease by up to 20%, pushing Spain from a Mediterranean climate into a semi-arid steppe, according to Köppen classification
• The study highlights Spain as a climate change hotspot, with drastic increases in temperature and heatwaves over the past 50 years

🔭 The context: Spain has experienced a 3.27°C temperature rise since 1971, far surpassing global and Mediterranean averages
• This increase has extended the summer by 36 days and led to a 43% rise in tropical nights, where temperatures don’t dip below 25°C
• Alongside heatwaves, extreme rainfall events are also becoming more frequent, worsening the effects of drought and causing flooding in many regions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Spain’s shift to a semi-arid or desert climate represents a significant environmental transformation that could impact water resources, agriculture, and biodiversity, exacerbating the challenges posed by global climate change

⏭️ What's next: By 2050, Spain’s climate will become more desert-like, with droughts lengthening and summer days increasing by an average of 22.7 days
• If emissions remain on their current path, 40% of mainland Spain will experience a cold semi-arid climate, replacing the traditional Mediterranean climate

💬 One quote: “The warming process resulting from climate change has been very pronounced in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, representing a true hotspot,” the researchers report

📈 One stat: Temperatures in Spain have risen by 3.27°C since 1971, compared to the global average increase of 1.19°C

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