The air above parts of Europe is the driest it has been in 400 years, according to an international study led by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, WSL.
The unprecedented level of atmospheric drought is linked to greenhouse gas emissions, according to the study.
With a team of 67 international scientists, Kerstin Treydte, the main author of the WSL study, investigated what is known as 'vapour-pressure deficit,' a measure used to quantify air dryness.
VPD expresses the difference between the amount of water the air actually contains and the maximum amount it could contain, according to the WSL. Changes in VPD are reflected by tree rings.
The researchers studied tree rings in various parts of Europe, dating back to the year 1600. They found that since the beginning of the 21st century, the air over large regions of Europe has become drier, a development that shows no signs of reversing, the WSL said on Wednesday.
The findings display exceptionally high levels for the 21st century. Moreover, they prove that the current levels could not have been reached without greenhouse gas emissions, thereby highlighting the evident influence of human activity, noted the WSL.
