Large areas of Western, Central and Eastern Europe, if humanity does not take the necessary measures, in 30-70 years will be under the threat of flooding due to global warming. This forecast is contained in the report of the European Environment Agency, reports New Scientist.
For the first time, the Agency conducted a global monitoring of the state of water resources in Europe and made forecasts for flooding of several territories on the continent. Climatologists believe that by 2050 the economic damage from floods will increase fivefold, and by 2080 - 17 times. Low-lying areas located in the valleys of large rivers (primarily the Rhine and Danube) are named among the areas under threat.
Over the past hundred years, 90 percent of floodplains in Europe have been destroyed, which during floods protect the regions downstream of the river from excess water. The agency's forecast is based on an analysis of previous floods, the continued pace of global warming and the lack of measures to combat it. Scientists presented the following data.
Between 1980 and 2010, 3563 floods were recorded in 37 European countries. The largest number of disasters occurred in 2010 (321 floods in 21 countries). Italy was hardest hit (6.7 million, or 11 percent of the population), while Hungary was the hardest hit (1.8 million, 18 percent). Over time, more people and territories will suffer from the disaster.
Scientists offer a comprehensive solution to the problem of floods in Europe. On the one hand, it includes the fight against global warming, on the other, the restoration of the natural ecosystem of river reservoirs and floodplains.