Morfología Fluvial.-Olas de calor, sequías intensas y desertificación, durante el verano 1994 en el Sureste español (Murcia)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The South-East of Spain, which has semiarid climate, is one of the hottest and driest areas in Europe. This regían is specialized in ·irrigated agricultures and citrus fruits (lemons). The drought can last a long period, sometimes two or three years. The lack of water is becoming the biggest problem, especial\y since the development of irrigated cultures. Drought and heat waves are the major climatic risks and they cause most of the economic losses in agrjcultural activity. 1994 summer was exceptlonal in this region of Spain: heat waves and droughl A majar disaster that revealed a crisis that began many years ago. The need of water is growing while the volume of available water tends to go down. 1-994 surnmer and its disasters (fire, burnt crops by heat) generated social and politk tensions. Desertification is threatening the region. This siluation is not new "the drought" is a normal phenomenon in a semiarid area, but the accurnulalion of drought. aridity and human actions worsening desertification. After 1994, new droughts and heat waves 'increased the lack of water because agriculture needs more and more water. Nonetheless this cultural method is compacting soil by the reduction of organtc matter and by !he heavy falls of rain No solution has been found yet, they have to find new resources of water or change agricultural irrigation methods 1o save water and build up a sustain.able development for this semiarid area.