Sánchez et al. (2025) One Country, Several Droughts: Characterisation, Evolution, and Trends in Meteorological Droughts in Spain Within the Context of Climate Change

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Identification

• Journal: Climate
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-09-26
• Authors: David Espín Sánchez, Jorge Olcina Cantos
• DOI: 10.3390/cli13100202

Research Groups

Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the study utilizes data from 43 long-record meteorological observatories (AEMET), implying involvement of researchers associated with the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) or related Spanish meteorological/climatological institutions.

Short Summary

This paper analyzes drought variability in Spain from 1950–2024 using the Standardised Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at multiple timescales, revealing a convergence of rising drought severity and persistence across interior Spain.

Objective

• To analyze drought variability in Spain (1950–2024) using the Standardised Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at 6-, 12-, and 24-month scales, assessing trends in the frequency, duration, and intensity of dry episodes (SPEI ≤ −1.5), including seasonality and statistical significance (p < 0.05).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Spain
• Temporal Scale: 1950–2024 (75 years)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Standardised Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI)
• Data sources: 43 long-record meteorological observatories (AEMET), providing quality-controlled (QC) and homogenised series. Coherent drought regions were derived via clustering.

Main Results

• Short-term drought behaviour (SPEI-6) has become more complex, with the emergence of a "Catalonia" type and stronger June–October deficits across the northern interior. Mediterranean coasts show smaller or non-significant changes.
• Long-term drought behaviour (SPEI-24) is more structural, showing increasing persistence and duration over the north-eastern interior and Andalusia–La Mancha, consistent with multi-year drought.
• Overall, both short and long scales indicate rising drought severity and persistence across interior Spain.
• Quantitative trends for dry episodes (SPEI ≤ −1.5):
  • SPEI-6: Frequency increases by 0.09 per decade (Centre–León) and 0.08 per decade (Catalonia); duration increases by 0.59 months per decade and 0.50 months per decade; intensity decreases by −0.12 to −0.10 SPEI per decade.
  • SPEI-24: Frequency increases by 0.5 per decade (Cantabrian/NE interior); duration increases by 0.8 months per decade (Andalusia–La Mancha), 0.7 months per decade (NE interior), and 0.4 months per decade (Cabo de Gata–Almería); intensity decreases by −0.06 SPEI per decade.
• Changes along Mediterranean coasts are generally smaller or non-significant.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive, multi-scale analysis of drought variability and trends across Spain over a long period (1950–2024).
• Identifies region-specific drought behaviours and trends, distinguishing between short-term and long-term patterns.
• Highlights the convergence of short and long scales on rising drought severity and persistence in interior Spain.
• Supports the need for multi-scale monitoring and region-specific adaptation strategies in agriculture, water resources, and forest management.

Funding

Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Sánchez2025One,
  author = {Sánchez, David Espín and Cantos, Jorge Olcina},
  title = {One Country, Several Droughts: Characterisation, Evolution, and Trends in Meteorological Droughts in Spain Within the Context of Climate Change},
  journal = {Climate},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.3390/cli13100202},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13100202}
}