Flash4CastImp: Identification, Monitoring, and Forecasting of Impactful Flash Droughts in Europe

Objective

Climate change has caused an increase in dry conditions which are severely depleting water resources across Europe. “Flash droughts” is the name given to these dry conditions that rapidly intensify over a short period of time, directly impacting ecosystems and society. Understanding their drivers and related impacts, as well as providing reliable forecasts of their occurrence, is essential with regard to formulating appropriate responses and adaptation strategies. Flash4CastImp aims 1) to establish a systematic database for flash drought events in Europe, incorporating the atmospheric circulation and land-atmosphere feedbacks; 2) to evaluate the role of flash drought duration and severity in triggering multisectoral impacts, particularly in the hydrological, ecological, and agricultural sectors; and 3) to develop and implement an operational near real-time monitoring system, as well as a short- to medium-term forecasting system for flash droughts at the European scale. We will address these objectives with the use of the latest advances in climate and environmental data, including a wide range of high-resolution reanalysis datasets, remote sensing technologies, and state-of-the-art forecasting models, to provide a comprehensive understanding of flash droughts. The fellow possesses broad expertise and background in climatic dynamics (synoptic climatology and land-atmosphere interactions) and computational methods. This can be combined with IPE-CSIC’s renowned research capabilities in relation to drought analysis and the assessment of its related impacts, as well as with valuable knowhow in the development of climate services. Flash4CastImp will equip policymakers, stakeholders, and the scientific community with actionable insights for effective flash drought adaptation strategies. Moreover, the project's impact extends beyond Europe, providing a benchmark for studies and applications at different geographical scales around the globe.