Consequences of three years of drought in Catalonia

Catalonia has been experiencing the most important drought since, at least, 1970. This three-year drought has not experienced any significant precipitation episodes and has particularly affected terrestrial ecosystems.

The Mediterranean vegetation, adapted to periods without rain, overcame the first year of drought (2021) without great phenological impact beyond specific places and individuals.

In the second year of drought (2022), the lack of water affected sprouting, fruiting, and leaf senescence, such as lower fruit productivity and smaller-than-normal fruit size.

During the third year of drought (2023), the strong water stress has directly threatened the survival of some monitored species. The ones that have not died present several phenological anomalies such as lack of flowering (with the consequent absence of fruit), minimal foliation, and drying of branches of the entire individual.

Such resilient species as holm oak, almond tree, grey-leaved cistus, olive tree, strawberry tree and grape have been affected. In the inland agricultural area of Catalonia irrigated by the Canal d'Urgell, there has been an obligation to limit support irrigation to a minimum to keep trees alive, which has caused the loss of the harvest in many places.

These three years without rain have been accompanied by an increase in the average temperature which has advanced ripening. Abnormally warm autumns have led to second blooms or re-sprouting of leaves (grape and shadow plane tree, for example). The mild temperature of the 2023 winter has complicated the structural pruning of the vine and other fruit trees due to the absence of the physiological winter stop.