2024-10-30 19:13:00
Image source, AEMET
photo caption, Image of the Iberian Peninsula covered by DANA clouds.
- Author, Write
- Author’s title, BBC News World
- 30 October 2024, 19:10 GMT
Updated 1 hour
More than 90 people have died and dozens remain missing as a result of severe flooding that has hit mainly the Valencia region in eastern Spain.
In just a few hours, a year’s worth of rain fell in some areas, causing major floods that devastated entire cities and left thousands of people trapped.
In some places they recorded up to 445.4 liters per square meter.
The precipitation, accompanied by strong winds and tornadoes, was caused by a meteorological phenomenon known as Isolated high level depression (DANA) which affected a vast area of the south and east of Spanish territory.
A common phenomenon in the Mediterranean
photo caption, A row of cars piled up after the passage of the torrents of water caused by DANA.
The term DANA began to be used by Spanish meteorologists a few decades ago to differentiate it from the more generic and imprecise “cold drop”, which is usually used to refer to any situation of intense and abundant rain, especially when it occurs in the Mediterranean. coast of the Iberian Peninsula during autumn.
DANA is phenomenon in which a mass of very cold polar air isolates itself and begins to circulate at very high altitudes (between 5,000 and 9,000 meters), far from the influence of atmospheric circulation.
Then, when it collides with the warmer, more humid air that usually exists in the Mediterranean Sea, it generates strong thunderstorms, especially in late northern summer and early autumn, when maritime temperatures are highest.
“Create a highly unstable environment, and that’s where the air rises from. Very quickly, it allows storm clouds to actually fly, aided and abetted by winds hitting higher ground and lifting. And the higher the storm clouds, the more moisture they contain,” explained BBC meteorologist Matt Taylor.
photo caption, The Spanish Meteorological Agency has described the current storm as “the most adverse of the century in the Valencian Community”.
This phenomenon can last several days and is accompanied by a drop in temperatures, a very unstable environment and extreme weather events, as is occurring these days on the east coast of Spain.
Unlike a common storm, which moves eastward, a DANA can stay stuck in the same place for several days or even move westward (this is called regression), as the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) explains.
Not all DANAs create extreme weather conditions like these.
Its destructive potential appears precisely when mixed with warm land and sea temperatures.
“DANAs are a relatively frequent structure in our latitudes (Spain) and, fortunately, most of them do not become so noteworthy,” says AEMET meteorologist Delia Gutiérrez on the agency’s blog.
Historically In Spain there have been DANAs well remembered for their destructive consequences, such as that of 1973, which affected Almería, Granada and Murcia, in the south-east of the country, and left behind many human and material losses.
AEMET has described the current storm as “the most adverse of the century in the Valencian Community”.
“It was a historic storm, on a par with the great Mediterranean storms and among the three most intense of the last century in the region”, they add.
photo caption, The destruction caused by DANA in the Valencia region.
Climate change
According to experts, the increasing frequency of DANA and the intensification of precipitation associated with them are closely linked to climate change.
Him progressive increase in the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea It facilitates the creation of conditions so that there is more energy and moisture needed for more powerful DANA to occur.
“We are seeing an increase in these phenomena as our climate warms,” explained BBC meteorologist Matt Taylor.
“Although such events have happened in the past, they are becoming increasingly common,” Taylor said.
Last year, a study by the American Meteorological Society found an increase in DANA since the 1960s on a global scale.
photo caption, DANA left extensive material damage in eastern Spain.
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The current storm affecting the Valencian Community in Spain has been described by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) as “the most adverse of the century.” This phenomenon, known as a DANA (depresión aislada en niveles altos), can persist for several days, leading to significant drops in temperature and extreme weather conditions. Unlike typical storms that generally move eastward, a DANA can become stationary or even move westward, resulting in prolonged adverse weather.
The AEMET notes that while DANAs are relatively common in Spain, most do not escalate to severe weather events. Their potential for destruction increases when combined with warm land and sea temperatures. Historically, some DANAs have had devastating impacts, such as the notable event in 1973 that caused significant losses in the southeastern regions of Spain.
Experts have linked the rising frequency and severity of these weather events to climate change, emphasizing how warmer Mediterranean Sea temperatures enhance the conditions that lead to more powerful DANAs. A study from the American Meteorological Society corroborates this trend, indicating an increase in such weather phenomena globally since the 1960s.
the ongoing climate crisis is prompting concerns among meteorologists about the future frequency and intensity of such storms across affected regions.
Storm, known as DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), has unleashed torrential rains and severe weather conditions, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life in eastern Spain. The heavy rainfall has led to widespread flooding, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and displacing residents.
Meteorological experts emphasize that the increasing frequency and severity of such weather events are strongly linked to climate change. The progressive rise in Mediterranean Sea temperatures contributes to the development of conditions ripe for more powerful DANA occurrences. BBC meteorologist Matt Taylor noted that while similar events have historically taken place, they are becoming increasingly common due to the warming climate.
Recent studies, including one from the American Meteorological Society, reveal a global increase in DANA phenomena since the 1960s, underscoring an urgent need for communities and policymakers to address and mitigate the impact of climate change on severe weather patterns. As the situation unfolds in Valencia, the region faces the daunting task of recovery and rebuilding in the wake of this catastrophic weather.