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Review of the first half of 2020


The first half of 2020 was around 2.4 degrees Celsius too warm overall - a significant one
positive deviation from the 1961-1990 reference value. February was particularly noticeable
which could come up with a positive temperature deviation of more than 5 degrees. the
The sun shone about 200 hours longer than the long-term average. The absolute "hit" was
April with almost 300 hours of sunshine (a positive deviation of 150 hours!).
As already reported, we have had our own precipitation figures since the beginning of January 2020
measurements with a Hellmann measuring device. The measurements in Coswig show despite the
a clearly negative half-year balance of -73 mm in wet February. Especially
the almost totally dry month of April had a negative impact.
Summary: The most serious feature in the context of the half-year review is after the
anyway, two severe drought years in 2018 and 2019, which are now continuing in 2020
continuing or worsening drought in the observed region Meissen-Coswig-
Radebeul. In many other areas of Germany in June
However, heavy rainfall eased the situation.
After the first summer month of June, which was very dry for us, we are quite
apparently the third drought year in a row. This regional special position of the region
Meissen-Coswig-Radebeul should be considered at all decision-making levels. One
there has not been a comparably critical situation on site since the measurements began
given.

Assessment of the ongoing drought situation in the regionMeissen-Coswig-Radebeul

The drought monitor of the Environmental Research Center Halle-Leipzig currently shows that theprolonged exceptional* drought of the soil down to a depth of 1.8 m in SaxonyException of the extreme south (Vogtland, southern Ore Mountains, Saxon Switzerland andZittau Mountains) continued undiminished, even intensified in some cases.In June, the total precipitation deficit calculated from January 1, 2018 increasedRoom Coswig to -439 mm. Figuratively speaking, our soil is already missing oneWater volume of about 440 liters per square meter.

* We distinguish 5 degrees of drought severity (unusually dry -> moderate drought ->severe drought -> extreme drought -> exceptional drought)

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