In a new study, researchers at Leipzig University have identified a major cause of the unusually severe summer soil drying and rising temperatures across Europe. They found that much of the trend can be attributed to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns—that is, shifts in the weather regime s that typically occur over Europe. These changes account for around 55% of the observed summer drought trend. Specifically, more frequent and persistent high-pressure systems have brought drier conditions and reduced rainfall. ...read more read less