Printer friendly version Rain in Spain is on the decline 02
February 2011 A study led by the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR)
has studied precipitation trends in Spain's 10 hydrological
basins over the 1946 to 2005 period. The results show that
precipitation has declined overall between the months of March
and June, reducing the length of the rainy season. The rains are
heavier in October in the north west of the country. Since 1946,
the average precipitation falling on Spanish hydrological basins
has undergone "notable" changes. The researchers observed a
widespread decline in March and June, above all in March (except
in the basin of the Segura), with less intense rains in June.
"The basin of the Guadiana (in the south west of Spain) has
experienced the strongest downward trend, with a reduction of
18%, while the positive trends recorded in the north west of the
peninsula were less intense (the Norte, Douro and Tagus
basins)", José Carlos González-Hidalgo, lead author of the study
and a researcher at the UNI