OREANDA-NEWS  Heavy rainfall, droughts and heat waves, which are part of global climate change, will lead to a drop in groundwater levels and local changes in landscapes in southern Russia in the near future. Climatic changes are already being observed there, Igor Vakhrushev, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, associate professor at the Faculty of Geography, Geoecology and Tourism at the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (KFU), told TASS.

Abnormally warm weather in January 2025 was recorded in all regions of southern Russia. At the same time, temperature records are recorded in some regions. For example, in Astrakhan, the temperature record of 120 years ago was broken on January 3. The excess of the climatic norm to 10 degrees in January was also recorded in the Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Adygea.

"In the south of Russia, we are really seeing an increase in average annual temperatures. According to some climate models, they may increase by 1-2 degrees. This is a manifestation of global climate change, which is accompanied by droughts, heat waves, increased winds and intense downpours. Precipitation is redistributed: in some places it becomes too much, in others it becomes too little. Droughts in these regions are beginning to intensify. In addition, an increase in temperature leads to an increase in evaporation, which, in turn, reduces the groundwater level. With excessive precipitation and waterlogging, the risk of landslides increases, and with increased wind, the degradation of the fertile soil layer accelerates and the threat of desertification appears," the agency's source said.

The scientist is confident that special technologies need to be used to counter the negative effects of climate change. For example, the planting of forest belts, which helped in the USSR to combat desertification and dust storms, can help.