16.04.2025 14:31
Throughout March, temperature records were broken in 13 provinces and 17 districts across the country. The severe weather changes, described as the "climate whip," will also affect the summer season. Following an extraordinarily hot year in 2024, it is anticipated that this summer will be even hotter. Prof. Dr. Şermin Tağıl has issued critical warnings regarding this issue.
Izmir Bakırçay University Geography Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Şermin Tağıl stated that the effects of climate change are becoming more evident in Turkey every day, and therefore, the summer season is now a strong possibility to be marked by drought and extreme heat.
JANUARY WAS THE 3RD WARMEST MONTH IN THE LAST 55 YEARS
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which is part of the European Union, the global average air temperature was measured at 13.23 degrees Celsius in January. This data recorded January as the warmest January, 0.79 degrees above the average for the period of 1991-2020.
According to the data from the General Directorate of Meteorology of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the average temperature for January, which was measured at 2.9 degrees between 1991-2020 in Turkey, rose to 5.5 degrees this January, exceeding seasonal norms by 2.6 degrees. January 2025 became the third warmest January in the last 55 years. During the heatwave on March 15-16, days reminiscent of summer were experienced across the country.
HEAT RECORDS WERE BROKEN IN 13 PROVINCES IN MARCH
Throughout March, heat records were broken in 13 provinces and 17 districts across Turkey. In Izmir, the temperature reached 31.1 degrees on March 15, marking the highest temperature recorded in March since 1938.
SEVERAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS WERE AFFECTED BY FROST
In April, which is normally warm in Turkey, winter was almost experienced. Education was interrupted in many cities due to snowfall and adverse weather conditions. In many provinces where the air temperature dropped below zero and snowfall occurred, many agricultural products were affected by frost. After an extraordinarily hot year in 2024, it is predicted that this summer will be hotter.
SUMMER MAY BE MARKED BY DROUGHT AND EXTREME HEAT
Prof. Dr. Şermin Tağıl stated that the effects of climate change are increasingly felt in Turkey, indicating that the summer of 2025 has become a strong possibility to be marked by drought and extreme heat.
"CLIMATE WHIP IS SHAKING NATURE"
Pointing out that Turkey experiences the effects of global warming much more than average due to its location in the Mediterranean Basin, Tağıl said, "We define sudden severe weather changes as 'climate whip.' On one hand, there is scorching drought, and immediately after, devastating floods. Global warming sharpens the transitions in climate even more. Every sudden change shakes nature and catches human life unprepared."
Recalling that the lack of rainfall that started in the last months of 2024 continued to affect the first quarter of 2025, Tağıl drew attention to the fact that Turkey has been experiencing consistently low rainfall for over a year.
"THE DIMENSION OF THE DANGER IS NOT UNIQUE TO THIS YEAR"
Expressing that the dry and hot winter combined with spring has caused serious drought, Tağıl noted: "We expect temperatures to rise even more in the summer months. While severe, persistent, and critical drought conditions continue in Central Anatolia, Southeastern and Aegean Regions, the drought alarm level is present in Central and Southeastern Turkey, but the dimension of the danger is not unique to this year. The consecutive years of drought since 2023 have weakened the soil and water resources' ability to renew themselves. This cumulative effect will be felt much more severely in the summer of 2025. Drought is no longer a crisis of the past; it has become a reality directly connected to today and the future."
Prof. Dr. Şermin Tağıl stated that the intensifying drought could lead to significant yield losses in agricultural production and that there could be serious problems in providing drinking water in some regions during the summer months.
"A HOT AND RAINLESS PERIOD MAY BE EXPERIENCED FROM APRIL TO JUNE"
Emphasizing that temperature records could be broken in the summer according to the medium and long-term weather forecasts of the European Medium-Range Weather Forecast Center, Tağıl made the following assessments: "Climate prediction models forecast that the summer of 2025 could be one of the hottest and driest periods in recent years for Turkey. Especially from April to June, the influence of high atmospheric pressure systems may lead to a hot and rainless period, which is a significant possibility. It is expected that Turkey will be under the influence of high-pressure systems carrying hot air during the summer months. This high pressure will become more permanent in the second half of summer, increasing the transport of hot air from the south and significantly reducing the amount of rainfall. Drought conditions will become even more severe across the country, including the Black Sea Region. Models also indicate that sea surface temperatures will rise by 1.5 to 1.8 degrees compared to last year. This increase will lead to a decrease in atmospheric moisture and further reduce rainfall."
Prof. Dr. Tağıl emphasized that establishing systems to ensure access to clean water, promoting technologies to increase water efficiency in agriculture, and implementing urban policies suitable for climate risks are urgent needs, adding that everyone should take responsibility in this regard.