• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 07 / 08 / 2011

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15:05, July 07, 2011. The frequency of droughts in Cuba has increased significantly from 1961 to 1990 compared with the period from 1931-1960, Cuba's National Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) said Wednesday.

Ramon Perez, a specialist at the INSMET, said that since the last comprehensive comparative study concluded in 1990 the trend has continued and represents one of the most important signs of climate change observed in Cuba during the past five decades.

The presence of drought has increased due to the strengthening of the anti-cyclonic influence in the middle and lower levels of the atmosphere in Cuba and in the surrounding geographical area, said Perez.

He added that the repeated occurrence of these events is causing the Caribbean island nation to suffer from a significant water imbalance, which combined with high evaporation rate contribute to the soil exhaustion and the decline of groundwater reserves, thus having an adverse impact on the agricultural production.

Cuba has also suffered an increase of the surface air temperature by an average 0.9 degrees Celsius since the second half of the 20th century, according to Perez.

Since 2009, Cuba has suffered one of the worst droughts in decades, with water supply seriously affected in cities across the country, including the capital Havana which is facing the worst water shortage in 50 years, local authorities said.

Source: Xinhua  at. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/7432911.html