Why is DANA back and when is it expected to end completely?

It’s only been a few years since we met term DANA. This does not mean that they did not exist before. They were known as cold dropsalthough this is a much more general term. The thing is, although we know they existed and have known the name for quite some time, we have never had to say it so often or with such fear. Or yes? Is something happening that is making DANAs more frequent? As a result:Why is there so much DANA??

This is not a simple answer. Before we answer it, we must ask ourselves a new question. Wasn’t there so much DANA before or did we just not realize it? And one more thing: What is DANA?

When we ask ourselves why there are so many DANAs, the first thing that comes to mind is climate change. And that’s right. To a large extent those floods so terrible that they happen in Spain fruit of global warming. But the current situation is explained by other factors. So let’s do it step by step.

First off: what is DANA?

The term DANA refers to the acronym Isolated high-level depression. This depression forms in the upper layers of the troposphere. That is, in the upper part of the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth’s surface.

In these layers there are currents of cold air known as polar jets, which can fluctuate to such an extent that some he chokes and falls off the hook. For example, when we want to pick a lemon from a lemon tree and we turn the branch until it breaks.

The part of the plane that hangs down becomes cold air bagsurrounded by warmer air. When cold and hot air impact an area of ​​low pressure, they produce storms and precipitation. But in reality they are not always torrential. It takes more than just a pocket of cold air to form precipitation. Water vapor is also necessary for cloud formation. This steam is more abundant on hot waters. The more hot water, the more rain. This is where climate change comes into play.

Ocean temperatures have increased significantly in recent years. In Spain, for example, there is a case Mediterranean Seawhose temperature reaches very alarming levels.

That same year, August 21st, buoy located in Cabo de GataAlmeria, registered 28.61°С. There has not been such a high temperature since 2001. And the worst thing is that it was not something specific. Mediterranean temperatures have gradually increased over the years. In fact, in just 10 years, the average temperature of this sea has increased by more than 1 ºC. This may not seem like a big deal to us, but it actually has a big impact on why there are so many DANAs. Because yes, we have already seen that they are not new, but it is true that there are more of them.

So why is there so much DANA?

It’s worth noting that when we talk about “DANA”, we’re not actually always referring to it. DANA are independent phenomena. The one in Malaga has nothing in common with the one in Valencia. The curious thing is that there were two of them in a row, and the worst thing is that this may just be the beginning.

In September 2023, a major DANA occurred in Spain, which mainly affected Madrid and Castile-la-Mancha. and this resulted in flooding, extensive material damage and, unfortunately, the death of 3 people. The damage is not even remotely comparable to that of Valencia, but it was already clear that DANA could be very serious and that we must take it seriously.

It is logical that they occur in the fall. At this time, the temperature drops so much that, along with atmospheric instabilityThese air pockets form and also come into contact with the still very hot seawater.

The fact is that many DANAs in recent years they went unnoticed because it was just another downpour. Necessary rain. It was climate change that gave them enough fuel to do all the damage they do, and of course we know they exist.

But that’s not all. DANAs, formerly called “cold drops,” are estimated to have increased by 15% since the 1950s. So the rate is increasing, and it will only get worse if we don’t take action to combat climate change. So far we have had more or less one powerful event per year.

However, in 2024, it wasn’t enough for us that the year could end as the warmest on record. Moreover, in Spain this may be the first time that two DANAs followed each other within just a few days of each other as terror engulfed entire cities. The first was aimed at the province of Valencia, and the second at Malaga. The latter, by the way, is not over yet. The alerts will remain in effect until Friday. November 15. After this, it will lose power until it disappears. What is impossible to know is how many there will be before the end of the season.

Given what we have seen, we must be careful and, above all, pay attention to AEMET recommendations. Although recently people have appeared who are trying to discredit them, they are the ones who know this topic better than anyone.