Prof Andrew Challinor, from the University of Leeds, said the images were “consistent with widespread water stress”, which “does not bode well” given much of Europe’s land is covered by crops meaning it could hit the agriculture industry and food production.
In the worst-affected areas, soil moisture is lower than on about 98% of comparable dates in the historical record, according to Prof Luis Samaniego, from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research.
And, he warns, even if rain returns, some of the agricultural damage may already have been done.
Graphics by Jess Carr and Tom Shiel