UK heatwaves: Satellite images show impact of hot, dry summer

As BBC Verify previously reported parts of the country are suffering from “vegetation stress” where the development and growth of plants, grass and crops can be severely affected.

Vegetation turning brown, even on this scale, does not mean the plants have disappeared or died, as grass, shrubs and some trees can recover once rainfall returns, provided their root systems remain intact.

Experts have said the combination of next-to-no rainfall and prolonged hot weather is likely to cause significant issues for the farming industry and could have an impact on agriculture and food prices in the coming months.

And perhaps counter-intuitively, prolonged dry weather can raise the risk of flash flooding when it eventually does rain. That is because parched, rock-hard ground may struggle to absorb water at first, so some rainwater may simply run off the surface instead.

Scientists also warn the UK is facing a growing risk of water shortages in the decades ahead, driven by human-caused climate change and increased demand.

Graphics by Tom Shiel