Global Rivers Record Devastating Drought Conditions in 2023

The UN weather agency confirmed that 2023 is the driest year for the world’s rivers in over thirty years, as rising temperatures have resulted in erratic hydrological cycles leading to severe droughts and low water flows. Approximately 3.6 billion people currently lack sufficient access to water, expected to rise to 5 billion by 2050. The report emphasizes the critical need for improved data collection and resource management to address future water scarcity.

According to the United Nations (UN) weather agency, 2023 has recorded the most severe drought conditions for the world’s rivers in over thirty years. This alarming trend, underpinned by a record-hot climate, has resulted in diminished water flows, exacerbating prolonged droughts in several regions. “Water is the canary in the coalmine of climate change. We receive distress signals in the form of increasingly extreme rainfall, floods, and droughts which wreak a heavy toll on lives, ecosystems, and economies,” stated WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo while releasing the report on Monday. The hydrological cycle is reportedly becoming “more erratic and unpredictable,” driven primarily by rising temperatures that contribute to an unpredictable distribution of water resulting in occurrences of both droughts and floods. The latest report, entitled “State of Global Water Resources 2023,” encompasses data concerning rivers, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater, soil moisture, terrestrial water storage, snow cover, glaciers, and evaporation from terrestrial sources. The report indicates that approximately 3.6 billion people experience insufficient access to water for at least one month each year, a figure projected to increase to 5 billion by the year 2050. Notably, 70% of all water extracted from hydrological systems is utilized for agricultural purposes. This year has been recognized as the hottest on record, with the summer of 2023 also marked as the hottest summer to date, prompting concerns regarding the potential for another record-breaking year in 2024. In comments regarding the data, Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director of Hydrology, Water, and Cryosphere at the WMO, remarked, “In the (last) 33 years of data, we had never such a large area around the world which was under such dry conditions.” Regions such as the southern United States, Central America, and South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Uruguay, encountered extreme drought conditions, with the lowest water levels recorded in the Amazon River and Lake Titicaca. Furthermore, the Mississippi River basin faced unprecedented low water levels. The WMO highlighted that half of the global landscape experienced diminished river flow conditions in 2023. While 2024 data is still forthcoming, Mr. Uhlenbrook has noted that the exceedingly hot summer is likely to impact river flows significantly, predicting a continued trend of water scarcity in numerous parts worldwide. The low water levels have adversely affected navigation in rivers such as those in Brazil, contributing to a food crisis in Zimbabwe and other regions of southern Africa this year. In response to these findings, the WMO has called for enhanced data collection and sharing mechanisms to facilitate an accurate assessment of water resources, enabling nations and communities to implement effective response strategies.

The prevailing climatic changes have drastically influenced global water resources, particularly affecting rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. This alarming depletion of water resources poses significant risks to human populations, ecosystems, and economies reliant on consistent water availability. Monitoring and managing these changes is essential to preparing for the future implications of climate change on water resources and ensuring the sustainability of essential water supplies. Advances in data collection and sharing will aid in enhancing the understanding of water availability and accessibility on a global scale, thus facilitating informed responses to potential crises.

In conclusion, the UN weather agency’s report underscores the urgent need to address the escalating drought conditions affecting the world’s rivers, which have reached their driest levels in over thirty years. The projections indicating that billions may soon lack sufficient water underscore the gravity of the situation. There is an increasing necessity for enhanced data initiatives to facilitate accurate assessments and promote effective water resource management globally.

Original Source: www.washingtonpost.com