planetary water circulation system exhibits growing instability and extremity, according to latest findings in a report
In a year marked by unprecedented heat and climate change, 2024 saw a global water crisis unfold as various regions faced extreme droughts, floods, and glacial melt.
Scandinavia, the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, and parts of north Asia experienced record glacial melt, threatening countries that rely on glaciers for power, irrigation, and drinking water. The amount of water lost from glacier melt is equivalent to a block 4.3 miles tall, 4.3 miles wide, and 4.3 miles deep, or enough water to fill 180 million Olympic swimming pools. This massive loss has huge consequences for sea level rise and flooding risk.
Meanwhile, parts of southern Africa endured an extreme drought, so severe that governments needed to cull hundreds of animals, including elephants, in 2024. Crops shriveled in areas of the United States such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, adding to the global food crisis.
Despite the heat and drought, 2024 was also a year of extreme flooding. Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic floods to parts of the US, resulting in at least 230 deaths. Europe experienced its most extensive flooding since 2013, causing billions in damages. Extensive flooding in West and Central Africa led to around 1,500 deaths.
The planet's hottest year on record, 2024, saw nearly every one of the world's 75 main lakes affected by hot temperatures in terms of water quality. Nearly two-thirds of global river basins did not experience normal conditions last year, grappling with either too much or too little water.
The water cycle, involving the movement of water around the Earth, including evaporation, rising into the atmosphere, and falling back down as rain or snow, is becoming increasingly erratic and extreme. Climate change, driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, is upending this natural process.
Changing availability and access to water resources can fuel tensions and conflicts. The disrupted water cycle in 2024 affected large parts of Europe, Africa (except southern parts), and parts of Asia, with about two-thirds of rivers worldwide experiencing abnormal water levels. Single flood events last year caused billions in damages, highlighting the urgent need for action to address this global crisis.
In some regions, such as Rheinhessen-Pfalz in Germany, groundwater and spring water levels dropped dramatically due to the heat and drought. Other regions, like parts of the US, experienced catastrophic floods. This erratic and extreme weather pattern is a stark reminder of the challenges ahead in managing our planet's water resources.
As we move forward, it is crucial to address the root cause of these extreme weather events and work towards sustainable water management practices. The future of our planet and its inhabitants depends on it.
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