The recent report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) paints a concerning picture of the global water crisis in 2023. Characterized by unprecedented droughts and devastating floods, this year has been a stark reminder of the severe impacts of climate change. As the Earth’s temperatures continue to rise, we must confront the reality that extreme weather events will become more frequent and intense. Climate change is the driving force behind these water resource challenges, and we must take action to mitigate and adapt to this global threat.
The Newnot-So-New Normal: Droughts and Floods
According to the WMO report, in 2023 there were worse decades than the precipitation of Mississippi and Amazon basin for this remaining 33 centuries. Emergent phenomenon, with previously distant climatic and vegetative zones being pushed into feedback reinforcing cohesion; fostering heatwaves, downpours, droughts and wildfires on novel territories.
Meanwhile heavy rainfall and the resulting floods have blighted other parts. These include, for example, New Zealand and Russia, where soil moisture levels were well above average, resulting in widespread flooding (as shown here). The drought to flood contrast is a clear indication of the unexpected nature and increasing severity of our global water supplies.
Either it was too dry or too wet—and that’s not a good sign,” said study lead author Professor Robert Reinecke from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. But with the planet heating up, we have to be prepared for such extremes at either end of the spectrum happening more often.
An Impending Crisis: The Melting Cryosphere
The report also discusses the alarming condition of Earth’s cryosphere, the frozen water inside snow and mountain ranges. The WMO announced that the global loss of glacier volume in 2023 equated to 600 gigatons, a number larger than any other since records have been collected during the past fifty years.
The fast melting of glaciers and snow packs will mean less and less water, with serious consequences for availability of water and down-stream communities dependent on these natural reservoirs. And when these water sources disappear, securing regular water supplies, particularly in dry periods, will get tougher.
“According to the latest WMO report, 600 gigatons of water in lost glacier volume worldwide is a cause for concern,” emphasized Professor Reinecke. The greatest loss of the past fifty years.
Groundwater Depletion: A Hidden Crisis
The report also reveals the health of underground springs, which are a key part of the water system. And moreover, other regions, such as South Africa, have seen an increase with groundwater levels rising again — a big contrast to North America and Europe ground water levels which are still at a historic decline level following extended droughts.
It is essential for drinking water, agriculture and industrial use, with severe implications if depleted. The thin hydrologic condition in the region can not afford to be subjected to further strain from human water consumption needs especially while climate change is forcing new normal conditions, putting many communities at risk of acute water stress.
In order to gain additional insight into these patterns, Professor Reinecke’s team at Mainz University is currently working on creating a unique data set for the groundwater status worldwide. This is critical information for devising management strategies to safeguard this key resource.
