WMO Warns of Erratic Global Water Cycle

(MENAFN) The global water cycle is becoming increasingly erratic, with drastic shifts between severe droughts and devastating floods, warns a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The State of Global Water Resources 2024 report underscores the escalating strain on freshwater supplies and highlights the severe impact of climate change on both human societies and global economies.

The WMO's findings reveal a concerning trend: only one-third of the world’s river basins experienced "normal" conditions in the past year—marking the sixth consecutive year of significant imbalance. The Amazon Basin and southern Africa faced intense drought conditions, while regions such as central and eastern Africa, Central Europe, and parts of Asia saw rainfall levels far above average.

“Water sustains our societies, powers our economies, and anchors our ecosystems. And yet the world’s water resources are under growing pressure, and—at the same time—more extreme water-related hazards are having an increasing impact on lives and livelihoods," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo in the report.

In a further blow, glaciers across the globe lost a staggering 450 gigatons of ice in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of significant glacial shrinkage. This annual loss, equivalent to filling 180 million Olympic swimming pools, is contributing roughly 1.2 millimeters to global sea levels, a threat that jeopardizes hundreds of millions of people living in coastal zones.

The report also highlights the devastating impact of extreme weather events. In Africa’s tropical zone, intense rainfall claimed the lives of 2,500 people and displaced four million. Meanwhile, Europe endured its most severe flooding since 2013, and Brazil faced a dual crisis—catastrophic flooding in the south and an extended drought in the Amazon, affecting nearly 60% of the country’s landmass.

“Reliable, science-based information is more important than ever before because we cannot manage what we do not measure,” Saulo emphasized. “Continued investment and enhanced collaboration in data sharing are vital to close monitoring gaps. Without data, we risk flying blind.”

As global water challenges intensify, experts are calling for urgent action to bolster data collection and improve resilience against water-related disasters.

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