Context:

• According to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO’s) State of Global Water Resources report 2022, the world’s water cycle is severely impacted by climate change and human activities in 2022. 

Key Findings of State of Global Water Resources Report 2022

• Increasing Extreme Weather Events: The effects on the hydrological cycle are leading to droughts and extreme rainfall events and the erratic water cycles unleashed widespread disruption, burdening livelihoods and economies.
  • The ongoing melting of snow, ice and glaciers compounded the threat, exacerbating the risk of extreme weather events such as floods. These events cast long-term consequences on the water security of millions; a key finding of Global Water Resources Report 2022.
  • For instance, North Sikkim witnessed devastating glacial lake outburst floods after the South Lhonak Lake burst in October, 2023.

• Global Water Resources Report 2022; The Asian Water Tower (AWT): It is the world’s largest reservoir of ice and snow after the Arctic and Antarctic regions which saw significant glacial melting in 2022. This altered the natural downward flow of major rivers viz. the Indus, Amu Darya, Yangtze and Yellow River in the region.
  • AWT covers the Third Pole, which includes the Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayas, the Karakorum, the Hindu Kush, the Pamirs and the Tien Shan Mountains
• Alps: The snow cover in the Alps remained below the 30-year average during the 2023 spring despite late snowfalls in May, as observed in the basins feeding the four major rivers viz. Rhine, Rhone, Danube and Po.

News Source: Down to Earth