Warning for Turkey from the World Meteorological Organization: Temperatures will rise, precipitation and water availability will decrease

Silva answered questions regarding the effects of global climate change on the Mediterranean region and Turkey on the occasion of April 22 International Mother Earth Day. Silva said, "Especially when we look at the effects of extreme events, their increasing frequency and intensity, we see growing evidence of climate change."

Pointing out that alarming records are being broken for various components of the climate system, Silva noted that glaciers are melting more and more, and recalled that the largest glacial loss in history since 1950 occurred in the years 2022-2023.

Commenting on glacial loss as a major "source of concern," Silva said, "There was a period of extreme melting in the European Alps. In the last two years, glaciers in Switzerland have lost about 10 percent of their current volume."

Drawing attention to the fact that the global average sea level reached a record high last year, Silva reported that this shows the effect of a warming climate due to greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities.

Silva stated, "Ocean heat content has also reached its highest level in about 65 years of observational records. The most talked-about climate indicator is the annual global temperature. 2023 was the hottest year on record."

"CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BE EXPERIENCED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION"

Stating that a warmer atmosphere will increase the chance of some regions receiving more intense precipitation, while other regions will experience severe droughts due to the atmosphere's higher evaporative demand, Silva said, "Therefore, these contrasting hydrological extremes are intensifying in a warmer world."

Noting that Europe has warmed twice as much as the global average since 1980, Silva reported that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has announced that climate change will intensify in the Mediterranean region this century.

Silva said, "In the Mediterranean, air and sea temperatures, their extreme values, and especially heat waves, seem likely to continue to rise above the global average. There is a high level of confidence in this assessment. In other words, this is a very likely scenario. Depending on warming scenarios, it is likely that precipitation in the region will decrease by 4 to 22 percent."

Touching upon drought as another major cause for concern regarding this decrease in precipitation, Silva emphasized that drought is expected to become even more widespread in countries in the Mediterranean basin.

Pointing out that the sea level in the Mediterranean is projected to rise further in the coming years, Silva said, "The cost of flood risks in low-lying coastal areas around the Mediterranean will likely increase."

Silva drew attention to the fact that climate change threatens water availability in the region by reducing river flows, and said that this situation will also lead to a decrease in the region's hydroelectric capacity.

"SOME HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE ALSO RECORDED IN TURKEY"

Pointing out that Turkey is a member of the WMO and provides regular information on climate reports, Silva stated that the General Directorate of Meteorology reported extreme events such as heavy rainfall, storms, extreme heat, and uncontrollable fires that occurred across the country in 2023.

Silva said, "Some high temperatures were also recorded in Turkey. Turkey's location in the Mediterranean basin means that it will be affected by the same climate conditions and extreme changes as the Mediterranean region. Temperatures and extreme heat are expected to increase, and precipitation and water availability are expected to decrease in this region."

Expressing that climate change is being experienced in many parts of the world outside of the Mediterranean basin countries, Silva stated that extreme events have increased and intensified much more under a warming climate.

Stating that climate change causes devastating events in the region that lead to loss of life, infrastructure damage, and economic shocks, Silva said, "The Mediterranean region is a hotspot where climate change is being experienced. This situation is also worrying for Turkey as a part of this region."

News Source: AA