2024 was one other 12 months of record temperatures that pushed the global water cycle to recent climate extremes and contributed to ferocious floods and devastating droughts, in accordance with a brand new report from the Australian National University (ANU).
The 2024 Global Water Monitor Report, which included a world team of researchers led by ANU’s Professor Albert van Dijk, found that rising temperatures are changing the way water moves around the planet, “wreaking havoc” on the water cycle.
“Rising sea surface temperatures have intensified tropical cyclones and droughts in the Amazon basin and southern Africa. Global warming has also contributed to heavier downpours and slower storms, as evidenced by deadly flash floods in Europe, Asia and Brazil,” Professor van Dijk said.
In 2024, roughly 4 billion people in 111 countries – half the world’s population – experienced the warmest 12 months on record. Professor van Dijk said air temperatures over land in 2024 were 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than at the starting of the century and about 2.2 degrees Celsius higher than at the starting of the industrial revolution.
“In 2024, Earth experienced its hottest 12 months on record for the fourth 12 months in a row. Water systems around the world have borne the brunt, he said.
“2024 was a year of extremes, but it was not an isolated phenomenon. “It is part of a worsening trend of more intense flooding, prolonged droughts and record extremes.”
The most damaging water-related disasters in 2024 included flash floods, river floods, droughts, tropical cyclones and landslides. Water disasters have killed greater than 8,700 people, displaced 40 million people and caused economic losses of greater than $550 billion.
“From historic droughts to catastrophic floods, these extreme events impact lives, livelihoods and full ecosystems. Separate heavy rainfall caused widespread flash flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing greater than 1,000 people,” Professor van Dijk said.
“Disastrous flooding in Brazil has killed over 80 people and over 300 millimeters of rainfall has been recorded in the region.
“We have found that rainfall records are being broken with increasing regularity. For example, record monthly rainfall totals were achieved 27 percent more often in 2024 than at the starting of this century, while every day rainfall records were achieved 52 percent more often. Record lows were 38 percent more frequent, so we’re seeing worse extremes on each side.
“In southern China, the Yangtze and Pearl rivers flooded cities and towns, displacing tens of hundreds of individuals and causing lots of of tens of millions of dollars in crop damage.
“In August in Bangladesh, heavy monsoon rains and the release of dams caused widespread river flooding. It affected over 5.8 million people and destroyed at the very least a million tons of rice. More than 500 millimeters of rain fell in eight hours in Spain in late October, causing deadly flash floods.
While some parts of the world experienced severe flooding in 2024, others were hit by devastating drought.
“In the Amazon basin, one in all the most vital ecosystems on Earth, record low river levels have cut off transport routes and disrupted hydropower generation. Fires attributable to hot and dry weather burned greater than 52,000 square kilometers in September alone, releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases,” said Professor van Dijk.
“In South Africa, severe drought has reduced maize production by greater than 50 percent, leaving 30 million people facing food shortages. Farmers were forced to cull cattle as pastures dried up. The drought also reduced hydropower production, resulting in widespread power outages.
“We must prepare for and adapt to inevitably more severe extreme events. This could mean stronger flood defenses, developing more drought-resistant food production and water supplies, and higher early warning systems.
“Water is our most important resource, and extreme water events – both floods and droughts – are among the greatest threats we face.”
The research team used data from hundreds of ground stations and satellites orbiting the Earth to achieve near real-time insight into critical water variables resembling rainfall, soil moisture, river flows and flooding.
Global Water Monitor is a collaboration between institutions around the world, involving various private and non-private organizations.
The report for 2024 is accessible on the website Global Water Monitor website.
