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Climate Change is to Blame for Drought in 17 Provinces of Iran | 1 Oct 2011 20:10  | |
The deputy director of the Office for Water and Wastewater Macro-Planning at the Energy Ministry said that climate change has seen surface water reserves shrink by 50% and that the droughts of recent years have affected 17 provinces across the nation. | |
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Hedayat Fahmi ,The deputy director of the Office for Water and Wastewater Macro-Planning, further said that recent years have seen less-than-normal precipitation levels in most provinces.
“In line with Article 21 of the Water and Wastewater Policies of the Energy Ministry, which requires a review of the way dams are designed in light of climate change and local conditions and calls for measures to pinpoint the problems of existing dams, the Energy Ministry decided to take account the adverse effects of climate change in reviewing and updating the design and management of the country’s dams,” he said.
Fahmi added climate change is to blame for both drought and flooding which have a devastating impact on agriculture in the country.
Recalling the impact climate change has left on surface waters and streams, he said reports suggest that climate change has seen surface water reserves shrink by 50%.
He added studies also suggest that recent droughts have done damage to some 2.6 million hectares of land under irrigated farming and an additional 4 million hectares under dry farming. “Besides, some 1.1 million hectares of groves and gardens have been affected by the shortage of water.”
He said research indicates that any rise of any 2°C in temperatures will result in the evaporation of 27.3 billion cubic meters of water. “And it reduces the amount of surface water that finds its way into ground reserves by 20%.”
Fahmi stated that a look at meteorological data of the past decade shows that snowfall has declined by about 5% and the time when snow reserves begin to melt has come forward by a month. “Besides, in heights snow settles more than 200 m above the level of 10 years ago. That means the snow blanket is moving closer and closer to summits.”
“Studies also suggest that with climate change continuing to leave an adverse effect on water resources, 25 of the country’s 30 secondary water basins will face a drop in water levels and only two will register a rise in the volume of runoff water,” he concluded.
Reporter : mehdi akbarsefat
َApproved by : 28 , First name : mehdi akbarsefat
Create date : 1 Oct 2011 20:07
Id : 30971
