Türkiye is experiencing extreme drought, as quite a few reservoirs round Istanbul, the nation’s most populous metropolis, have reached their lowest water storage ranges. The entire metropolis’s survival may be threatened if situations persist.
Climate change is among the most vital urgent points affecting the complete world. This is very true for Türkiye as a result of its location. The Mediterranean Basin, the place Türkiye is positioned, is turning into drier as a result of results of anthropogenic local weather change. As a outcome, common temperatures are slowly creeping up and rainfall is turning into scarcer, exacerbating the state of affairs.
Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory Meteorology Laboratory head Adil Tek stated, “In January, precipitation will remain below average across the country, particularly in February and March in the Marmara, Aegean and Western Black Sea regions.”
Boğaziçi University Climate Change and Policies Application and Research Center Director professor Levent Kurnaz stated: “Now, in January, there should be a warning about water usage. People have to get used to it. Dams are running low and it’s an alarming situation.”
The precipitation will likely be under common within the subsequent three months, the specialists beneficial that residents be warned in regards to the correct and cautious use of water.
Tek, who shared his predictions for the upcoming interval after the dry autumn season and December, stated that the forthcoming months may even be dry. Precipitation within the western areas is prone to be under common in February and March, whereas the Aegean area will stay drier than different areas.
“The number of hot days is slightly higher than the cold days. February will be hotter this year than last year. The days of cold, and heavy snowfall may not last long. The same is true for March, when temperatures will be above average until summer. Temperatures will usually be above average in April and May as well,” Tek stated. “With April onwards, precipitation will be above average in Marmara, Aegean, the Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, western and central Black Sea, southern parts of eastern Anatolia and southeastern Anatolia. In June, precipitation will be above average in long-term forecasts. It seems risks of flooding and precipitation overflows will be very high in April,” he assessed.
He outlined that the chance of snow is low as a result of in depth heat days, and snowfall will solely final for a day or two. “Last winter, Istanbul saw snowfall for just one day and nothing the next day. Such transitions may occur and problems may arise,” stated Tek.
Referring to the analysis report of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow, Tek stated: “When we look at the processes estimated in the report and the maps of the report, what is happening today is following that pattern. Starting from the Atlantic, from the western end of the Mediterranean corridor to the Eastern Mediterranean edge, including our country, there is a decrease in precipitation along the corridor, a change in weather phenomenons with sudden short-term rains, a decrease in soil moisture and an increase in temperatures. The average long-term climate forecasts are exactly the same as what is happening now.”
Noting that there will likely be an absence of precipitation for a one-week interval within the brief time period forecast for Türkiye, Tek stated: “There will be precipitation in the form of rain in the Marmara region on Jan. 11, and it may snow at the heights of the western Black Sea region. There is no precipitation in other regions, and only partly cloudy weather conditions will be witnessed.”
Kurnaz stated, “We will have to start to adapt to live in a less rainy area. That’s why we have to get used to it. This will become completely normal for us in the coming years. Knowing that we have to live with less water, we have to adjust all our operations accordingly,” he emphasised.
“In our daily lives, we usually make warnings about water usage in July-August. Now, in January, ‘We must keep our water usage balanced’ warnings should be issued everywhere, people have to get used to it. The dams are witnessing a decrease in levels owing to drought-like conditions, especially in Istanbul,” remarked Kurnaz.
