As temperatures proceed to soar in Istanbul, the problem of evaporation has taken heart stage, posing a major risk to dams already at a worryingly low stage of 41%. Experts reveal that an astonishing 17,000 tons of water evaporate each hour by midday from the Ömerli Dam, exacerbating town’s humidity and intensifying water shortage considerations.
Professor Levent Kurnaz, director of the Climate Change Research Center at Boğaziçi University, warns of record-breaking evaporation ranges for dams which have raised alarm bells all through Istanbul. “Currently, the dams responsible for meeting the city’s water needs are only 41.89% full,” Kurnaz acknowledged. “Comparatively, on the same date last year, the occupancy rate was at 71.51%.”
“Rising temperatures have become a catalyst for increased evaporation rates, leading to significant water losses and environmental concerns. As the mercury soars, bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs experience accelerated evaporation. The heat causes water molecules to gain energy and transition from liquid to gaseous state, escaping into the atmosphere. This phenomenon exacerbates water scarcity issues, impacts the water cycle and contributes to the drying of land areas. The consequences of heightened evaporation underscore the pressing need for sustainable water management practices and climate change mitigation efforts to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures on our precious water resources. The Mediterranean region is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Seawater temperatures are rising at an alarming rate, surpassing global averages,” Kurnaz additional defined.
Regarding considerations over water air pollution within the dams, Kurnaz reassured the general public, saying: “The Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) conducts regular water analyses in the dams. If no harmful substances are detected, the water is deemed safe for consumption. There is no need to lose sleep over this issue. It is important to note that many Istanbul residents already rely on bottled water for drinking. However, we must pray for more rainfall as it naturally reduces pollution levels in the water. Our goal should be to clean the water through natural means, rather than relying heavily on chemical treatments.”
Kurnaz sheds gentle on components contributing to evaporation, stating: “The rate of evaporation primarily depends on the moisture content in the air, followed by air temperature and wind speed. At noon today, for instance, approximately 17,000 tons of water evaporated from the Ömerli Dam per hour. By Friday, this figure is projected to double to 34,000 tons.”
Current local weather fashions point out that rising temperatures will intensify the Earth’s water cycle, resulting in elevated evaporation. While this may increasingly lead to extra frequent and intense storms in some areas, it should additionally contribute to drying over different areas. Consequently, areas affected by storms are more likely to expertise heightened precipitation and an elevated danger of flooding, whereas areas located away from storm tracks might face diminished rainfall and an elevated danger of drought, as reported by NASA.
The current devastating floods within the Black Sea area, which claimed a life and triggered over 1,000 landslides, function a sobering reminder of the harmful energy of local weather change-induced disasters. These occasions spotlight the pressing want for concerted efforts to fight local weather change, safeguard lives and shield precious properties from such catastrophic penalties.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
