23 March is observed as the World Meteorology Day throughout the globe. 2020 marks the 70th anniversary since the World Meteorology Convention was signed back in 1950. On the occasion of World Meteorology Day, WMO is doing collective efforts and observing a joint event for World Meteorology Day and World Water Day. The theme for 2020 World Meteorology Day remains ‘Climate and Water’.
As per the recent address by the Secretary General of WMO, Petteri Taalas, “Already 25% of world’s population that translates to around 2 billion people is living in countries with severe water scarcity. This scarcity is only growing due to climate change and population growth. By 2050, the demand of water will be 25 to 30% higher than today. WMO has already decided that one main themes for 2021 congress next year will be water. WMO has also started building UN wide water and climate consortium to enhance global water observation and service systems.”
Both, climate and water are making their presence felt to the common man. Last year, India saw a record 9 cyclones approaching the mainland. Normally, as a pattern Cyclones are easily predicted. However, last year turned out quite different in terms of forecasts and cyclones followed quite a suspicious path. Their journey, path, track, pace and life span kept confusing meteorologists and rarely turned precise in accordance to the forecasts generated.
When it comes to the other element of this year’s theme i.e. water, then the country has been facing a crisis in terms of availability of water along with multiple other tropical counties throughout the globe. As a matter of fact, tropical countries are more susceptible to water scarcity as compared to others. In fact, multiple countries are located in the tropics which means more consumption and limited resources.
The problem of drinking water is ever widening. 5% of the available water is being used as drinking water. Rest water is used for agricultural activities. India is a mammoth producer of sugarcane, rice, and cotton, all of which require a lot of water. Moreover, many of our farmers in India follow the practice of monocropy which ups the annual use of water for the same field manifold.
Glaciers around the globe are melting speedily every other day due to climate change. This is one challenge that he world has to come together against.
Image Credits- Iceland News
All information taken from here should be credited to Skymet Weather.
