WMO report reveals 2023 as the driest year for global rivers in 33 years, with severe droughts, low river discharge, and shrinking reservoirs indicating critical global water stress.
The year 2023 brought alarming changes to global water resources, as river discharge, reservoir inflows, and groundwater levels faced unprecedented challenges. With drier-than-normal conditions dominating many regions, the report sheds light on a critical global water crisis.
River Discharge: A Year of Drought
In 2023, river discharge conditions were mostly drier than normal, mirroring trends from 2022 and 2021. More than 50% of global catchment areas experienced river discharge below normal levels. North, Central, and South America were particularly hard-hit, with the Mississippi and Amazon basins recording record-low water levels. In stark contrast, the east coast of Africa saw above-normal discharge, though the Horn of Africa faced severe flooding after five consecutive dry rainy seasons. Meanwhile, major river basins in Asia and Oceania, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Mekong, experienced significant reductions in water flow.
Reservoirs: Varied Inflows Across the Globe
Reservoir inflows reflected a trend similar to river discharge. Below-normal inflow conditions were prevalent in India, the Americas, and parts of Australia. However, some basins, such as the Amazon and Paraná, reported much-above-normal reservoir storage despite low river discharge. This discrepancy highlights the complexities of water management practices in different regions.
Lakes and Groundwater: Divergent Trends
Lake conditions also varied widely. Lake Coari in the Amazon faced below-normal water levels and extreme temperatures. Conversely, Lake Turkana, shared by Kenya and Ethiopia, experienced above-normal volumes following increased river discharge. Groundwater levels presented a mixed picture; regions like South Africa, India, and Australia reported above-normal levels due to recent precipitation. However, prolonged drought led to notable groundwater depletion in North America and Europe. In Chile and Jordan, declining groundwater levels resulted from over-abstraction, compounding the crisis.
Urgent Need for Water Management Solutions
The challenges facing global rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and groundwater in 2023 underline the urgent need for effective water management strategies. As climate change and human activities continue to strain water resources, a coordinated global response is critical to ensuring water security for future generations.
