Central Idea

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a report highlighting the significant impact of climate change and human activities on Earth’s water circulation systems.
This has direct consequences leading to droughts, extreme rainfall events, and disruptions in water cycles.

What is the Water Cycle?

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface.
It involves various processes that allow water to circulate between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and other bodies of water:

Evaporation	Sun’s heat turns surface water into vapor.
Condensation	Vapor forms clouds as it cools in the atmosphere.
Precipitation	Clouds release moisture as rain, snow, or hail.
Runoff & Infiltration	Water flows over land or seeps into the ground.
Transpiration	Plants absorb and release water vapor.
Sublimation	Ice transforms directly into vapor in specific conditions.
Transport	Winds move moisture globally.
Collection	Water gathers in oceans, lakes, and underground sources.

Diverse Impact: Climate change and human activities have led to an erratic hydrological cycle, resulting in both droughts and extreme rainfall events, causing widespread disruptions affecting livelihoods and economies.
Melting Snow and Glaciers: Ongoing melting of snow, ice, and glaciers further exacerbates the risk of extreme weather events, such as floods, posing long-term threats to water security, particularly for millions already facing severe water scarcity.

Global Deviations: Over 50% of global catchment areas experienced deviations from normal river discharge conditions in 2022, primarily due to climate anomalies, such as heatwaves, droughts, La Nina, and El Nino events.
Horn of Africa Drought: Severe drought in the Horn of Africa led to reduced river discharge, affecting food security for 21 million people, while other regions, like the Niger Basin, saw above-average discharge and major floods.
Water Reservoirs Affected: More than 60% of major water reservoirs experienced below-normal inflow, posing challenges to water availability in a changing climate.

The term “Asian Water Tower (AWT)” typically refers to the vast network of high mountain regions across Asia, particularly in countries like India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Central Asia.
These high mountain regions are the source of many major rivers in Asia, such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, Mekong, Indus, and Amu Darya.
The melting snow and glaciers in these mountains provide a continuous supply of freshwater to downstream areas.
This AWT witnessed substantial glacial melting in 2022.
Rising temperatures accelerate water cycle disruptions, leading to heavier precipitation, flooding, and intensified droughts, significantly impacting the water balance.