In 2024, disasters related to water occurred frequently around the world. Severe flooding occurred in Europe and Asia, while tropical cyclones and droughts were severe in southern Africa and the Amazon. International researchers have revealed that the cause of such extreme floods and droughts is the disruption of the water cycle due to global warming.
An international research team led by the Australian National University (ANU) released the "2024 Global Water Monitoring Report" on the 7th, noting that "As the average temperature of the Earth continues to rise, the way water moves across the planet is changing, resulting in extreme floods and droughts."
The year 2024 was the hottest year on record in Earth's history. Approximately 4 billion people in 111 countries worldwide, or half of the global population, experienced the hottest year. According to the report, the average land temperature increased by about 2.2 degrees Celsius compared to the early Industrial Revolution and 1.2 degrees higher than in the early 21st century, making it the hottest year in recorded history. The period from 2021 to 2024 marked four consecutive years of record-breaking high temperatures.
To examine the impact of global warming, researchers analyzed data from thousands of ground stations and satellites monitoring the Earth's climate, focusing on water-related indicators such as precipitation, soil moisture, and flooding. The analysis revealed that the rising sea surface temperature altered the water circulation system, causing tropical cyclones and droughts to worsen in the Amazon basin and southern Africa. At the same time, heavy rainfall became more frequent in Europe and Asia, and storms slowed down, leading to severe flooding.
The researchers found that "precipitation records are being broken more regularly," explaining that the monthly precipitation record was broken 27% more often last year than in the early 21st century, while the daily record was refreshed 52% more frequently, with minimum precipitation records being broken 38% more often. They noted that this reflects an extreme climate where floods and droughts coexist.
Notably, flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people. In Brazil, more than 80 people died in a major flood, with local rainfall exceeding 300 mm. In southern China, flooding in the Yangtze River and Zhujiang River forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in agricultural losses. In Bangladesh, 5.8 million people were affected by flooding.
Other regions experienced extreme drought. In the Amazon basin, one of the world's critical ecosystems, record-low water levels obstructed transport routes and halted hydropower generation. Dry weather exacerbated wildfires, burning over 52,000 square kilometers in September alone and releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases. In southern Africa, severe drought has reduced maize production by more than 50%, leaving 30 million people facing food shortages.
The researchers reported that over 8,700 people died worldwide due to water-related disasters, including floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, and landslides, while 40 million people were displaced and economic losses exceeded $550 billion (approximately 809 trillion won).
Professor Albert van Dijk of ANU, who led the research, noted that "the extreme scenarios of floods and droughts are one of the major threats facing the Earth," stressing the importance of strengthening flood defenses, developing drought-resistant agricultural practices and water supply systems, and improving early warning systems in response to climate change.