Weather

Tigris and Euphrates river waters have been receding over the last decade as northern Iraq and Syria experience ongoing drought (Geopolitical Monitor, August 11, 2014). According to a recent analysis, “Some of the more extreme projections hold that, owing to a combination of climate change and upstream dam activity, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers won’t have sufficient flow to reach the sea by as early as 2040” (ibid.). 

“Deadly flooding has affected more than one million people in Pakistan, officials said Wednesday.” Tens of thousands have been rescued and hundreds of thousands remain stranded (AFP, September 10, 2014).

“A 14-year drought in the southwestern United States has drained reservoirs such as Nevada’s Lake Mead to record lows. But satellite measurements show that the losses are even greater underground” (Nature, July 25, 2014).

Typhoon Halong “lashed Japan on Saturday as the country headed into a holiday week, causing the authorities to order the evacuation of a half-million people living near swollen rivers and canceling hundreds of flights” (Associated Press, August 9, 2014). By Monday, over 1.6 million people were told to evacuate and at least ten were dead.