Lately the Middle East Region has become a region with dominant natural risk induced mainly by climatic extremes and by human interference. Thus, the geo-logical, geomorphological setting and chaotic distribution of human settlements makes it a region with high vulnerability and open exposure to climatic risks. This has been exacerbated lately as a result of the confrontation between the new climatic regimes and hydroclimatic extremes with the development of human activities. Even though, they are affected by diverse types of hydroclimatic ricks; however, none of the Middle east countries is out of these risks. The impacts from these risks are exceeding with time and the damage reaches all life components including human, environment and the infrastructures. The most recurrent and damaging risks are: drought and desertification, floods, cyclones, wildfire plus other flash and long term risks. Yet, it can be said that the risk reduction management is still in its primary stage, notably that such risks have been pronounced in the last two decades; and therefore, assessment approaches and the selection for the monitoring methodologies are often under performance. In addition, many of the Middle East countries established Early Warning Systems for alerting hydroclimatic risks. Even though, vulnerability and exposures are at high level, yet some countries were able to increase the readiness to confront these risks and then raised the ND-GAIN index. In addition, there ae some regions in the Middle East which witness more than one type of major hydroclimate risks. For example, in the Eastern Mediterranean countries, drought, wildfire, sea level rise, wet storms are common; while in the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding, drought, cyclones, floods and sea level rise are most common. There are concerns for the future hydroclimatic risks; especially climatic scenarios deduced unfavourable meteorological indicators, with increased temperature between 2 and 4 °C, plus a projected decrease in the precipitation rate over the few incoming decades. The impact is alarming on human life as a whole, as well as on several vital sectors including mainly water, agricultures and food security. Hence, hydroclimatic risks represent serious challenge in the Middle East Region, a matter that motivates performing rapid risk reduction management, including monitoring and preparedness with effective adaptation and mitigation measures.

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Hydroclimate Risks in the Middle East Region

  • Mashael M. Al Saud

摘要

Lately the Middle East Region has become a region with dominant natural risk induced mainly by climatic extremes and by human interference. Thus, the geo-logical, geomorphological setting and chaotic distribution of human settlements makes it a region with high vulnerability and open exposure to climatic risks. This has been exacerbated lately as a result of the confrontation between the new climatic regimes and hydroclimatic extremes with the development of human activities. Even though, they are affected by diverse types of hydroclimatic ricks; however, none of the Middle east countries is out of these risks. The impacts from these risks are exceeding with time and the damage reaches all life components including human, environment and the infrastructures. The most recurrent and damaging risks are: drought and desertification, floods, cyclones, wildfire plus other flash and long term risks. Yet, it can be said that the risk reduction management is still in its primary stage, notably that such risks have been pronounced in the last two decades; and therefore, assessment approaches and the selection for the monitoring methodologies are often under performance. In addition, many of the Middle East countries established Early Warning Systems for alerting hydroclimatic risks. Even though, vulnerability and exposures are at high level, yet some countries were able to increase the readiness to confront these risks and then raised the ND-GAIN index. In addition, there ae some regions in the Middle East which witness more than one type of major hydroclimate risks. For example, in the Eastern Mediterranean countries, drought, wildfire, sea level rise, wet storms are common; while in the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding, drought, cyclones, floods and sea level rise are most common. There are concerns for the future hydroclimatic risks; especially climatic scenarios deduced unfavourable meteorological indicators, with increased temperature between 2 and 4 °C, plus a projected decrease in the precipitation rate over the few incoming decades. The impact is alarming on human life as a whole, as well as on several vital sectors including mainly water, agricultures and food security. Hence, hydroclimatic risks represent serious challenge in the Middle East Region, a matter that motivates performing rapid risk reduction management, including monitoring and preparedness with effective adaptation and mitigation measures.