The Gorner Glacier in Switzerland. Its retreat has been accelerating in recent years.
Source: European Space Agency
Satellites Show Climate Change Thinning Rivers, Erasing Glaciers
Drought, floods and the melting of glaciers affected almost every part of the world in 2021, according to a new WMO report.
Climate change is distorting rain patterns across the planet, leading to drought and floods, while rising temperatures are causing glaciers to melt, according to the first ever comprehensive review of water resources by the World Meteorological Organization. The WMO says it aims to publish global water reports annually from now on in response to calls for more accurate data in an era of growing demand and limited supplies.
The State of Global Water Resources report for 2021, released on Tuesday, analyzes the effects that higher temperatures are having on the planet’s freshwater bodies. Global temperatures are now 1.1C higher than in pre-industrial times, and last year was one of the seven hottest years on record.