Climatology

Decisions in recent days to restrict water use in major cities show that the threat of drought is becoming more widespread. With water losses in cities reaching 60 percent and the drought set to become a more prominent topic of conversation after May, experts say the focus should be on what needs to be done as soon as possible, rather than how full reservoirs are.

Though the drought experienced throughout the country since last October has started to threaten agricultural production by "exceeding critical limits one by one," the possibility of compensation will continue if it rains in a week, sector representatives say.

Drought and major food crises may be experienced worldwide if greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere are not reduced, Türkiye's Special Envoy for Climate Change Mehmet Emin Binpınar has warned.

Changes come about in different ways. Gradually, over the long term. Or suddenly, with "events, dear boy, events," whose proportions we sometimes define as "historic." Or changes happen through the regular back and forth of real life, or by oscillations, sometimes in multi-decade cycles. Changes occur visibly or imperceptibly, sometimes going in opposite directions.

Watching out for rain and snowfall for days, farmers, especially those in central provinces, are worried as some crops such as corn and potatoes cannot be planted if the drought continues.

The drought, which is showing its impact more and more throughout the country, has reached alarming proportions in terms of agricultural production.

Europe experienced its second-warmest year on record in 2022, European Union scientists said on Tuesday, as climate change unleashed record-breaking weather extremes that slashed crop yields, dried up rivers and led to thousands of deaths.

Within the scope of the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry's efforts to combat drought, farmers across the country will receive training on protecting the quality and quantity of water resources and observing the usage balance.

The ministry will implement measures to ensure food safety against climate change within the scope of combating drought.

Whether they realize it or not, some 7.6 billion people - 96% of humanity - have felt the impact of global warming on temperatures in the past 12 months, researchers say.

But some regions have felt it much more strongly and more often than others, according to a report by Climate Central, a climate science think tank.

Starting from late Oct. 19, the country will witness heavy precipitation and a shivering weather on Oct. 20 and 21, but the weather conditions will go back to normal by the weekend, the Turkish State Meteorological Service has said.

"There will be downpours and thundery showers in most provinces across the country," it said in a statement.

Türkiye will experience the autumn effect between October and December, while the season's first snowfall is expected to arrive at the beginning of the new year, from January through March, due to a weather phenomenon called "La Nina," a prominent Turkish meteorologist has said.