*Special Topics
ISciences staff
Mexican Drought in Historical Context: A sign ...

The ISciences Global Water Monitor and Forecast Watch List provides monthly reports of data collected by our Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM), which monitors and forecasts water anomalies on a global basis.

Mexican Drought in Historical Context: A sign of more extreme heat-driven drought to come
*Water Watch Lists
ISciences staff
ISciences Worldwide Water Watch List April 2024

The forecast for April 2024 expects significant water deficits for the 12-month period of January 2024 through December 2024 in South America, northeastern Africa, and the Middle East. Areas expected to experience surplus include eastern to eastern Africa, northern Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

ISciences Worldwide Water Watch List April 2024
East Asia
ISciences staff
East Asia: Exceptional deficits continue in N, ...

The forecast indicates that exceptional deficits will persist in northwestern regions of China, but lessen in size in northern and northeastern China. Surpluses occurring in Tibet are also expected to remain but diminish in size. 

East Asia: Exceptional deficits continue in N, NW China
Southeast Asia & Pacific
ISciences staff
Southeast Asia and the Pacific: Surplus spreads ...

The forecast indicates that deficits will persist throughout Mainland Southeast Asia, but decrease in intensity, becoming mostly moderate to severe anomalies. Intense surplus is expected to expand throughout Maritime Southeast Asia, particularly in central Indonesia, Papua, and Papua New Guinea. 

Southeast Asia and the Pacific: Surplus spreads throughout Maritime SE Asia
South Asia
ISciences staff
South Asia: Surplus expands throughout India

The forecast indicates that most exceptional deficits in Pakistan and Afghanistan will dissipate, though some regions are expected to experience lingering deficits. India is expected to observe widespread surplus throughout the country. 

South Asia: Surplus expands throughout India

South America

South America: Water surplus forecast for Paraguay; deficit Venezuela

South America: Water surplus forecast for Paraguay; deficit Venezuela

Water deficits will diminish, returning many regions of Brazil to near-normal conditions. However, pockets of intense deficit are forecast for northern Amapá, Acre, Amazonas, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paolo, and Rio Grande do Sul, as well as southern Venezuela, eastern Suriname, French Guiana, and the Gulf of Corcovado in Chile. Severe deficits are forecast for Uruguay and a large block in eastern Argentina. Areas of surplus include much of Paraguay, where conditions may be exceptional in the northwest, and pockets in Venezuela. 

South America: Water deficits forecast to diminish in eastern Brazil

South America: Water deficits forecast to diminish in eastern Brazil

Exceptional water deficits are forecast to diminish considerably in the coming months, but pockets are forecast through April in southern Venezuela, Amapá (Brazil), western Brazil, western Ecuador, and around the Gulf of Corcovado in southern Chile. Deficits are also forecast in southern Colombia, northern Peru, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and northeastern Argentina. Surplus is forecast in northeastern Venezuela, scattered throughout eastern Brazil, northern Bolivia, and eastern Paraguay. After April, the extent of anomalous water conditions will shrink. 

South America: Much wetter than normal conditions forecast for Paraguay

South America: Much wetter than normal conditions forecast for Paraguay

A number of significant transitions are forecast for the next three months. Though exceptional water deficits will diminish across northern South America – transitioning to surplus in many northern nations and the northern Amazon Basin – deficits will intensify in eastern Brazil. Surpluses are forecast to emerge throughout Paraguay and into southern Brazil. Surpluses in Uruguay will transition to moderate deficit; Buenos Aires Province, Argentina will transition from surplus to near-normal. After March, water anomalies will moderate considerably across most of the continent. 

South America: Intense water deficits to emerge in Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco

South America: Intense water deficits to emerge in Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco

Exceptional water deficits are forecast to diminish considerably over the next three months except in the western Amazon Basin in Brazil and Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins. Deficits are also expected across Brazil’s Northeast region. Elsewhere on the continent, intense deficits are expected in western Bolivia and the Gulf of Corcovado, Chile. Areas of surpluses include central Colombia; Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; and La Pampa Province, Argentina. After February widespread surpluses will emerge in the northern Amazon Basin and Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname.

South America: Water deficits forecast to diminish considerably but persist in Brazil

South America: Water deficits forecast to diminish considerably but persist in Brazil

A significant retreat of exceptional deficits is forecast November through January, though deficits are forecast for much of Brazil’s northern half and along its southeast coast from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro. Intense surpluses are forecast for central Colombia and Venezuela’s northeastern coast into Trinidad and Tobago. Moderate surpluses are forecast for northern Peru, northern Bolivia, southern Paraguay, and Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. After February, a transition from deficit to moderate surplus is forecast for northern Amazonian Brazil.

Many analyses reported in ISciences-authored blog posts are based on data generated by the ISciences Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM). Other sources, if used, are referenced in footnotes accompanying individual posts. WSIM is a validated capability that produces monthly reports on current and forecast global freshwater surpluses and deficits with lead times of 1-9 months at 0.25°x0.25° resolution. This capability has been in continuous operation since April 2011 and has proven to provide reliable forecasts of emerging water security concerns in that time-frame. WSIM has the ability to assess the impacts of water anomalies on people, agriculture, and electricity generation. Detailed data, customized visualizations, and reports are available for purchase.

For more information contact info@isciences.com.

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