How climate change is disrupting the Earth’s water cycle

Special How climate change is disrupting the Earth’s water cycle
This photograph shows a view of some insulating fabric covering a small part of the Rhone Glacier to prevent it from melting, near Gletsch, in the Swiss Alps, on September 30, 2024. A snowy winter provided no respite for Switzerland's glaciers, which shed 2.4 percent of their volume over the past year, with sand blown in from the Sahara accelerating the summer melt. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 March 2025
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How climate change is disrupting the Earth’s water cycle

How climate change is disrupting the Earth’s water cycle
  • Flash floods worldwide have claimed lives, displaced thousands, and destroyed infrastructure, with global warming seen as a key driver
  • Land-use changes, like deforestation and urbanization, increase water run-off, altering rainfall patterns and water distribution

RIYADH: From Argentina and South Sudan to Spain, Indonesia, and even Saudi Arabia, recent episodes of flash flooding around the world have cost numerous lives, displaced thousands, and destroyed infrastructure.

What is causing this flurry of flash flooding? Many factors come into play, from poor urban planning to improper resource management, but some argue the major culprit is climate change.

“Numerous environmental factors affect the water cycle, but temperature is perhaps the most important one,” Hylke Beck, assistant professor of earth science and engineering at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, told Arab News.

“Earth’s water cycle is all about movement. Water is constantly shifting between the ocean, land, and atmosphere,” Beck continued. Water rises as it evaporates, after which it cools, condenses into clouds, and then falls as rain or snow. Some of that water runs off into rivers and oceans, some infiltrates the ground, becoming groundwater, and some is taken up by plants.

“It’s a continuous cycle that keeps water moving and sustains us and other organisms,” Beck explained.

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But what role does temperature play in the process? Warmer air holds more moisture. For every degree the planet warms up, the atmosphere can store approximately seven percent more water.

This extra moisture means that, when conditions are suitable, storms have a larger water supply to work with, resulting in heavier rainfall.

The Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology states that from 1979 to 2019, Saudi Arabia’s climate has warmed by 2.1 degrees Celsius — almost three times the global average.




Vehicles are submerged in water following flash floods in the holy city of Makkah on May 9, 2014. (AFP)

At the other end of the extreme, shifts in the water cycle have also led to more droughts, since higher temperatures also accelerate water evaporation, meaning more moisture is “pulled” from the ground at a faster rate. This dries out soil and makes droughts worse if there is not enough rain to replace it.

Longer dry spells and less frequent but heavier rainfall discourages crop growth and can lead to desertification.

In the Kingdom, stronger winds and drier soil causes more frequent and harsher sandstorms, harming the country’s agriculture and air quality. Air pollution can also change how clouds form and impact the amount of rainfall.

“In some places, increased evaporation can lead to more rainfall, but not necessarily where it’s needed,” said Beck. “Some regions get soaked, while others dry out even more.”




Sprinklers irrigate a rice field in Mishkhab in Iraq's Najaf province on July 8, 2024, as four consecutive years of drought and declining rainfall have strangled rice production in the country. (AFP/File)

Depending on where and how the moisture moves, warming can intensify both extreme rainfall and drying.

Changes in land also play an important role. Cutting down trees reduces transpiration, the urbanization of cities increases run-off, and damming rivers changes the direction of water flow.

Then there are also natural factors which can exacerbate man-made influences.

“Large-scale climate patterns like El Nino and La Nina (alter) where rain falls and for how long,” said Beck.

Both of those patterns are part of a natural cycle called El Nino-Southern Oscillation, El Nino is the phase in which the Pacific Ocean’s surface becomes warmer than usual. La Nina is the phase in which they are cooler. Both lead to changes in global weather, causing heavier rainfall in some areas and dryer conditions in others.

“Climate change is essentially throwing the whole system out of balance,” said Beck. “The result is more extremes — wetter wet seasons, drier dry seasons, and more unpredictable weather generally.”

Beck added that organizations like World Weather Attribution do crucial work in the field of climate monitoring by analyzing how climate change influences extreme events and how human activities shape the Earth’s water cycle.
 

 


Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks

Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks
Updated 7 sec ago
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Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks

Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks
  • Parties discuss topics of mutual interest, further strengthening ties
  • Pakistani speaker also met Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh in Riyadh

RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar has received Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the Saudi capital.

The parties discussed topics of mutual interest and further strengthening the strong ties between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Pakistani speaker also met Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh in Riyadh.

Al-Asheikh welcomed Sadiq and his delegation, highlighting the strong ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan at various levels.

He stressed the importance of enhancing ties through effective joint meetings between the Shoura Council and Pakistan’s National Assembly to meet leadership aspirations.

Sadiq praised the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, commending the Kingdom’s continued role in fostering solidarity within the Islamic world and serving Islam and Muslims globally.

The talks covered mutual interests and explored ways to enhance Saudi-Pakistani parliamentary relations.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the Kingdom’s grand mufti and president of the Council of Senior Scholars, also received the Pakistani National Assembly speaker.

The grand mufti, who is also the president of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, stressed the presidency’s role in clarifying Islamic rulings on issues affecting Muslims, including contemporary jurisprudential matters requiring scholarly guidance.

Al-Asheikh also highlighted the commitment to promoting moderation and combating extremism and terrorism, the SPA reported.

Sadiq praised the Kingdom’s vital support for Pakistan on various issues, commending the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.


Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation

Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation
Updated 10 min 58 sec ago
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Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation

Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia gears up for Hajj 2025, the Ministry of Interior on Tuesday warned that expatriates who fail to leave the Kingdom after their visas expire face heavy penalties.

The ministry announced on X that expatriates may face fines of up to SR50,000 (about $13,000), imprisonment for up to six months, and/or deportation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi Arabia government has appealed to citizens and residents to ensure that their guests who arrived on visit or Umrah visas abide by the regulations.

“Visas of all types — with the exception of the Hajj visa — do not entitle their holder to perform the Hajj pilgrimage,” the ministry stated on X.

Welcoming the decision Osama Ghanem Alobaidy, a law professor in Riyadh, told Arab News the ministry’s decision was “crucial” to ensure visitors comply with the law.

“This move by the Ministry of Interior will help deal with crowd management efficiently, and ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during Hajj,” he added.

Earlier this month, the ministry also warned Hajj and Umrah companies and establishments to adhere to the country’s laws and regulations.

The ministry said that companies or establishments that delay reporting individuals who have failed to leave will be fined up to SR100,000. The fine will be multiplied based on the number of individuals involved.


Saudi Arabia steps up dugong conservation

Saudi Arabia steps up dugong conservation
Updated 22 min 35 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia steps up dugong conservation

Saudi Arabia steps up dugong conservation
  • National Center for Wildlife is leading initiatives to protect the dugong from further population decline
  • Efforts by the center include satellite tracking and scientific research to monitor its distribution in Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters

RIYADH: The dugong, or Dugong dugon, a marine mammal classified as vulnerable, remains a key indicator of marine biodiversity in Saudi Arabia. 

Found in the country’s warm coastal waters, the species is considered an important marker of the health and stability of marine ecosystems, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

During Saudi Arabia’s Environment Week, the dugong featured prominently in events, drawing attention to ongoing conservation efforts and the responsibilities shared by researchers, environmental advocates, and policymakers.

The National Center for Wildlife is leading initiatives to protect the dugong from further population decline. These efforts by the center include satellite tracking and scientific research to monitor its distribution in Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters. 

Additionally, national plans are in place to manage and rehabilitate the species’ natural habitats, supporting long-term sustainability and the conditions necessary for dugong reproduction and survival. 

On the international front, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen global cooperation in marine conservation. 

In 2013, the Kingdom signed an agreement to protect dugongs and their habitats and has taken part in initiatives such as the Pacific Year of the Dugong, launched in 2011.

Throughout Environment Week, the center presented recent studies and carried out public outreach activities. 

Educational programs were provided to students, visitors, and marine life enthusiasts, emphasizing the dugong’s ecological role and the importance of preserving its habitat.

The center also showcased modern tracking technologies used to study the species and its movements, the SPA reported.


Saudi minister in China to explore education, research cooperation

Saudi minister in China to explore education, research cooperation
Updated 22 April 2025
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Saudi minister in China to explore education, research cooperation

Saudi minister in China to explore education, research cooperation
  • New agreements focus on scholarships, Chinese language programs, curriculum development

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan met leaders from various universities, institutes and research centers in China, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

He was accompanied by Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi and Ministry of Education Undersecretary for International Cooperation Nasser Al-Aqeeli.

The meeting, part of the minister’s visit to Beijing, aimed to explore new avenues for cooperation to enhance the educational and research systems in both countries.

The minister discussed promising investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s public and private education sectors through the “Invest Saudi” platform.

The meeting also highlighted the Saudi government’s scholarship program for Chinese students via the “Study in Saudi” platform, along with efforts to expand admission opportunities for Saudi scholarship recipients in Chinese graduate programs.

The Saudi and Chinese education ministries signed two memoranda of cooperation to exchange expertise in advanced curricula and provide scholarship programs for Saudi students in China.

One memorandum secures seats for Saudi students in top Chinese universities, enhances scholarship programs, and increases opportunities for Saudi students in high-demand fields. The China Scholarship Council represented the Chinese Ministry of Education in the signing.

The second memorandum, signed with the Chinese ministry’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation, introduces Chinese language education in Saudi public schools starting this academic year. Experts from both nations will collaborate to develop a comprehensive curriculum.

The Saudi minister also met Chinese counterpart Huai Jinpeng to discuss enhancing cooperation in general and higher education, exploring new opportunities, and exchanging expertise.

The meeting reviewed expanding partnerships between Saudi and Chinese universities and research centers in scientific research, graduate studies, scholarships, and medical education and training.

They explored investment opportunities for Chinese investors in the Saudi education sector, along with key opportunities in Chinese language education, e-learning, research, and innovation.


Indian PM Modi lands in Jeddah on two-day official visit

Indian PM Modi lands in Jeddah on two-day official visit
Updated 58 min 34 sec ago
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Indian PM Modi lands in Jeddah on two-day official visit

Indian PM Modi lands in Jeddah on two-day official visit
  • The prime minister was invited by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. 
  • Modi’s plane was escorted by Saudi Royal fighter as it entered Saudi airspace

JEDDAH: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Jeddah on Tuesday as he embarks on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. 

Modi’s plane was escorted by Saudi Royal fighter as it entered Saudi airspace, Indian newspapers reported. 

“India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia that have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years,” said Modi in a statement released by his office.

“Together, we have developed a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership.”

This is Modi’s third trip to Saudi Arabia overall following visits in 2016 and 2019. 
The prime minister was invited by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. 
During the two-day visit, Modi is scheduled to meet members of the Indian community, according to his office. The visit is expected to see several memorandums of understanding being signed.