Dubai Flood: A Climate Change Alert, Requires Collaboration | Interpreter

Dubai Flood: An Alarm on Climate Change | Image:X, Twitter

The Middle East, usually known for its dry weather, has recently seen an extraordinary amount of rain, especially in areas such as Dubai and Oman. Prolonged downpours brought unprecedented amounts of rain, severely damaging and disrupting everything. These extreme events are believed to be the result of climate change.

Dubai Mall flooded

Above the normal annual rainfall of 94.7 millimeters at Dubai International Airport, more than 142 millimeters of rain was recorded in one day in Dubai alone. Airports, roads and public transport were all hit by the heavy rain and storms, which also caused widespread flooding and travel disruptions. Warnings were issued to prevent unnecessary travel after more than 500 planes were cancelled, delayed or diverted. The Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall, two of the largest shopping centers, were also flooded.

Streets turned into rivers

These powerful thunderstorms surprised Dubai, a city known for its intense heat and rare rainfall. Scenes of a devastating event were evoked by the heavy rain, which turned the city streets into rivers. To emphasize how bad the situation was, images of flooded subway stations and people in kayaks became commonplace. This thunderstorm, which caused disruptions to daily life and flooded infrastructure in Dubai, was called by meteorologists the worst in 75 years.

Urgent need to adapt to the changing environment

The sudden rainfall demonstrated the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the importance of robust emergency procedures and infrastructure to mitigate its effects. As Dubai grows and evolves, climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban design are becoming increasingly important. This disaster makes it very clear how unpredictable nature can be and how urgent it is for cities to adapt to a changing environment to ensure the safety and well-being of its inhabitants.

Climate change is making the situation worse

The intensity of the heavy rains, which had serious consequences for the population, severely affected both Oman and its neighboring countries. Rising water forced many locals to stay in their homes, leaving students stranded on buses. Strong storms and higher evaporation – which has been linked to rising global temperatures – created an environment conducive to heavy rainfall. Due to rising temperatures and an increase in atmospheric moisture, climate change has likely worsened the situation. As a result, the region experienced increased rainfall in terms of volume, duration and frequency.

Cloud Seeding: Cause of Disaster?

Unprecedented rain has fallen in dry areas, not just in Dubai and Oman, but around the world, from Australia and Greece to the US. Rising temperatures around the world are intensifying storms and increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events. Interestingly, Dubai has tried to use cloud seeding as a solution for water security. Nevertheless, the National Center of Meteorology made it clear that no specific clouds were targeted during periods of intense rainfall. This raises the question of how cloud seeding works and more research is needed to understand how the environment and human activities interact.

What is cloud seeding?

The United Arab Emirates government is using a weather modification method called cloud seeding to alleviate the country’s water problems. Another name for cloud seeding is artificial precipitation or rainmaking. One of the first countries in the Persian Gulf to use cloud seeding technology is the United Arab Emirates. Scientists in the United Arab Emirates are using cloud seeding technology to supplement the country’s water scarcity caused by intense heat.

While it is difficult to determine the exact impact, cloud seeding may have had some influence given the complicated dynamics of weather systems. The events highlight how global climate phenomena are interconnected. Experiences of extreme weather in Dubai and Oman are part of a larger trend that emphasizes the importance of knowledge and preparation. To promote resilience and sustainability, communities everywhere must work together to address the impacts of climate change.