The Stream, April 16, 2021: Monsoon Rains In India Could Increase If Global Temperatures Rise

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN

• A new study finds monsoon rains in India could increase if global temperatures keep rising.
• A new U.S. intelligence report warns of the continued threat of climate change on water security.
• Serbia orders a mining group to halt operations after it failed to meet environmental standards.
• Some members of the San Diego Drinking Water Authority are calling for an independent ethics officer to settle a dispute over a proposed pipeline.

Seismic activity in Taiwan may increase during the dry season, according to new research.

“In the dry season, we see more earthquakes because the water load has been removed.” – Ya-Ju Hsu at Academia Sinica in Taiwan. A new study found that seismic activity in Taiwan may be linked to the monsoon season, NewScientist reports. The research analyzed seismic data between 2002 and 2018 and groundwater measurements from 40 monitoring stations and found that earthquakes of a higher magnitude tend to occur during the country’s dry season between February and April.

IN RECENT WATER NEWS

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Scientists Concerned About the Bottom of the Food Web in the Great Lakes – The warming climate could mean changes for the base of the food web in the Great Lakes. But researchers are not yet sure what those changes might be.

California Report Tallies Hundreds of Failing Water Systems in the State – Hundreds more systems are at risk of not being able to meet drinking water standards.

New U.S. Intelligence Report Says Climate Change Will Threaten Future Water and Food Security

The Independent reports that the climate crisis will continue to worsen disease outbreaks and threaten food and water security, according to U.S. intelligence officials. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that climate disasters, including droughts and floods, could threaten the United States and U.S. interests. Adaptation measures, however, could mitigate climate change’s impact.

TODAY’S TOP WATER STORIES, TOLD IN NUMBERS

1 DEGREE CELSIUS

A study published in Earth System Dynamics found that monsoon rainfall in India could increase by five percent for every one degree Celsius increase in global temperatures. The study relied on over 30 climate models to study possible future changes to Indian summer monsoons.

$408 MILLION

Serbia ordered a Chinese mining group to halt work at the country’s only copper mine and to complete a wastewater treatment plant after it failed to comply with environmental standards, Reuters reports. Last week, China’s Zijin Mining Group said it plans to invest $408 million this year to improve environmental standards. The moves come after thousands rallied in Serbia’s capital to protest the government’s lack of action to prevent industrial and mining pollution.

ON THE RADAR

Some members of the San Diego County Drinking Water Authority are calling for an independent ethics officer to settle a dispute over a proposed pipeline that would bring in water from the Colorado River. Voice of San Diego reports that the pipe is designed to avoid paying for Colorado River water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a regional wholesaler. While most members of 24 smaller water agencies that get their supply from the Water Authority voted against the pipeline, it remains in discussions due to what some say is suspicious tactics by the Water Authority to sway votes.

Jane Johnston

Jane is a Communications Associate for Circle of Blue. She writes The Stream and has covered domestic and international water issues for Circle of Blue. She is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she studied Multimedia Journalism and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her time at Grand Valley, she was the host of the Community Service Learning Center podcast Be the Change. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jane enjoys listening to music, reading and spending time outdoors.