The Stream, January 8: Geoengineering to Cut Climate Change Could Cut Rainfall Instead

Climate Change
Introducing large quantities of sulfate particles into Earth’s atmosphere in an effort to simulate large volcanic eruptions and keep global temperatures from rising could have the unintended consequence of greatly reducing rainfall in parts of the world, the Guardian reported, citing a new study published in Environmental Research Letters. The study showed that this type of geoengineering could reduce rainfall by as much as one third in parts of Africa, Asia and South America.

Floods
The United Kingdom is set to endure yet another wave of rainstorms, with as much as 40 millimeters of rain expected to fall today and tomorrow in the southern and western parts of the country, the Guardian reported. Three hundred flood warnings are still in effect, and local community officials are struggling to keep flood defenses strong while helping those whose homes and businesses have been affected.

Floods created some of the costliest natural disasters of 2013 in terms of both economic damage and loss of life, NBC News reported, citing the annual disaster report from the insurance group Munich Re. Floods in India killed 5,500 people, making them the second deadliest natural disaster of the year, while floods in Europe created the most economic damage at more than $US 15 billion.

Nile River
Talks between Ethiopia and Egypt about the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River have reached another stalemate after Egypt insisted that Ethiopia respect its water security and traditional claims to Nile River water, Bloomberg News reported. Egypt is unwilling to give up any of its Nile water, while Ethiopia says it is unwilling to stop construction of the hydropower dam, which Egypt says will cut its downstream water supply.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek