On April 16, local time in the United Arab Emirates, most of the country was hit by the worst rainfall in 75 years. According to relevant data, Dubai, a famous city in the United Arab Emirates, received nearly 100 mm of rain in 12 hours, which has reached the average annual precipitation in the region. The heaviest rainfall occurred in the city of Ain, with a staggering 254 mm of rain in one day, the highest since records began in 1949.
The continuous heavy rainfall has caused the flooding of major roads, residential areas, subways, airports and other facilities in Dubai, which has had a serious impact on the normal production and life of the local people. In addition to the UAE, the three Gulf countries of Bahrain, Qatar and Oman also received very heavy rainfall and severe flooding. As of the evening of the 16th, according to incomplete statistics, more than 10 people have been killed in these Gulf countries due to heavy rains and floods.
The climate of the Gulf countries is predominantly arid
The Gulf states mainly refer to the eight countries along the coast of the Persian Gulf (also known as the Arabian Gulf), which are Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. These countries are all located in the southwest of Asia, with important geographical locations and abundant oil resources.
The climates of these countries vary depending on the geography and topography, but in general, they all belong to hot and dry tropical desert climates or tropical arid climates, which means that the temperatures in these regions are usually very high, especially in summer, and the average daily temperature often exceeds 30 degrees Celsius and may even reach more than 40 degrees Celsius.
At the same time, precipitation in these areas is very low, often with only a small amount of rain in a year, and may even go without rain for many years in a row. This climatic characteristic makes the natural environment of the Gulf countries relatively harsh, with sparse vegetation and scarce water resources.
Although the climatic conditions in most of the Gulf countries are harsh, there are some regions with unique climatic characteristics. For example, there is a mountain town called Namath in Saudi Arabia, which is surrounded by desert but has escaped the effects of a tropical desert climate.
Due to its high altitude and the influence of the wet monsoons, Namas has a relatively cool and humid climate, with temperatures falling below 30 degrees Celsius all year round and even dropping below freezing in winter. This unique climatic condition makes Namas a rare cool "fog capital" in Saudi Arabia and even the Gulf region, attracting a large number of tourists to come for summer sightseeing.
In addition to special cases such as Namas, the climate characteristics of the Gulf countries are influenced by other factors. For example, the impact of topography on climate cannot be ignored. Some Gulf countries have terrain such as mountains, plateaus, etc., and the climate in these regions may become cooler and wetter due to the increase in altitude.
In terms of rainfall, countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman have low annual precipitation, and some areas may not receive rain for many years. Qatar also has a tropical desert climate, with no complete rivers and permanent lakes, and the average annual precipitation is only about 100 mm. On the other hand, countries like the UAE, although most of the region also has an arid climate, some areas may have slightly higher annual rainfall. However, even these slightly higher rainfalls are still very low compared to many other parts of the globe.
Torrential rains can also occur at times in desert areas
Most of the Gulf region is a desert area, with a hot and dry climate. However, heavy rains also sometimes occur in these areas, mainly due to the complexity and variability of the climate system.
First, although the Gulf region is predominantly desert, its climate is not static. Although the desert climate is predominantly dry, it can be affected by other aircurrents or weather systems during certain seasons or weather conditions. For example, when a moist air stream from the ocean meets hot air from a desert area, a strong convection current may form, which can trigger heavy rainfall.
Second, changes in humidity in the atmosphere can also affect the likelihood of rainfall. In some cases, there may be a sudden increase in atmospheric humidity over desert areas, which can be due to water vapor transport in the surrounding area or local evaporation, among other reasons. When the humidity of the atmosphere reaches a certain level, clouds can form and rain can occur.
Third, topographic factors may also have an impact on rainfall. There may be some topography such as mountains or plateaus in the bay region that may change the direction and speed of the airflow, which can affect the distribution and intensity of rainfall. In some cases, the uplift of the terrain may cause the airflow to rise and cool, resulting in the formation of clouds and rainfall.
Fourth, climate change may also have an impact on rainfall in the Gulf. As the global climate warms, rainfall patterns are likely to change in some areas, including desert areas. Climate change is likely to lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which may also include precipitation events such as heavy rainfall.
Why do torrential rains in the Gulf cause such a catastrophe?
The equivalent of a year's worth of rain in one day in the UAE and severe flooding in several Gulf countries underscore the devastating effects of torrential rains in desert areas.
First of all, the author believes that the soil characteristics of desert areas are one of the main causes of severe flooding. Desert soils often have poor water fixation capacity and drainage performance. This means that when a rainstorm comes, the soil is unable to absorb and disperse rainwater effectively, causing water to accumulate quickly and form a flood. In addition, the sand in the desert itself does not have a good ability to retain water, and rainwater cannot be effectively absorbed, further exacerbating the occurrence of flooding.
Second, desert areas lack infrastructure to cope with heavy rainfall. Because desert areas have long been characterized by aridity, their cities and infrastructure are not designed to cope with heavy rainfall. The drainage system is not perfect and cannot remove the stagnant water in time, resulting in flooding. In addition, roads, bridges and other infrastructure can also be damaged by heavy rains, further exacerbating the impact of the disaster.
In addition, in addition to climate change may be an important factor leading to the increase of heavy rainfall in desert areas, human activities may also have a certain impact on flood disasters in desert areas. For example, overexploitation and urbanization in the Gulf countries in recent years may cause some damage to natural drainage systems, making it impossible to discharge surface water effectively. In addition, some engineering projects may have changed the topography and direction of water flow, increasing the risk of flooding.
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