Project- Meteorology- Flooding
In most areas, especially where the return periods of water hydrological cycles do not have a specific order, implementing large dams and heavy projects with huge costs is not affordable. Obviously, achieving a safe and economical reservoir while maintaining important environmental considerations is much more cost-effective.
Following table indicates damages resulted from severe raining and flood in southern parts of Sistan and Baluchistan Province.
Belpier River in northeast of Patanpiss Syncline
Flooding of Mirabad River located in Qasr-e-Qand
Abgah village, Nikshahr, 07:50 AM, Tuesday, 16 April, 2024
Runoff resulted from raining on 15:00, Tuesday, 16 April 2024-Nikshar
Raining system arriving to Zarabad from Oman Sea on 15:30
Windy condition (Red arrows) and lightening potential areas
on 15:30, Tuesday, 16 April 2024
On 17:00, Tuesday, 16 April 2024
1.North Chabahar and south Nikshahr route
2.Coastal line to Chabahar route
3.Route to Fanuj and Bent
Based on qind direction, the first route is more probable.
up to 18:30, 16 April 2024
Heavy raining in Chahan-Nikshahr on 22:00
Director General of Disaster Management headquarter of Sistan and Baluchistan governor announced:
Currently, all cities located in south Sistan and Baluchistan have rainfall. Most rainfall was recorded in Zarabad that is to be about 120mm. Critical situation in Zarabad/Districts connection has been interrupted. Severe raining in Zarabad, which is to be about 120mm, as well as flooding local rivers has resulted in districts disconnection such a way that critical situation is reported.
Flooding of Melouran River following severe rainfall in April 16, 2024
Flooding of Melouran River at 5:18 in April 17, 2024
Severe flooding of Nikshahr River, Bazigar village, Wednesday, 17 April 2024 at 5:20
Rainfall stopped at 5:52 in Nikshahr and sky is completely clear.
Losses to April 17, 2024
In the last days of April 2024, more than 50% of the mean annual rainfall of Sistan and Baluchistan province occurred in 3 days. Due to environmental conditions and characteristics, including topography, soil type and texture, and other factors such as the characteristics of materials used in the construction of most residential houses, etc., it has created complex conditions in the province. Severe rainfall in Sistan and Baluchistan cut roads of 150 villages and dozens of residential houses were flooded. Rainfall record breaking in Sistan and Baluchistan Province. The amount of rainfall reported from different stations are as follows:
Chabahra 4.146
Zarabad, 270
Kahir, 121
Konarak, 247
Shark 24
Polan 144
Tis 141
Moman 143
Banset 175
Beris 117
This amount of rainfall has been unprecedented from these 10 stations since its establishment.
North of Nikshahr after rainfall at 12:39, April 17, 2024
The opinions of international experts regarding the rainfall occurred in April 2024:
Is climate change the cause of floods?
Researches indicate that today, the occurrence of torrential rains and other weather events has intensified due to increasing the effects of climate change. Asra Naqbi, senior expert at the National Meteorological Center of the UAE, told Reuters about the recent rain that a low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere, with the help of another low-pressure system near the Earth's surface, has exerted additional pressure on the air. This pressure is intensified due to the contrast between the warmer air on the surface of the earth and the colder air at the highest level and created suitable conditions for heavy rain and lightning. She also mentioned that regarding to the season change, this "unusual phenomenon" in April was not unexpected. However, climate change has played a role in intensifying rainfall and storm events.
In addition, Dame Cuomo, from the university community, has also stated that rains caused by thunderstorms, such as those observed in April 17, 18 in the UAE, will increase sharply as the weather warms due to climate change. Because convection, which is the strong updraft in thunderstorms, is strengthened as the planet warms.
Frederique Otto, senior professor in meteorological sciences at Imperial College, London, said that as the climate warms, rainfall will become more intense around the world, because the warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. He emphasized that talking about cloud fertilization as the reason for heavy rain is a misleading discussion.
Mark Howden, Director of Climate, Energy and Natural Disasters Institute, National University of Australia, also stated to Reuter that global warming has led to the injection of moisture from the "extraordinarily" warm seas around Dubai into the very warm air at sea level that increases both the potential rate of evaporation and the capacity of the atmosphere to hold that water, which causes larger rainfalls like what happened recently in Dubai.
Gabby Grell, a meteorologist at the University of Edinburgh, said that heavy rains, like those occurred in the UAE and Oman, are likely to occur worse in many parts of the world due to the effects of climate change. She added that when the conditions are suitable for heavy rain and more moisture is injected into the air, more heavy rain occurs. Injection of additional moisture is occurring more and more, because due to climate change caused by human activity the air has become warmer.
Source: Report of flood April 17, 18, 2024, Natural Disasters Research Institute
Conclusion
Studying situation of the region shows that the southern cities of this province such as Iranshahr, Saravan, Delgan, Bampur, Qasr-e-Qand and Nikshahr are among the areas involved in every flood and intensity of the precipitation is reported to be higher than other areas in each event. In mentioned areas, the weakness of infrastructure and communication network, structures, sewage network and surface water disposal is highly evident;
One of the most important points that is of great importance in the floods of Sistan and Baluchistan province, is paying attention to "take advantage of the golden opportunity of flood storage" in order to use rainwater in time intervals. As this province faces serious crisis not only in the supply of water for economic sectors, but also in the supply of drinking water. Meanwhile, according to the statement of the chairman of the Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Commission of the Islamic Council, nearly 2 billion cubic meters of water has flowed into the sea during the recent rains in southern parts of the province.
- High volume of precipitation and impermeability with low slope causes flooding.- Blockage of communication ways and non-accessibility to essential supplies.
- Improper vegetation and the lack of drainages and canals cause flooding in agricultural lands.
- The lack of proper management of watershed and aquifer projects causes the destruction of dams.
- The high volume of mud and sediments carried by floods leads to damage and fatality.
- The insufficient carrying capacity of the river and the lack of bridges cause communication interruptions.
- Disrespecting the river territory and neglecting seasonal rivers causes river flooding and damages.
- Unresilient soil has led to weak strength of houses on Makran coast.
- The lack of necessary facilities and infrastructure as well as lack of basic equipment and machinery is another challenge causing floods.