.png "WMO 2024: Only 1/3rd of River Basins Had Normal Water Levels")
- It found that only one‑third (≈33%) of global river basins had water within the normal range, while nearly two‑thirds faced excess or deficit flows for the 6th consecutive year.
- The year 2024 was the hottest on record (1.55°C above pre‑industrial levels), intensified by El Niño, which drove droughts in the Amazon Basin, South America, and Southern Africa.
- Meanwhile, Central/Western Africa, Central Europe, Pakistan, Northern India, and parts of Asia saw above‑normal discharge and floods.
- The report highlighted 450 gigatonnes of glacier loss in 2024, adding 1.2 mm to global sea level rise.
- It warned that 3.6 billion people already face water scarcity for at least a month annually, projected to rise to 5 billion by 2050.
Question:
Q.1 According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report, what percentage of global river basins had water within the normal range in 2024?a) 50%
b) 25%
c) 33%
d) 40%
Answer: c) Only one-third (~33%) of global river basins had normal water levels; nearly two-thirds faced excess or deficit flows.
