Drought Strikes After Heatwave... Experts Say "It’s Now the Era of Compound Disasters" [Reading Science]

Southern Precipitation Drops to 20-70% of Average
"End of Separate Flood and Drought Measures... New Water Management System Needed"

Following the heatwave that swept the Korean Peninsula, a drought is now rapidly spreading, especially in the southern regions. Experts agree that the heatwave and the drought should not be seen as separate disasters, but rather as a 'compound disaster' brought on by climate change.

A reservoir in Sangbuk-myeon, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, is drying up on the 3rd amid a record-breaking heatwave and drought. Photo by Hosoo Park

According to the National Drought Information Portal on August 5, among the 142 cities and counties nationwide, 10 areas are at the drought alert level and 15 are at the caution stage. The drought has been expanding from the Gyeongsang region to the Jeolla region.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the nationwide precipitation in July reached only 72% of the average year. In particular, South Gyeongsang Province recorded only 22% of its usual rainfall, marking the driest July since weather observations began. Some local governments are reporting shortages of agricultural and household water, and algal blooms in the Nakdong River are spreading rapidly. In the industrial sector, companies such as POSCO are preparing drought response plans to address the water shortage.

"It's not that it doesn't rain, but that it pours all at once"

Experts have diagnosed this drought as a result of changes in precipitation patterns due to climate change, rather than simply a temporary lack of rainfall.

A reservoir in Sangbuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, is drying up on the 3rd amid a record-breaking heatwave and drought. Photo by Hosoo Park

Kuk Jongseong, Professor at Seoul National University's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said, "The recent drought in the southern region is not simply a matter of less rainfall, but indicates that the very pattern of rainfall itself is changing. In the future, we are likely to see longer dry spells, but when it does rain, there will be more frequent instances of heavy downpours within short periods."

Cho Chunho, former Head of the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, also explained, "Although Korea's total summer precipitation is increasing, the number of rainy days is decreasing while heavy rains are becoming more common. We are witnessing a paradoxical climate that is simultaneously becoming both wetter and drier."

Koo Ja-ho, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at Yonsei University, predicted, "It is no longer the case that rain falls evenly over wide areas; instead, the pattern has shifted to localized downpours, like 'water bombs' in narrow regions. This means managing water resources will only become more challenging."

Heatwave and drought amplifying each other as a 'compound disaster'

Experts stressed that the current situation should be seen as a compound disaster, in which the heatwave and drought amplify each other's effects.

Yae Sangwook, Professor of Climate and Energy System Engineering at Ewha Womans University, said, "Drought-dried ground intensifies heatwaves, and the stronger heatwaves deplete soil moisture in a vicious cycle. Since the 2010s, the frequency of heatwave-drought compound disasters has been rapidly increasing in Korea."

On the 31st of last month, the cracked bottom of Oryong Reservoir in Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan City, which recorded a water storage rate of 7.5%, was revealed. Photo by Yonhap News

Hwang Seung-sik, Professor at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Public Health, also remarked, "Both drought and heatwaves are natural disasters as defined by law, and the southern region is experiencing a compound disaster with heatwaves, drought, and algal blooms occurring simultaneously."

He suggested, "If water conservation leads to reduced drinking and handwashing, the risks of heat-related illnesses and infectious diseases can both increase. Therefore, support for supplying water to the elderly in rural areas, along with heatwave response measures, needs to be pursued together."

"An era of managing floods and droughts together"

There are also calls to revise water management policies that were developed based on average past climate conditions.

Professor Kuk said, "We need mid-to-long-term policies that utilize seasonal forecasts and climate outlooks to incorporate changes in the number of rainy days and soil moisture. The criteria for dam operations and allocations of agricultural and industrial water must also be changed."

Former Chief Cho emphasized, "The traditional approach of releasing water during floods and storing it during droughts has its limits. We need a new water resource management paradigm that treats floods and droughts as part of one continuous system."

Professor Koo said, "It is important to expand rainwater utilization systems for drought preparedness and improve urban water management technologies. Furthermore, an information platform should be established to make it easy for citizens to check the state of local water resources."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.