On April 16, 24, the Gulf countries in the Middle East suffered from thunderstorms. This caused floods in many places in Dubai, paralyzed traffic, and local residents had to travel by boat. Dubai International Airport was forced to close for 28 minutes, and a large number of flights were diverted or cancelled. Oman also suffered from floods after experiencing severe convective weather for 3 days, resulting in 21 deaths in Oman. The following is an analysis of the causes and solutions to the heavy rains in the Middle East:
Meteorological factors:
Influence of low-pressure systems: Spring is a season of rapid and dramatic weather changes in the northern hemisphere. Oman and the UAE are located in the tropics and close to the Indian Ocean. They are vulnerable to strong low pressure from the Indian Ocean that transforms into hurricanes through the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf during the transition season. This time, Oman has been affected by a series of low-pressure systems recently, with continuous heavy rains.
Convergence of cold and warm air: In April 2024, the westerly belt in the northern hemisphere was severely southward, and the Arabian low vortex was deeply cut down. The Arabian sea vapor and the high-altitude cold air thrown out by the cold vortex met near the Persian Gulf, and strong thunderstorm clouds rose into the sky, triggering severe convective weather and heavy rains.
Climate factors: Against the background of global warming, the temperature in the Gulf region has risen, the atmospheric energy is very abundant, and the warm atmosphere can accommodate more moisture, which increases rainfall, intensifies severe convective weather, and increases the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events. This is one of the important reasons for the rare heavy rains in the Gulf region this time.
Geographical factors: The Gulf region is mostly tropical desert climate, with little precipitation in history, with an average annual precipitation of less than 100 mm. Its infrastructure, especially the drainage system, is mostly built according to the standard of coping with small amounts of precipitation, and cannot cope with such a large-scale rainstorm, leading to flooding.
Human factors: Some people believe that the UAE’s artificial rainfall technology may be related to the heavy rainfall, but Omar Yazidi, deputy director of the UAE Meteorological Center, said that artificial rainfall operations were not carried out before and during the rainstorm. However, artificial rainfall technology is still under trial, and some Middle Eastern countries do not seem to have a good way to deal with the impact of this technology, and even do not have spillways to collect excess water for later use.
Solution strategy
Infrastructure construction:
Improve the drainage system: Invest funds to upgrade the existing drainage system, increase the diameter and number of drainage pipes, optimize the drainage network, and ensure that the accumulated water can be discharged in a timely and effective manner during heavy rains. For example, in urban planning, build a deep tunnel rainwater system, such as the 10-kilometer-long and 11.05-meter-diameter tunnel that has been built in Dubai, which can drain rainwater from most areas in southern Dubai.
Build flood control facilities: Build flood control facilities such as dams, sluices, and canals in places prone to floods such as rivers and coastal areas to control the flow and direction of floods and reduce the threat of floods to cities and residents. You can also learn from the experience of the Netherlands and build small reservoirs to store excess rainwater.
Meteorological monitoring and early warning:
Strengthen meteorological monitoring: Increase the number of meteorological observation sites and the level of sophistication of equipment to improve the accuracy and timeliness of meteorological data. At the same time, use satellites, radars and other technical means to conduct all-round and real-time monitoring of the weather system to keep abreast of meteorological changes.
Optimize the early warning system: Establish a more complete meteorological early warning mechanism to improve the accuracy and advance amount of early warnings for disastrous weather such as heavy rains and floods. Through mobile phone text messages, television, radio, social media and other channels, early warning information is promptly released to the public, so that residents have enough time to take preventive measures.
Urban planning and management:
Reasonable urban layout planning: In urban planning, avoid large-scale construction in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging, and reserve sufficient space for rainwater discharge and storage. At the same time, strengthen the protection and construction of natural ecological spaces such as urban green spaces and parks, and improve the city’s rainwater infiltration and storage capacity.
Strengthen the ability to supply emergency materials:
It is crucial to strengthen the management and supply capabilities of emergency materials. On the one hand, a complete emergency plan needs to be formulated to clearly define the responsibilities and tasks of various departments in disaster response, vigorously strengthen the construction and professional training of emergency rescue teams, and comprehensively improve the storage and allocation efficiency of emergency materials. In this way, when a disaster occurs, we can quickly gather forces and efficiently carry out key tasks such as emergency rescue, evacuating the affected people, and restoring social order. On the other hand, our “superpangol” will do its best to equip the front-line rescue personnel with high-quality protective equipment to ensure the safety and smooth progress of the rescue operation. We always uphold the belief of “superpangol, let the world be less hurt”, and we are determined to protect every peace.
