Climate Change Worsens Deadly Dubai Floods, Study Finds

A man walks along a road barrier among floodwater caused by heavy rain on Sheikh Zayed Road highway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 18, 2024. A new report says climate change played a rol

A recent report by World Weather Attribution highlighted the impact of climate change on the devastating floods that hit Dubai and other parts of the Persian Gulf. While definitive evidence linking the event to greenhouse gas-induced warming was not found, scientists noted a significant increase in rainfall due to global warming.

The study revealed that between 10% and 40% more rain fell in a single day than would have in a world without the 1.2 degrees Celsius warming caused by human activities since the 19th century. The unprecedented rainfall, resulting in at least two dozen fatalities across the region, paralyzed the bustling city of Dubai with record-breaking amounts of precipitation.

10-40% more rain due to 1.2°C warming from human activities.

World Weather Attribution report on climate change impact on recent floods.

Unprecedented rainfall in Dubai led to fatalities and city paralysis.

Rising temperatures increase atmosphere's moisture-holding capacity.

El Nino intensified extreme weather event in the region.

Although computer simulations were not feasible due to data limitations, decades of observations indicated a substantial rise in rainfall amounts, aligning with the expected impact of climate change. The study team emphasized the indirect evidence pointing towards climate change as a contributing factor.

Scientists explained that the atmosphere's capacity to hold moisture increases with rising temperatures, a fundamental principle in physics. The report also highlighted the influence of El Nino, a natural climate phenomenon, in intensifying the extreme weather event.

While the study could not quantify the exact increase in the likelihood of such downpours in Dubai, researchers estimated that the current climate conditions make such events approximately three times more probable than in pre-industrial times.

The report dismissed claims that cloud seeding in the UAE affected the rainfall, emphasizing that the storm system was not artificially manipulated. External experts supported the findings, underscoring the role of greenhouse gas emissions in exacerbating extreme weather events.

In conclusion, the study provided a comprehensive assessment of how climate change amplified the recent flooding in the UAE and Oman, underscoring the urgent need to address global warming to mitigate the impact of severe climate extremes.

For more climate coverage, visit AP's Climate and Environment Section.