NASA released the maps, Turkey ‘s part in more than 80 percent noted that the drought experienced in a violent way. Since July 2020 below average rainfall almost every month, almost all provinces in Turkey since it was stated.
The National Drought Reduction Center of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Monitoring (GRACE-FO) satellite measurements, Turkey published drought maps of. with maps below the seasonal average rainfall is taken care of most of Turkey emphasized that the severe drought experienced. Released two map, January 11, 2021 the day of GRACE-FO recorded by satellites, according to Turkey’s groundwater and soil moisture measurements. in the meteorological map, part of Turkey’s more than 80 percent ‘extraordinarily severe drought and severe drought’ attention was drawn to the data.
NASA maps, Deputy Minister of Environment and Urbanization Prof. Dr. Emin Birpınar shared it on social media with the phrase “The drought in our country is now on NASA’s radar”. Sharing the maps on social media, Assoc. Dr. Barış Önol said, “The recent rains have improved the situation a little, but the situation is serious.
Alarm for Istanbul
In a statement from NASA, when 2021 began, it was emphasized that in most regions of Turkey experienced severe drought. It was warned that many reservoirs around Istanbul have fallen to the lowest water storage levels in 15 years, and if this continues, agriculture could be under threat.
48 percent decrease recorded
In the statement, which stated that 2019 was mostly deprived of rain, it was noted that the driest months were experienced in the second half of 2020. Since July 2020 all provinces in Turkey, indicating that below average rainfall each month, the October to December rains, emphasized that the low 48 percent from the 1981-2010 average.
What do the maps mean?
The first map shows shallow groundwater storage as of January 11, 2021 as measured by GRACE-FO satellites. The colors reflect the percentage of precipitation or how the amount of groundwater compares to long-term records (1948-2010). It is pointed out that there is more water than normal in the blue areas and less water in the orange and red areas. In the statement, it was noted that groundwater in aquifers (permeable geological units that can store economically significant amounts of water and transport fast enough) are an important resource for crop irrigation and drinking water in many countries, and can feed streams during dry periods. It was emphasized that the return of groundwater from drought will take months.
The second map shows the moisture levels on the surface, which is important for the plant root regions in the soil. According to the measurements made as of January 11, 2021, drought seems to be in serious dimensions at these rates, which are of great importance in terms of agricultural production. However, it was stated in NASA records that these rates could change very rapidly with new precipitation.
Multiple seasons of below-average rainfall have affected #Turkey‘s drinking water supplies and groundwater reservoirs. @NASA ‘s GRACE-FO satellite measurements show the country’s shallow groundwater storage and root zone soil moisture. https://t.co/woX1ULeCfs pic.twitter.com/J6fdiBmCed
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) January 18, 2021
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Status of the groundwater in Turkey as of January 11, 2021 were calculated on a shared map. occupancy rates of dams in Turkey, where many of the city’s fall to critical levels, the occupancy rate of dams in Istanbul was stated that reached its lowest level in the last 15 years.
Occupancy in dams and groundwater reservoirs was calculated with Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On satellites. The blue parts of the broadcast frame show regions with more water than normal, while the red and orange parts show regions with less than normal water.
*Orange and red areas indicate that there is little water.