WAN - Drawing attention to the receding waters of Lake Wan due to drought, Prof. Dr Faruk Alaeddinoğlu said: "The Lake Van Basin is warming above the global average; this is no longer a seasonal fluctuation, but a permanent climate crisis."
The drought, which has been deeply felt worldwide over the past five years, has also affected cities in Turkey and Kurdistan. As the drought turns into a climate crisis, alarm bells are ringing at Lake Wan, the world's largest soda lake. As the weather warms, the lake is receding by metres, bringing with it ecological damage to the lake basin.
The lake's receding waters have reached their lowest level in recent years, particularly along the shores of the districts of Artemet (Edremit) and Westan (Gevaş). Mud has formed in the wake of the receding water. The receding water has created a long distance between the fishermen's shelters and small boats and the lake. Ecologists point out that the lake's current water loss is not just a seasonal fluctuation, but a sign of the lasting effects of the climate crisis.
Prof. Dr. Faruk Alaeddinoğlu, a lecturer at the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, conducts research on Lake Van and water resources. He shared his assessment with the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) regarding the drought in Lake Van and the dangers it will bring.
Alaeddinoğlu stated that the Wan basin has been affected by global climate change and has experienced warming above the global average as a result. He said that Lake Van should be evaluated differently from open basins because it is a closed basin. He emphasised that the global temperature has increased by 1.6 degrees since last year, which is a very high considering that the world average is 14 degrees. Alaeddinoğlu said: "The Lake Van Basin is located further north, so it is experiencing warming above the global average, and this is rapidly changing the climate structure of the basin."
'SNOWFALL HAS TURNED TO RAIN'
Stating that rainfall has slowed rapidly this year compared to previous years, Alaeddinoğlu noted that autumn rainfall has largely disappeared over the past decade.
He added: "Although there has been a decrease in the amount of rainfall, the main change is in the form of precipitation; snowfall has turned to rain. Due to rising temperatures, snow no longer accumulates on the ground to feed groundwater. Heavy rainfall falls in a short period of time, so it cannot seep into the ground and most of it turns into surface runoff and reaches the lake. This seriously reduces the feeding of groundwater resources.”
EVAPORATION PROBLEM IN THE LAKE
Alaeddinoğlu noted that warming in Lake Van had reached 20 per cent, adding that scientific studies and United Nations (UN) reports indicated that global warming would continue. Alaeddinoğlu stated that the evaporation rate has also increased, saying that evaporation used to be twice the amount of rainfall, but now it is 4-5 times higher.
Alaeddinoğlu said: "In a large basin with a large water mass such as Lake Van, this evaporation causes real losses. The flow of rivers is decreasing, and many streams that should flow throughout the year are now completely dry during certain periods. Turkey is not a water-rich country; the amount of water per capita is steadily decreasing. The Lake Van Basin is not as rich a water basin as it is thought to be. As rainfall decreases and groundwater is overused, these resources, seen as the water security of the future, are rapidly being depleted.”
'THE LAKE IS RECEDING RAPIDLY'
Noting that the decline in Lake Van is accelerating with the decrease in rainfall, Alaeddinoğlu stated that groundwater is being intensively used for agriculture, settlements and large sites, and that it is important to plan the existing water resources because water management is more difficult in closed basins.
Alaeddinoğlu stated that the dry season in the basin used to last about a month in the past, but now it lasts up to three months, noting that this situation has accelerated the rate of water loss in the lake.
He said: “In the past, the lake level would rise during the rainy season and decrease during the dry season. Now this cycle has been disrupted. When the expected improvement in autumn did not occur in October-November, the lake's retreat is both lasting longer and causing greater area loss. The wide white strips seen along the shores are traces of the lake's retreat caused by soda accumulation.”
'THERE IS SERIOUS AREA LOSS IN THE LAKE'
Alaeddinoğlu stated that they observed serious area loss in the lake in satellite images, emphasising that the lake will not completely dry up, but as it continues to receive no water, the chemistry of the lake, which is an important ecosystem, is being disrupted.
"Although the world has experienced hot and cold periods in the past, the changes happening today are very rapid and are progressing due to human influence. Geopolitical crises, countries prioritising their own interests, and the failure to implement most of the climate commitments made are making the process even worse," he said.
Warning that the uncontrolled consumption of groundwater will cause residential areas to run out of water, Alaeddinoğlu said that many parts of Turkey are under drought pressure. Noting that water resources will be insufficient in the coming years, Alaeddinoğlu said that water management is not strong enough despite legal regulations.
'CITIES MAY NEED TO BE RELOCATED'
Alaeddinoğlu said that if the basin is not managed properly, the relocation of cities may even be discussed in the future. He concluded: "If groundwater is depleted, the drinking water, industrial water and agricultural water of hundreds of thousands of people will be at risk. Therefore, it is essential to manage the basin as a whole. If the process is not managed correctly, relocating cities may even be on the agenda in the future. However, if the necessary steps are taken, it is possible to adapt to this process. This requires a strong will and a determined water management policy."
MA / Zeynep Durgut