The forecast through February indicates a vast stretch of intense water deficit from southern Mongolia and western Inner Mongolia to China’s western border, including areas of both deficit and surplus as transitions occur. Exceptional deficits are also forecast for Hebei, with deficits of somewhat lesser intensity reaching through Beijing and Shanxi. A vast block of intense surplus is expected from the Yangtze River through southeastern China. Moderate surpluses are forecast for South Korea.
East Asia: Widespread water surpluses forecast south of Yangtze River
The forecast through January indicates widespread surpluses south of the Yangtze River and in the Pearl River watershed. Intense surpluses will persist in Northeast China and western Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet. Deficits are forecast for Hubei, eastern Sichuan, Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi, and Hebei. Deficits are expected to increase and intensify across southern Mongolia and from western Inner Mongolia, China through Xinjiang with conditions of both deficit and surplus in areas of transition. On the Korean Peninsula, moderate surpluses are forecast in the south and moderate deficits in the north.
East Asia: Intense water surpluses forecast for southern China
Widespread water surpluses will emerge south of the Yangtze River and in the Pearl River watershed over the next few months and may persist through March. Surpluses are also forecast for Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet and may persist even longer. Deficits will increase and intensify from western Inner Mongolia through Xinjiang, and moderate to severe deficits will emerge from the North China Plain to the Yangtze River. Extreme surpluses are forecast for southern Japan, and deficits for southern North Korea.
ISciences Worldwide Water Watch List October 2018
Regions forecast to have significant water deficits for the 12-month period from July 2018 through June 2019 include: Germany, Finland, southern Iraq, western Cambodia, Mato Grosso and São Paulo (Brazil), Karachi (Pakistan), and southeastern Australia. Areas with a forecast of significant water surplus include: Pennsylvania and Iowa (US), Uruguay, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Heilongjiang (China). This Watch List is based on ISciences Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM) run on 11 October 2018.
East Asia: Intense water surpluses in Jilin & Heilongjiang
The near-term forecast through November indicates intense surpluses in China’s Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces; along the Yellow River; in Shaanxi, southern Gansu, and Qinghai; and in Tibet. Surpluses are also forecast for southern China and Hokkaido, Japan. Deficits reaching exceptional intensity are forecast from western Inner Mongolia across much of Xinjiang. Deficits are also expected in the Lower and Middle Yangtze River Basin, South Korea, and southwestern Japan.