Considering how incredibly hot the weather in Australia is, getting hotter as a result of climate change as well, it’s no surprise that the scorching heat from the sun is causing the rivers to run dry.
Unfortunately, the lack of water, or inconsistency of water supply, is not only caused by the increased temperatures. Like in many other countries, the mismanagement of water resources, along with the location of the water resources, also plays a significant role in the problem at hand.
Australia has endured brutal heatwaves during the start of 2019, with temperatures reaching an average high of 40C or more.
While most Aussies are used to these scorching temperatures, relying on the countless of coastal beaches in the country, along with swimming in pools and dams, the temperatures are continuing to get worse over time, which makes the future seem rather dire in the Aussie-land.
Especially, now, due to the rivers drying up. It has been reported that all tributaries of Murray-Darling’s river system, have run dry. Some have even turned into stagnant green pools. Heritage-protected wetlands and lakes are experiencing the same problem.
The Searing Summer Drought of 2019
Due to extreme heat, hundreds of animals have also died of thirst thus far. Some have even been faced with culling, due to entering certain locations in search of water.
Temperature records in Southern Australia have reached an all-time high, with Adelaide recording a maximum heat of 46.6C this year, and Melbourne experiencing the hottest day ever since the 2009 bushfires in Australia.
In the case of rivers running dry, the Murry-Darling basin usually relies on rivers stretching through Queensland, New South Wales, along with Victoria, emptying into Adelaide’s Southern Ocean, to survive. In 2019, however, this is not the case. The drought has been caused by inconsistent patterns of rain, which is hoped to be restored, to help this crisis.
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