Muscat: Despite frequent reports of heavy rains lashing several parts of the country, leading to flash floods, overall the year 2022 has been the driest for Oman with very inadequate rainfall.
The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) in its annual report said that there was been a substantial drop in the quantity of rainfall (MM) received in the Sultanate in 2022.
On Average, the country got only 30.6 mm of rainfall in 2022, compared to 105.8 mm in 2021, 103 mm in 2020, 94.3 in 2020, 80.8 mm in 2019, 74.7 in 2017, 95.3 in 2016, 69.4 in 2015, 89.5 in 2014 and 139.2 in 2013.
It also mentioned that July was the wettest month in 2022 with 48.2 mm followed by January (17.7 mm) and August (8.6 mm).
The Muscat Ground Station (airport) recorded the least amount of rainfall in the country, while Dhofar received most of its rainfall in the months of July and August. North al Sharqiyah got rainfall for most of the months except for February, March, April, and May in 2022.
LESS RAINFALL BUT FLOOD THREAT
According to experts, while the overall amount of rainfall dropped considerably in the GCC region, some places including those in the Sultanate were subject to heavy rains leading to flash floods due to tropical low pressure systems and air troughs.
Even though not blessed with regular rains, like in neighboring cities, nearly 45 percent of the areas in the capital are vulnerable to floods from wadis while another 20 percent is subject to coastal floods, as per a Greater Muscat masterplan report.
The master plan called for the need to identify areas of strategic high risk and take precautions to counter worst-case scenarios for the local population such as easy access to hospitals and facilitating localized safety areas with easy access.
The statistics are important as the National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change for the Sultanate of Oman (2020-2040) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had called on urban planners in the Sultanate to consider the impact of heavy rainfall that usually follows the low-pressure systems developed in the sea, especially the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
“Extreme rainfall can lead to flash floods, which can adversely affect business sectors such as such as telecommunications, insurance, and banking among others.”
The report warned that with climate change, the Sultanate of Oman's low-lying areas along the coast will be vulnerable to flooding from the combined impact of sea-level rise and storm surge associated with extreme weather events.
CLOUD SEEDING
According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, artificial rain stations have been established in the country to increase the level of groundwater.
Cloud seeding is one among several initiatives of the government in support of the sultanate’s goal to ensure a sustainable fresh water supply.
Cloud seeding technology has proved successful in the sultanate in enhancing rainfall in the last six years – 15 to 18 percent more rain annually – according to official data collected from various sources, including rain gauges installed around cloud-seeding stations in various governorates.
As per March 2022 report, the annual renewable water resources in Oman are estimated at 1,318 million cubic meters and demand for these resources is increasing, particularly in the agricultural field.
The water deficit in Oman is estimated at 316 million cubic meters each year. Groundwater represents 83 percent of water sources in Oman, followed by desalination water at 10 percent.
Surface water constitutes only five percent, while treated wastewater represents only two percent.
The ministry pointed out that dam projects of various types were implemented in Oman due to their importance in feeding the aquifer and limiting the overlap of seawater with the groundwater aquifer.
The number of dams in Oman reached 174 by the end of 2021. The number of new permits issued in 2021 reached 1274, including 876 for digging new water wells.
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