| Global warming harbinger | |
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Droughts and fires |
Iran
2001 – Ninety percent of wetlands have dried up after 2 years of extreme drought. Much of South West Asia has experienced a prolonged three-year drought that is unusual in its magnitude. Out of 102 years of record, 1999, 2000, and 2001 rank as the fifth, third, and seventh driest on record. 1999-2000 was the driest winter on record.
Reference: WMO, 2002b. The drought in central and southern Asia. World Climate News, No. 20, January 2002, World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.wmo.ch/web/catalogue/New%20HTML/frame/engfil/wcn/wcn20.pdf
NCDC, 2002b. Southwest Asia Eastern Mountains Drought - December 2001. National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC.
