Global Warming and Water Crisis in Israel

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Water usage in Israel is more than its potential (about two milliard m3 per annum). Currently over 70% of all treated waste water is reused in agriculture. The water deficit is exacerbated by the deteriorating quality of water resources due to demographic, industrial, and agricultural pressures. In order to overcome this shortage Israel started to desalinize sea water and by the end of the present decade it will reach 705 million m3 per annum. According to IPCC (AR4) the annual rainfall depth in the Mediterranean area will drop substantially by the end of the century due to the expected global warming. Moreover, first super-high-resolution model projection revealed that the ancient “Fertile Crescent” (Middle East Mediterranean - semi-arid climate region) will disappear in this century. This prognosis means that the water crisis in the Middle East will increase, and further water resources are needed. Assuming that Turkey will also suffer from rainfall decrease, the potential feasibility of importing water from this country is diminishing. It seems that planning and erecting some further sea water desalinization plants is the solution to this crisis.

Stream: Economic Sustainability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

I attained my Bachelor (1962) and Master (1963) degrees in Geography, Geology & Meteorology at the Hebrew University Jerusalem. My Ph.D. was attained in 1970 at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. My thesis was: "A Preliminary Study of Aspects of Johannesburg Urban Climate". From 1969-2005 I lectured in the Department of Geography and Environment at Bar-Ilan University, where I reached the rank of Professor. Since 2005 I am Professor Emeritus. I am the Chairman of the Israeli Meteorological Society and editor of the journal "Meterologia BeIsrael'. I have published a book entitled: 'The Climate of Israel'.