CLIMATE CHANGE
Natural climate variability, including that associated with El Niņo events, gives rise to hydrological extremes, in particular floods and droughts. Human-induced climate change is expected to lead to an intensification of the hydrological cycle causing a higher frequency and severity of these extreme events. The impact of a decrease in water resources will be most severe in areas that are already experiencing a high risk of drought and water scarcity, which is exacerbated by the constant increase in population density in semi-arid areas. The strong links between climate and water receive close attention in WMO's activities, including the increasing value of seasonal forecasts of precipitation for water resources management.