Global reservoir levels decline despite construction boom, and other nature and climate stories you need to read this week

Water levels in the world's reservoirs fell during the last two decades, even though a construction boom increased global water storage capacity, new research shows.

Satellite data from more than 7,200 reservoirs worldwide shows a drop in water levels between 1990 and 2018, despite a 28 cubic kilometre annual storage capacity increase.

The findings of the study, published by Nature Communications, suggest new dams alone will not be enough to resolve the world's increasing water stress threat.

While climate change was identified as a "critical factor" in falling water levels, increasing water demand also contributed.

"Even if temperatures stop rising, increasing demand and new construction are likely to continue," lead author Huilin Gao of Texas A&M University, told Reuters.

The Global South saw the biggest declines in water storage levels, particularly countries in Africa and South America. This is due to a combination of rising water demand and newly constructed reservoirs failing to fill to expected levels.

Increased frequency, duration and intensity of severe droughts has brought the feasibility of large-scale reservoirs into question.

However, the International Hydropower Association said new dams and reservoirs are a crucial part of efforts to mitigate increasing climate extremes.

A major evacuation effort has helped hundreds of thousands of people to safety as cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in western India on 15 June.

More than 180,000 fled from the approaching category one storm, which has brought sustained winds of up to 125 kilometres per hour. So far no casualties have been reported.

The cyclone could cause tidal waves in the Arabian Sea of up to 3 metres in height, capable of inundating low-lying coastal areas of both nations, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Over 100,000 people have been evacuated from eight coastal regions in the Indian state of Gujarat, and 82,000 people from high-risk coastal areas in Pakistan, authorities report.

Temporary shelters were set up in schools and other government buildings to accommodate people displaced by the storm.

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