Rapid Desiccation of Earth's Continents Unveiled by Satellite Information
Unprecedented Terrestrial Water Loss: A Global Crisis
A groundbreaking study, published in the journal Science Advances on July 25, has highlighted the urgent need for better water management practices due to the challenges posed by climate change. The research reveals that the continents have undergone unprecedented terrestrial water loss since 2002, with the loss of continental water now contributing more to the global sea level rise than the melting of ice sheets.
The world is experiencing an unprecedented rate of fresh water loss, according to satellite data from 2002 to the present. Bad management of groundwater resources and the effects of climate change, such as lengthy droughts in Europe and permafrost melt in Arctic regions, are the main causes of this water loss. Overpumping groundwater is the largest contributor to the rates of terrestrial water storage decline in drying regions, amplifying the impacts of increasing temperatures.
The study, led by researchers from Arizona State University, found that even previously wet areas are now getting drier or not getting wetter at the previous pace. Mega-drying regions have emerged across the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the western coast of North America, Southwestern North America and Central America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The depleted groundwater won't get replenished "on human timescales," posing a critical, emerging threat to humanity.
The loss of water affects both surface reservoirs like lakes and rivers and underground aquifers, which are crucial sources of drinking water globally. The researchers emphasize that groundwater is an intergenerational resource that is being poorly managed, if managed at all by recent generations, at tremendous and exceptionally undervalued cost to future generations.
The continued overuse of groundwater, particularly in regions like California, is occurring at an increasing, rather than at sustainable or decreasing rates, posing a risk to water and food security. As a result, 75% of the world's population now lives in areas experiencing fresh water loss, with potential impacts on agriculture, sanitation, and climate change resilience.
The study also utilised the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its successor GRACE Follow-on missions to measure variations in Earth's gravity and detect changes in water masses below. The researchers urge that sustainable groundwater management with supportive policies and technological investments is crucial to balance water use and food production. Improved water monitoring and irrigation management can enhance water use efficiency and equity.
NASA's budget shrinkage and Europe's increased focus on Earth science are not directly addressed in this paragraph, but climate change is referenced as a defining challenge of our generation. The researchers call for immediate action to address this global crisis and protect the world's groundwater supply in a warming world and on continents that are drying.
- The groundbreaking study published in Science Advances on July 25 suggests that sustainable groundwater management is critical to balance water use and food production, given the risks posed by climate change.
- The research findings indicate that the continents have experienced unprecedented terrestrial water loss since 2002, with the loss of continental water now contributing more to the global sea level rise than the melting of ice sheets.
- The depleted groundwater, affecting both surface reservoirs and underground aquifers, poses a critical, emerging threat to humanity, especially in areas where groundwater is overused, such as California.
- The study highlights the urgent need for better water management practices to protect the world's groundwater supply in a warming world and on continents that are drying, thus addressing the impacts of climate change and contributing to ensuring global water and food security.
- The continual freshwater loss, aggravated by poor groundwater management and climate change effects like droughts and permafrost melt, has led to a situation where 75% of the world's population now faces freshwater scarcity, potentially affecting agriculture, sanitation, and climate change resilience.
