Fresh water disappears quickly

Earth's continents have experienced an unprecedented loss of fresh water since 2002. Climate change, unsustainable use of groundwater and extreme droughts are the cause. Fresh water disappears fast and is an alarming problem.

This is revealed by two decades of satellite observations, in charge of a team led by the University of Arizona State (ASE) and published in Science Advances. There are four regions of "megesecity" on a continental scale. All located in the northern hemisphere. Serious consequences will come for water security, agriculture, increased sea level and global stability.

Terrible loss

Dry terrestrial areas are expanding at approximately twice the size of California every year. The negative implications of this for available fresh water are amazing. 75 % of the world's population lives in 101 countries that have been losing fresh water during the last 22 years. The availability of fresh water decreases drastically. "It is the most alarming message to date on the impact of climate change in our water resources." Declared it in a release Jay Famiglietti. He is a global futures researcher at the ASS Sustainability School.

«The amount of non -renewable water we are losing is surprising. Glaciers and deep groundwater are a kind of ancient fiduciary funds. Instead of using them only in times of necessity, as a prolonged drought, we take them for granted. We do not replenish groundwater systems during the wet years. That leads us to an imminent bankruptcy of fresh water ».

The study identified what appears to be a turning point around 2014-15, during a period considered "Mega Years of El Niño." The climatic ends began to accelerate. The use of groundwater increased and continental desiccation exceeded the melting rates of glaciers and ice layers.

Dry future

Fresh water disappears quickly everywhere. One of the main factors that contribute to continental desiccation is the increase in extreme droughts. It happened in the average latitudes of the northern hemisphere, for example, in Europe. In addition, in Canada and Russia, the melting of snow, ice and permafrost increased during the last decade. Continuous exhaustion of groundwater worldwide is an important factor.