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NASA: satellites show world is running out of fresh water
World is running out of fresh water
http://rt.com/news/267898-nasa-study-world-water/
http://rt.com/news/267898-nasa-study-world-water/
The world is losing its underground water resources at an alarming rate, as the world’s quickly depleting aquifers put millions of people at risk due to dwindling water supplies, new NASA research claims.
A joint study conducted by scientists from NASA and the University of California has revealed that the world’s water reserve levels have become dangerously low.
The main reason is humanity’s constantly growing demand for water.
The researchers have concluded that “significant segments of Earth’s population are consuming groundwater quickly without knowing when it might run out.”
The research findings were published in the Water Resources Research journal on Tuesday.
The scientists used NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites between 2003 and 2013 to take precise measurements of the world’s groundwater reservoirs, yielding the most detailed view of the planet’s underground water reserves to date. The GRACE satellites detected changes in the Earth’s gravitational pull, as large volumes of water under the ground create stronger gravitation.
“This has really been our first chance to see how these large reservoirs change over time,” said Gordon Grant, a research hydrologist at Oregon State University, who was a member of the research team.
The study has showed that about one third of Earth’s largest groundwater basins – 13 of the planet’s 37 – are being rapidly depleted while receiving little to no recharge.
A joint study conducted by scientists from NASA and the University of California has revealed that the world’s water reserve levels have become dangerously low.
The main reason is humanity’s constantly growing demand for water.
The researchers have concluded that “significant segments of Earth’s population are consuming groundwater quickly without knowing when it might run out.”
The research findings were published in the Water Resources Research journal on Tuesday.
The scientists used NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites between 2003 and 2013 to take precise measurements of the world’s groundwater reservoirs, yielding the most detailed view of the planet’s underground water reserves to date. The GRACE satellites detected changes in the Earth’s gravitational pull, as large volumes of water under the ground create stronger gravitation.
“This has really been our first chance to see how these large reservoirs change over time,” said Gordon Grant, a research hydrologist at Oregon State University, who was a member of the research team.
The study has showed that about one third of Earth’s largest groundwater basins – 13 of the planet’s 37 – are being rapidly depleted while receiving little to no recharge.
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