One of the world's most important sources of fresh water is
being depleted at a faster rate than can naturally be replenished. Researchers
from the University of California, Irvine, warn there is little to no data on
how much water is left in these massive aquifers.
In the two studies published in the Water Resources Research
journal, researchers collected satellite data from NASA to examine the 37
largest aquifers in the world.
Researchers tracked the dips and bumps in Earth's
gravitational pull, which is affected by the weight of the water, between 2003
and 2013.
- They found that the Arabian Aquifer System was the most overstressed in the world, which is worrying as it’s an important water source for more than 60 million people.
- The Indus Basin aquifer of northwestern India and Pakistan came in second place and the Murzuk-Djado Basin in northern Africa is third.
- Researchers suggest that 21 of the world's 37 largest groundwater sources have already passed their sustainability tipping points.
- The Arabian Aquifer System, for example, is used by many people in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, where large swaths are currently undergoing armed conflict.
- This growing problem is best illustrated in California, which is currently experiencing a brutal drought. The study suggested the farm-rich Central Valley, utilized heavily for agriculture, was highly stressed.
- While underground aquifers supply humans with 35 percent of water used worldwide, explains Todd Frankel in The Washington Post, this demand increases during droughts, putting greater pressure on underground aquifers.
In California,
Frankel reports, the dependency on aquifers has risen from 40% to 60%, and some
experts warn that the number is set to rise.
Researchers warn the dearth of groundwater has led to
ecological damage, including depleted rivers, declining water quality and
subsiding land, which will only be exacerbated by climate
change and population growth.
change and population growth.
Source: Nature World News
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