Emerging trends in global freshwater availability
Journal
Nature
Journal Volume
557
Journal Issue
7707
Pages
651-9
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
Freshwater availability is changing worldwide. Here we quantify 34 trends in terrestrial water storage observed by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites during 2002-2016 and categorize their drivers as natural interannual variability, unsustainable groundwater consumption, climate change or combinations thereof. Several of these trends had been lacking thorough investigation and attribution, including massive changes in northwestern China and the Okavango Delta. Others are consistent with climate model predictions. This observation-based assessment of how the world's water landscape is responding to human impacts and climate variations provides a blueprint for evaluating and predicting emerging threats to water and food security. © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
Other Subjects
fresh water; ground water; fresh water; ground water; Africa; Antarctica; Article; Australia; climate change; global climate; North America; South America; terrestrial surface waters; trend study; water availability; water management; water supply; catering service; China; human; human activities; statistics and numerical data; theoretical model; China; Climate Change; Food Supply; Fresh Water; Groundwater; Human Activities; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Water Supply
Type
journal article