Aquifers are declining all around the world says new study There is a huge crisis unfolding - literally under our feet - says Professor Jay Famiglietti at the University of California, Irvine and we ignore this crisis at our peril. Measurements from NASA’s GRACE satellite mission have revealed unsettling trends in the world’s major aquifers - they are almost all declining. “2bn people use aquifers as a primary drinking water source, and groundwater accounts for roughly one-third of the world’s water withdrawals.” Says Famiglietti. “…and, the highest rates of groundwater depletion are in the world’s largest food-growing regions including California’s Central Valley, the plains of northern China as well as the Tigris and Euphrates River Basins.” The consequences of ignoring groundwater are severe, he says, because half of the water used for irrigation comes from underground, food production is at risk if water supply and demand are not balanced. “Vanishing groundwater will translate into major declines in agricultural productivity and energy production.” He claims. So, what can we do? Well, according to Famiglietti, we need to acknowledge that in many arid basins, demands far exceed supply and, the myth of limitless water that has pervaded groundwater use must now come to an end. Farmers must become more efficient with water supplies too, says Famiglietti, who explained that agriculture accounts for 80% of the world’s water consumption - about half of which is from groundwater – and farmers should be using irrigation technologies that require less water and land management practices that prevent soil moisture from evaporating. He also believes that rivers and aquifers should be managed as one system and that scientists should be measuring the aquifers more regularly and sharing their knowledge more readily. “Groundwater should on the international political agenda like water treaties between countries that share a river basin.” He said adding that further declines in groundwater availability may well trigger more civil uprising and international violent conflict in the already water-stressed regions of the world. “From North Africa to the Middle East to South Asia, regions where it is already common to drill over 2 km to reach groundwater, it is highly likely that disappearing groundwater could act as a flashpoint for conflict.” circleofblue.org/waternews/2014/commentary/editorial-in-the-circle-fresh-focus/earths-major-aquifers-trouble/
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 08:45:31 +0000
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