A recent discovery made by NASA scientists and the German Aerospace Center, based on satellite measurements, indicates alert for a freshwater crisis much deeper and global than previously thought.
Published in the specialized journal Surveys in Geophysics, the report points out that Earth may have entered a phase of persistent drought.
An alarming decrease in water resources
Since 2014, the total amount of freshwater on Earth has decreased sharply, which could threaten both ecosystems and human societies.
Although water covers much of the planet, only 3% is freshwater, and a significant portion is trapped in the poles in the form of ice. This vital resource is essential for human consumption, agriculture, and the sustenance of ecosystems.
The latest study, conducted by NASA and other research centers, used data from the GRACE and GRACE-FO satellites to measure changes in the water mass above and below the Earth’s surface and warned about the freshwater crisis.
The findings are alarming: from 2015 to 2023, the average amount of freshwater has decreased by 1,200 cubic kilometers compared to the average from 2002 to 2014.
Causes and consequences of the freshwater crisis
The causes of this decrease are complex, linked to natural and human factors. Climatic events like El Niño and global warming have exacerbated water evaporation and altered hydrological cycles.
According to Michael Bosilovich, from NASA’s Goddard Center, “the increase in temperatures increases both the evaporation of water from the surface to the atmosphere and the water retention capacity of the atmosphere, which increases the frequency and intensity of drought conditions.”
This phenomenon results in extreme precipitation that is not absorbed by the soil, reducing the capacity of soils to store water and contributing to water scarcity. The depletion of freshwater resources has devastating effects, from irrigation agriculture dependent on groundwater to public health and the possibility of conflicts over water.
Towards sustainable water management
The report highlights that global droughts are more frequent, intense, and prolonged. According to Matthew Rodell, from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, “13 of the 30 most intense droughts in the world observed by GRACE occurred since January 2015.”
These droughts have impacted regions such as Brazil, Africa, Asia, and North America, with a deep depletion of water reserves.
The challenge is enormous, but scientists believe it is possible to partially reverse this trend through sustainable water resource management.
Investments in water-saving technologies and conservation, improvements in irrigation infrastructure, and policies for rational water use could alleviate the pressure on groundwater. Additionally, mitigating climate change is crucial to curb water evaporation and the alteration of weather patterns.
The Future of Freshwater: a global challenge
Although the outlook is alarming, it also represents an opportunity to take action and ensure access to freshwater for future generations. Water management will be one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century.
Susanna Werth, a hydrologist from Virginia Tech, points out that global warming is contributing to the decrease in freshwater levels, although establishing a direct causal relationship is complicated due to uncertainties in climate models.
Despite the difficulties, the coincidence of the warmest years in modern record with the global decrease and freshwater crisis is a clear indication of an environmental crisis that will worsen if drastic measures are not taken. Matthew Rodell warns that this phenomenon could be “a harbinger of what is to come,” indicating a possible freshwater crisis, a prolonged dry phase for the planet.
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