Articles tagged with Water Scarcity
Climate change will exacerbate water scarcity, not just due to reduced supply, but also due to poor quality, affecting different sectors differently. Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East face particularly challenging prospects, with increased demand for clean water by 1225%.
Researchers at the University of Rochester developed a solar-thermal desalination process that produces fresh water in an energy-efficient way, eliminating brine and requiring no chemical additives. The technology extracts nearly 100% of salts in solid form, producing table salt and precious minerals like lithium.
A study by Dartmouth researchers shows that annual rainfall is increasingly concentrated into bigger and wetter storms with longer dry periods in between. This means less water is available for land, soil can only absorb so much at once, and what's not soaked up evaporates more readily.
The MountAInWater project uses a unique combination of field work, modeling, and AI to assess climate change impacts on mountain water supplies and identify potential tipping points. The global reanalysis will provide crucial resources for managing future water security challenges.
The study found that more than half of the water consumed in the basin is used unsustainably, with only 48% naturally replenished each year. The researchers suggest adopting deficit irrigation practices and repurposing farmland for habitat restoration or solar farms to address the crisis.
A new study found the Rio Grande basin is severely depleted, with only half of used water being replenished by natural processes. The primary cause of overconsumption is irrigated agriculture, particularly cattle-feed crops like alfalfa and grass hay.
A new study reveals that widely cited statistics on global water and food security are based on weak evidence and poorly connected to current data. The findings suggest that irrigation's role in global food and water security is highly ambiguous, ranging from 18% to 50%, and its share of global freshwater withdrawals is uncertain.
The study found that sand mining in the Mekong River is causing a decline in the reverse flow system that feeds water into Tonlé Sap Lake. The lake is home to 885 species and provides livelihoods for almost two million fishers, but its future is at risk due to the increased extraction rates.
A new study reveals that global warming is accelerating the risk of multi-year droughts leading to extreme water scarcity. The frequency of Day Zero Droughts will increase sharply over the coming decades, affecting 750 million people globally by the end of this century.
Non-compliance with law facilitated by errors in environmental licensing has led to the loss of over 580,000 hectares of native vegetation. Cerrado wetlands perform crucial hydrological functions and are essential natural reservoirs that maintain river flow through groundwater.
A new UN report reveals that global agricultural trade affects water access, alleviating water scarcity for high-income populations while intensifying shortages for low-income communities. The report calls for measures to address outstanding water inequity issues resulting from international food trades.
The study reveals that grasslands adopt more aggressive strategies than forests when facing water shortages, with plants in grasslands using water aggressively until it's gone. In contrast, forests adopt more conservative strategies, cutting back on water use early to avoid disaster.
New research reveals that lakes relying on groundwater connections maintain stable water levels and buffer climate change impacts. Shallow lakes are vulnerable to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall due to high evaporation rates.
Researchers developed a nonlinear model that captures plants' dynamic response to water stress, revealing 'water spenders' and 'water savers.' The model improves climate predictions and informs water management, providing insights into plant adaptations and soil drydowns.
Scientists discovered that applying pressure to a copper-chromium Prussian blue analog can expel stored water, forming droplets. Approximately 240g of water was obtained per 1kg of the crystal. This technology has potential for arid environments and water resource reuse.
Arup K. SenGupta, a renowned water scientist at Lehigh University, has been honored with the ASCE Freese Award and Lecture for his pioneering work in ion exchange science and technology. He will present on 'Development and Global Application of Hybrid Ion Exchange Processes' during the 2025 World Environmental & Water Resources Congress.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed a new technique to improve electrode performance in seawater purification, allowing for higher surface area and increased efficiency. The oxygen-doped electrodes show promise for reducing water purification costs and expanding applications beyond water treatment.
Researchers found that fog water can be harvested in the Atacama Desert to ease water scarcity affecting vulnerable populations. The collected water can be used for drinking, irrigation, and local food production, with potential yields of up to 300,000 liters per week.
Global glacier mass loss has increased by 36% since 2000, with 6,542 billion tons lost between 2000 and 2023. This results in an 18 mm annual contribution to global sea-level rise, making glaciers the second-largest contributor after ocean warming.
Since the turn of the millennium, glaciers worldwide have lost around 273 billion tonnes of ice per year, corresponding to about five and a half times the volume of Lake Constance. The loss of ice from glaciers has led to a rise in sea level of 18 millimetres, making it the second strongest driver of sea level rise after ocean warming.
Researchers from ANEMEL have developed highly stable anion exchange membrane electrolysers that can produce hydrogen without using platinum-group catalysts. The new technology surpasses state-of-the-art solutions in performance and long-term stability, holding promise for industrial applications.
A survey conducted by Professor Takahiro Endo at Osaka Metropolitan University found that Hiroshima Prefecture provided a free water inspection service for well owners after the 2018 floods, promoting their initiative to open inspected wells to the public. This collaborative effort supplemented local governments' emergency water supply...
The 105th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society will address key issues in weather, water, and climate. The meeting features a Presidential Forum on physical, social, cultural, and economic impacts of climate change, with experts from the region of the Mississippi River Delta.
New research maps 35 years of river changes on a global scale, revealing 44% of downstream rivers saw decreases in water flow, while 17% of upstream rivers saw increases. This shift has significant implications for flooding, ecosystem disruption, and freshwater supplies.
Recent studies analyze hurricane damage, water flow into dams, marine heatwaves, and the impact of air pollution on vegetable market prices in South Korea. Hurricane Katrina remains the most damaging U.S. hurricane, while a new system predicts extreme air pollution episodes in India's New Delhi megacity.
Researchers have developed a liquid moisture adsorbent that can efficiently harvest water from the air at near ambient temperatures. The technology, which uses random copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, has the potential to provide clean drinking water in arid regions and during disasters.
A new analysis reveals that zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technologies can increase water recovery from desalination while reducing waste, but at increased costs and energy consumption. The process poses tradeoffs between fighting future water scarcity and environmental effects.
A recent study published in Global Environmental Change highlights the pressing need for innovative economic strategies to address global water scarcity and pollution. The research found that 71% of the world's population has high existing water security needs, with significant disparities in readiness across regions.
Researchers have designed an energy-efficient device to produce drinking water from seawater using solar power, addressing the critical need for clean water in coastal nations. The new technology can continuously desalinate water without major maintenance, producing up to 20 litres of fresh water per square meter.
A new study reveals that risks to global water security are significantly higher when considering the environmental conditions and governability of areas where moisture evaporates before falling as rain. This approach identifies regions with high water scarcity risk, including those dependent on neighboring countries for upwind moisture.
A new study reveals that the Sierra Nevadas are a significant source of groundwater for California's Central Valley aquifer, with some areas relying almost entirely on it. The research found that the groundwater is mixed in age, with some water being as young as 4 years old and others dating back over 40,000 years.
A team of researchers has developed a novel 3D printing technology that creates bioinspired solar steam generators for desalination. The innovative design mimics the structure of trees and achieves high water evaporation efficiency, making it an efficient solution to address global freshwater scarcity.
Researchers analyzed six US cities and found that tree species in parks were more drought-tolerant and reflected greater native biodiversity than those in residential yards. The study highlights the importance of planting drought-tolerant trees in urban areas to adapt to future climate change.
A new study suggests that implementing effective water quality management measures could halve future water scarcity in the Pearl River Basin. The research highlights the importance of addressing water pollution and other environmental factors to mitigate water scarcity and support sustainable development.
The new interactive atlas provides a library of case studies for adapting to drought in the US Southwest. The atlas offers geospatial solutions to water scarcity, helping communities implement effective adaptation strategies.
A new study by Dr. Allan Hassaniyan argues Iran's water policy is discriminatory, leading to socioecological deterioration in peripheral regions and causing devastating effects on agriculture, health, and the environment.
The global clean water crisis is projected to intensify by the end of the century, affecting 66% of the population in areas with lack of clean water for at least a month. Climate change and socioeconomic developments drive water scarcity, particularly in developing countries.
A team of researchers at USC has developed an 'Airborne Sounding Radar for Desert Subsurface Exploration of Aquifers,' nicknamed 'Desert-SEA.' This technique uses low-frequency radar to map the top of shallow aquifers, allowing scientists to assess their sustainability without limitations associated with in-situ mapping. The technology...
A study found that trees along UT's Waller Creek flourish during droughts due to wastewater from leaky city pipes, which also affects tree growth patterns. The research highlights the unintended positive consequences of urbanization on climate-resilience of stream ecosystems.
Researchers found that variation in efficiency due to farming practices could save as much water as switching crops or fallowing fields. The study suggests that a 10% reduction in water consumption among the top 50% of water users could make a significant impact, comparable to other interventions.
Scientists explored desiccation tolerance in mosses, tracing 450 million years of plant evolution. They found closely related species use similar pathways to coordinate dehydration but differ in rehydration management.
A recent study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem uncovers notable correlations between the Indian Ocean and precipitation in the Middle East, which may lead to seasonal prediction of Fall precipitation. The research highlights a discernible upward trend in crucial Indian Ocean climate indices over the last four decades, indicatin...
Research reveals that aquifer depletion can curb crop yields even when it appears saturated enough to continue meeting irrigation demands. As groundwater dwindles, agricultural losses escalate, especially for corn and soybean yields.
A new Dartmouth study finds that seasonal snowpacks have shrunk significantly over the past 40 years due to human-driven climate change. The sharpest global warming-related reductions are in the Southwestern and Northeastern United States, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe.
A new study finds that input-efficient technologies like water-saving devices have negative net benefits for consumers, contradicting the 'win-win' narrative. The authors conclude that modest savings and uncertain long-term benefits are insufficient to overcome consumer resistance.
A 1916 study by Eugene Clyde La Rue estimated the Colorado River discharged just 15 million acre-feet of water, but was ignored in favor of a higher estimate. Today, the river's actual flow is around 13 million acre-feet per year, prompting calls for improved estimates and Indigenous involvement in managing the water.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a system to assess water quality challenges in Suzhou, China. The study found that the city's water capacity has increased since 2001 due to effective water management measures.
A single Bitcoin transaction consumes approximately 16,000 liters of water, equivalent to filling a backyard swimming pool. This staggering amount of water is part of the larger environmental impact of Bitcoin mining, which could worsen water scarcity in countries already struggling with droughts.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the duration and severity of hydrological droughts in streams and rivers, which can persist for up to 3.5 years after drought conditions end. The study found that baseflow droughts are strongly tied to groundwater levels and can impact water management and ecosystem services.
A global study reveals that extreme events over the last thirty years had substantial impacts on water use patterns, differing per sector and region. The domestic and irrigation sectors have the highest priority for water use worldwide, but stricter measures are often taken in favor of the domestic sector during extremes.
Operation Mercury successfully halted most illegal gold mining activity in La Pampa, Peru, reducing deforestation and water quality issues. However, spillover effects led to increased mining in legal areas, highlighting the need for stronger regulations to mitigate environmental harm.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame recommends building water projects that allow community collaboration, reducing distances and increasing equity. The research team created a unique dataset to optimize locations and found that community collaboration models outperform traditional methods.
Restoration of longleaf pine woodlands enhances stream flow while conserving an endangered ecosystem, addressing two pressing conservation issues. This approach promotes 17% more streamflow on average and 92% higher streamflow during droughts.
Cultures from water-scarce environments tend to prioritize long-term thinking and less indulgence compared to their water-rich counterparts. This finding is supported by four studies examining the effects of water scarcity on decision-making processes, including a natural test case in Iran's Yazd and Shiraz cities.
A recent study projects an increase in surface water pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa, posing significant risks to human populations and ecosystem health. The region is expected to become the dominant hotspot of surface water pollution, with potentially catastrophic consequences for communities.
A Birmingham start-up has secured funding to develop a novel technology that can generate water out of air, addressing the global water shortage. The 'atmospheric water harvester' uses proprietary material to capture and release water from air at a faster rate with less energy required.
Researchers at CRAG have discovered a key role for AtMC3, a metacaspase protein located exclusively in phloem tissue, in drought stress response. Increasing AtMC3 levels improves plant survival and photosynthetic capacity under water scarcity conditions, offering a potential tool to fine-tune early drought responses.
A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder documents more than 60 years of change in snowpack water storage across Western North America. The researchers found that snowpack water storage has significantly declined in over 25% of the Mountain West, leading to earlier water scarcity and impacts on agriculture and wildfire risk.
Research explores the complex relationship between droughts, food security, and conflict in Central America. The study finds that decreases in water availability play a major role in conflict insurgences, while stable conditions of peace are more influenced by favorable socio-economic conditions.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered a novel method of harvesting water from naturally occurring sources like fog and dew using organic crystals. The findings hold potential for creating new technologies to utilize aerial humidity, which could combat global water scarcity.