Half of world's lakes and reservoirs are drying up : Study

A recent study found that more than half of the world’s lakes and reservoirs have shrunk in the past three decades. Researchers quoted climate crises and human consumption as the main reason behind the decline in water lines.

The study also found that the recent reduction in the water lines has also increased concerns about water supply for agriculture, hydropower and human consumption.

World’s most important fresh water sources see a reduction in their water lines: Study

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A team of international researchers led by Fangfang Yao, a surface hydrologist at the University of Virginia concluded that nearly 56 per cent of the decline in the water lines of lakes and reservoirs could be attributed to global warming and human consumption.

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Using satellite imagery, climate models and hydrologic models, Yao further stated that more than 50% of both large natural lakes and reservoirs experienced volume loss since the 1990s.

The report also reported that some of the world’s most important freshwater sources, starting from the Caspian Sea to South America’s Lake Titicaca have lost water at a rate of around 22 giga tonnes a year for a duration of three years. This is equivalent to the total water usage in the US in the year 2015.

Present trends in arid and humid regions

Yao’s study found that even though climate scientists believe that the world’s arid areas will become drier and wet areas will get wetter under climate change, there is still a possibility of significant water loss even in humid regions.

The study also found that in arid regions, roughly one-quarter of the significant water losses in natural lakes were dominated by changes in temperature or human activities, and another 37 per cent of the water losses were primarily attributable to reduced natural flows. Even water storage has declined in more than two-thirds of reservoirs in arid regions.

“This should not be overlooked” – Yao

The unsustainable human use clubbed with rising temperatures has dried up several lakes, such as the Aral Sea in Central Asia and the Dead Sea in the Middle East. Many of these drying lakes are important sources of water and energy (hydropower).

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If the current trend follows, nearly 2 billion people from around the globe are likely to be directly affected and many regions might also face severe water shortages in the coming years. Scientists have for long maintained that global heating cannot exceed 1.5 degrees celsius (2.7 degrees fahrenheit), if we are to avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. Presently, the world is warming at a 1.1C (1.9F) rate.

The study which assessed more than 2,000 large lakes using satellite imagery, climate and hydrological models has opened the floor for discussions over unsustainable water usage, with experts commenting “if a good chunk of freshwater lakes are drying, then you’re going to see the impact come to you one way or the other, if not now in the not too distant future" – Rajagopalan, Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.

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