Where #Groundwater Levels Are Falling, & Rising, Worldwide
An investigation into nearly 1,700 aquifers across >40 countries found that groundwater levels in almost ½ have fallen since 2000. Only about 7% of the aquifers surveyed had groundwater levels that rose over that same time period.
The new study is one of the 1st to compile data from monitoring wells around the world to try & construct a global picture of #groundwater levels in fine detail.
The declines were most apparent in regions w/ dry climates & a lot of #land cultivated for #agriculture, including #California’s Central Valley & the High Plains region in the #UnitedStates. The researchers also found large areas of sharply falling groundwater in #Iran.
“Groundwater declines have consequences,” said Scott Jasechko, an assoc prof at the UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of #EnvironmentalScience & Management, & the study’s lead author. “Those consequences can include causing #streams to leak, lands to sink, #seawater to contaminate coastal aquifers, & wells to run dry.”
…The research, published on Wed in the journal #Nature, confirms widespread #groundwater declines previously found w/satellites & models….
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