Our Drying Planet

A recent study in the journal Science and illustrated by ProPublica details how the Earth’s land is drying. Water is being diverted to the oceans by melting glaciers, agricultural runoff and by pumping aquifers. The story incorporates a spinning globe as you scroll down, highlighting problem areas

Earth’s supply of fresh water is quickly disappearing leading to a “a critical, emerging threat to humanity.” Aquifers are being pumped out causing groundwater depletion. This has become one of the largest contributors to sea level rise and is causing the land to sink as shown dramatically by this illustration.

Some of the world’s most important food producing areas such as the Nile and Mekong River deltas are threatened. This subsidence is also happening in many major cities, compounding the flooding problems that are increasing due to rising sea levels. 

The ProPublica story includes maps showing global water loss as well as these problem areas of North and South America.

The scarcity of water is being used as a weapon in many conflict zones around the world the world. Without a global framework or governmental regulations these problems will continue to grow. The article mentions some policies that have worked, at least temporarily and suggests that a policy that looks at water as a national security concern, may be able to counterbalance special interests and forces of habit. Scroll through the ProPublica site for more details and illustrations.