The inability of new reservoirs to fulfill water storage predictions is pointing to a possible international issue with water supply, particularly acute in the global south. This scenario is calling for innovative solutions beyond simply building more reservoirs.
A team of researchers at Texas A&M, who have studied satellite information from more than 7,000 reservoirs around the world, found that despite an increase in overall storage capacity, the rate at which reservoirs are being filled is less than projected.
Water is an essential, irreplaceable component of everyday human existence. With the growth of the world population and an increase in global temperatures, the need for water is growing correspondingly.
Over the past two decades, global water reserves have been declining, even though there has been a growth in total storage capacity due to the construction of new reservoirs.
The study was led by Dr. Huilin Gao of Texas A&M University’s Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The team utilized satellite data to gauge the storage fluctuations of 7,245 reservoirs globally between 1999 and 2018. Their discoveries were published in Nature Communications.
While there was an annual increase of 28 cubic kilometers in global reservoir storage due to new construction, the data showed that the pace of reservoir filling is not meeting expectations.
Dr. Gao emphasized the growing reliance on surface water reservoirs in meeting increasing demands in the context of climate change. However, he noted that the global trends of water availability in reservoirs have not been adequately assessed.
The team created the Global Reservoir Storage dataset, freely accessible online, to aid policymakers and the broader scientific community. This represents a vital leap in monitoring international reservoir storage conditions.
With an expected decrease in water runoff and growing water demand, the trend of reduced returns from building reservoirs is anticipated to persist, possibly affecting water supplies significantly. The results stress that future water needs cannot depend solely on new reservoirs, underscoring the importance of innovative management strategies.
The study also provides fresh insight into reassessing the benefits of new reservoir construction in light of growing water demand and reduced water availability, particularly in developing countries.
The reduction in reservoir storage is most noticeable in the global south, including regions like South Asia, Africa, and South America. Despite construction attempts, the reservoirs are not filling to anticipated levels.
The most notable declines are in South America and Africa, where burgeoning populations are driving increased water demand.
Conversely, in the global north, including North America and Europe, reservoirs are showing a trend towards reaching their full capacity. High-latitude areas like the Great Lakes and Siberia have relatively higher storage capacities, mainly due to lower population densities and minimal human impact.
The study did not take into account the sedimentation process, making the overall decline in storage presented somewhat conservative.
The research, published on 13 June 2023 in Nature Communications, had contributions from other scientists, including Dr. Gang Zhao, a former postdoctoral fellow now at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, and Dr. George H. Allen, an assistant professor at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Both Li and Zhao are former Texas A&M students who worked in Dr. Gao’s research group.
NASA and the Texas A&M President’s Excellence Fund X-Grants Program financed this research.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: reservoirs
What does the study of over 7,000 reservoirs reveal about global water reserves?
The study reveals that despite an increase in the construction of reservoirs and overall storage capacity, worldwide water reserves are depleting. The filling rate of reservoirs is lower than expected, indicating a potential global water supply issue. Innovative management strategies beyond mere reservoir construction are needed.
Who conducted the research on the worldwide water reserves, and where were the findings published?
The research was conducted by Texas A&M researchers led by Dr. Huilin Gao, and the findings were published in Nature Communications on 13 June 2023.
What regions are most affected by the decline in reservoir storage?
The decline in reservoir storage is particularly noticeable in the global south, including South Asia, Africa, and South America. In these areas, new reservoirs are not filling to anticipated levels, contributing to an escalated water demand.
What innovative approach did the researchers use to estimate the storage variations of global reservoirs?
The researchers used satellite data to estimate the storage variations of 7,245 global reservoirs from 1999 to 2018. They also developed the Global Reservoir Storage dataset, which is freely available online, representing a significant advancement in tracking global reservoir storage conditions.
What implications do the findings have on future water supply and reservoir construction?
The findings emphasize that addressing future water demands cannot rely solely on constructing new reservoirs. The observed trend of diminishing storage returns from reservoir construction is expected to continue, potentially impacting water supplies. This underscores the need for novel management strategies and a reevaluation of the socio-economic benefits of new reservoir construction.
How does the research inform strategies for handling the growing water demand?
The research provides a new perspective for reevaluating reservoir construction, emphasizing the tension between growing water demand and lessening water availability. It also highlights the importance of innovative management strategies and underscores the need to look beyond mere construction to address the future water needs of developing countries.
More about fokus keyword: reservoirs
- Nature Communications
- Texas A&M University
- NASA
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research
- Virginia Polytechnic and State University
6 comments
This is kinda scary. whats the point in building more reservoirs if theyre not working? We need better plans and fast…
so what are the governments doing about it? Seems like we need international cooperation to tackle this. Just building more won’t cut it.
This is shocking! I had no idea the water reserves were depleting so fast, even with new reservoirs. What are we going to do?
Wow, we need to take this seriously. we can’t just build our way out of this problem with more reservoirs. Innovative solutions are needed, and fast!
Didn’t know Texas A&M was involved in such vital research. Good on them! But the info is real concerning, what’s the next step??
We’re playing with fire here. Climate change, water shortages, overpopulation – it’s all connected. Time to wake up and make real changes.