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20/05/23 06:25 AM IST

More than half of world's large lakes and reservoirs drying up: Study

In News
  • A new study reflects on the climate crisis and global warming as it reveals that more than half of the world's largest lakes and reservoirs are drying up.
Major Highlights
  • Lakes play a vital role in preserving the world’s freshwater reserves.
  • Holding an astonishing 87% of the world’s liquid surface fresh water, these bodies are essential for various ecological systems and human sustenance.
  • However, the study underscores the severity of the situation, indicating that a substantial number of these lakes are facing alarming volume loss.
  • The study identifies three main factors that contribute to the net volume loss in natural lakes.
  • Firstly, global warming emerges as a significant driver of lake shrinkage.
  • As temperatures rise, the increased heat and evaporation rates accelerate the reduction of water volume.
  • Secondly, the growing demand for water consumption by human activities exacerbates the problem, putting additional strain on these already vulnerable bodies of water.
  • Lastly, sedimentation emerges as the dominant reason for storage losses in reservoirs, which impacts their overall capacity to hold water effectively.
  • Out of the 1972 largest global lakes examined in the study, an alarming 53% showed statistically significant storage declines over the period of 1992-2020.
Human Impact
  • One-quarter, or 25%, of the world’s population resides in a basin of a drying lake, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue.
  • Incorporating climate change and sedimentation impacts into sustainable water resources management becomes paramount.
  • The study’s authors stress the importance of considering these factors to ensure the availability and accessibility of water resources for present and future generations.
  • During the study period, an astonishing 603 cubic kilometers of water were lost from lakes and reservoirs, equating to 17 times the volume of water in Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States.
Source- India Today

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