An alarming reduction in the Earth’s freshwater supply has been identified through data from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (grace) satellite. This trend, which began in May 2014, highlights a significant change in global water availability, according to the findings published in Surveys in Geophysics. The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, points to a persistent dry phase for the planet, in which fresh water reserves remain below average levels.
Key findings from GRACE satellite data
GRACE mission, jointly operated by NASA and German Research The centers found that global freshwater reserves between 2015 and 2023 measured about 1,200 cubic kilometers – equivalent to two and a half times the volume of Lake Erie. These measurements include surface water, underground aquifers, and other freshwater sources.
Matt Rodale, a hydrologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a press release that the decrease represents a deviation from the average prior to 2014.
Drought and global warming linked to freshwater loss
The research highlighted 13 major drought events globally since 2015, affecting central Brazil, Australasia and parts of Africa and Europe. These droughts coincide with record high global temperatures, raising concerns about the role of climate change in exacerbating water scarcity.
NASA Goddard meteorologist Michael Bosilovich indicated that rising temperatures may have exacerbated the drought by altering rainfall patterns, leading to groundwater runoff rather than replenishment.
Uncertainty about long-term effects
Although these findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable water management, some researchers remain cautious about making definitive connections between global warming and the observed trends. Virginia Tech hydrologist Susannah Worth stressed the need for continued monitoring, pointing to the uncertainties inherent in climate models.
Scientists have warned that whether Earth’s freshwater supplies will recover remains uncertain, but the observed declines could indicate prolonged dry conditions.