All over the world, the level of underground water is rapidly decreasing, – research of scientists
Scientists from the University of California, USA found that in many parts of the world there is a rapid depletion of groundwater reserves.
This was reported by CNN with reference to the corresponding study by scientists.
The researchers studied groundwater level measurement data from 170,000 wells in more than 40 countries. The team also accessed data on groundwater levels from 1980 to 2000 in 542 aquifers to trace rates of decline in the 21st century.
An analysis of 1,693 aquifer systems found that groundwater levels decreased by 71% between 2000 and 2022. At the same time, the groundwater level decreased by more than 0.1 meters every year in 36% of the systems.
Study co-author Scot Jasechko said that the greatest rate of decline was observed in the Ascoy-Soplamo aquifer in Spain. There, according to him, the average decrease is 2.95 meters per year. Several aquifers in Iran were also among the systems experiencing the fastest decline in groundwater levels.
Meanwhile, researchers have reported positive results in Bangkok, Arizona and New Mexico, where groundwater has begun to recover following measures to better manage water use or redirect it to replenish depleted aquifers.
In addition, scientists found out that the decline of groundwater accelerated in the first two decades of the 21st century in 30% of the analyzed cases. This value is higher than the data recorded in the period between 1980 and 2000.
Falling groundwater levels can make it difficult for people to access fresh water for drinking or irrigating crops, and lead to land subsidence.
We will remind that scientists conducted the world’s first artificial insemination of rhinos. Now there are chances to save the northern white rhinoceros subspecies, of which there are only two individuals left on the planet.
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