groundwater

That is certainly the case in Yemen, on the south flank of the Arabian Peninsula, where the desert sands have a new look these days. Satellite images show around 100,000 solar panels glinting in the sun, surrounded by green fields. Hooked to water pumps, the panels provide free energy for farmers to pump out ancient underground water. They are irrigating crops of khat, a shrub whose narcotic leaves are the country’s stimulant of choice, chewed through the day by millions of men.For these farmers, the solar irrigation…

If you stand at practically any point on Earth, there is water moving through the ground beneath your feet. Groundwater provides about half of the world's population with drinking water and nearly half of all water used to irrigate crops. It sustains rivers, lakes and wetlands during droughts.Groundwater is a renewable resource, but it can take decades or even centuries for some aquifers to recover after they are depleted. Current understanding of this challenge is based mainly on where and how frequently people record…

A study reveals that ancient Mars had a significantly low groundwater recharge rate, suggesting that despite evidence of water on its surface, the planet’s water regime was vastly different from Earth’s. This finding, derived from various modeling methods, highlights the challenges in understanding Mars’ hydrological past and has implications for future exploration and the search for water resources. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearch indicates ancient Mars had minimal groundwater recharge, vastly…

A global crisis is unfolding as countries, including the U.S., excessively pump groundwater, threatening future water security. Research by ETH Zurich and UCSB reveals a sharp decline in groundwater levels exacerbated by agriculture, climate change, and population growth. Despite some successful recovery efforts, urgent global action is needed to address this unsustainable usage and prevent long-term environmental impacts. Credit: SciTechDaily.comAt the beginning of November, The New York Times ran the headline, “America…

Groundwater is an essential but underappreciated resource worldwide. Credit: World Bank, CC BY-ND If you stand at practically any point on Earth, there is water moving through the ground beneath your feet. Groundwater provides about half of the world's population with drinking water and nearly half of all water used to irrigate crops. It sustains rivers, lakes and wetlands during droughts. …

A groundbreaking study by UC Santa Barbara scientists presents a detailed analysis of global groundwater levels, showing widespread declines across the globe. By examining data from millions of wells and numerous publications, the research highlights the urgent need for action to address water depletion, while also providing examples of successful aquifer replenishment efforts. Credit: SciTechDaily.comAquifers are declining worldwide, but success stories highlight that proactive management can reverse these…

January 24, 20244min readThe most detailed global look at groundwater yet shows a lot of loss but also stories of success in restoring some aquifersBy Stephanie PappasGroundwater-fed irrigation of maize in Kabwe, Zambia. In 1997 Union County in southern Arkansas faced a serious crisis: its key water source, the Sparta Aquifer, was declining by as much as two meters per year. This underground reservoir of water trapped within pores and fractures in rock was the county’s only supply, and it was disappearing.“If we didn’t…

This paper provides the most comprehensive account yet of trends in groundwater levels around the world. Darker colors indicate changes of 10 cm/year or more. Credit: Jasechko et al. Groundwater is rapidly declining across the globe, often at accelerating rates. Writing in the journal Nature, UC Santa Barbara researchers present the largest assessment of groundwater levels around the world, spanning nearly 1,700 aquifers.…

CORCORAN, Calif. —  Earlier this year, as floodwaters rushed toward the San Joaquin Valley city of Corcoran — home to roughly 20,000 people and a sprawling maximum-security state prison — emergency workers and desperate local officials begged the state for help raising their levee. Corcoran had been sinking, steadily, for years because of persistent overpumping of groundwater by major landowners in the Tulare Lake Basin that has sent the valley floor into a slow-motion collapse. And the levee raises made in 2017 — a…

This story was originally published by Grist and co-published with Fresnoland. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.Extreme Weather Events in 2022 | Extreme EarthThe land of the Central Valley works hard. Here in the heart of California, in the most productive farming region in the United States, almost every square inch of land has been razed, planted, and shaped to support large-scale agriculture. The valley produces almonds, walnuts, pistachios, olives, cherries, beans, eggs, milk, beef, melons, pumpkins, sweet…