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NASA scientists found human activities are changing the global water cycle faster than anticipated. After nearly two decades of observation, their findings highlight the role of farming in altering the water cycle’s natural balance. These changes could disrupt ecosystems and water management, especially in certain regions, making it harder to predict and manage water resources.
Human activities rapidly alter water cycle
NASA scientists’ research indicates human interference with the water cycle is more widespread and severe than believed. The water cycle’s continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface is being impacted. The rapid changes in the cycle raise concerns about water management practices, such as flood protection infrastructure and drought warning systems.
NASA’s study focuses on the changing water cycle, including long-term trends, seasonal shifts, and more frequent extreme weather events. These findings show that changes in the water cycle are not just occasional fluctuations, but long-term shifts significantly altering water availability in many regions.
Sujay Kumar, a research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and co-author of the study, explained, "Data shows human intervention in the global water cycle is more significant than we thought." This understanding comes from analyzing nearly 20 years of satellite data tracking water-related changes on Earth.
Wanshu Nie, a NASA Goddard researcher, stated that changes in the water cycle may no longer follow predictable patterns that many water management systems were designed for. Historically, systems for managing floods or predicting droughts assumed the water cycle would fluctuate within a certain range. However, the study suggests this may no longer be true in some regions, as human activities continue to influence the water cycle unexpectedly.
China’s droughts impacted by groundwater pumping
One striking example of human impact on the water cycle is northern China, where frequent droughts occur. Despite the lack of rainfall, vegetation thrives because producers pumping large amounts of water from underground reserves to irrigate their crops. While this practice helps maintain vegetation, it disrupts other water cycle aspects. Groundwater pumping affects evaporation (evapotranspiration) and runoff, which play important roles in the water cycle.
These interconnected human interventions often complicate water cycles, making it harder to predict and manage water availability. As these changes evolve, understanding how human activities impact water availability and ecosystem responses becomes more important.
The NASA study identifies three major shifts in the water cycle. The first is a long-term trend, like groundwater depletion, impacting water availability. Groundwater, a critical fresh water source, is being used up faster than it can be replenished, leading to sustainability concerns.
The second shift is seasonal changes. For example, the crop growing season starts earlier, and snow melts earlier. These changes can disrupt natural cycles and affect agriculture, wildlife, and ecosystems that depend on predictable seasonal patterns.
Frequent floods strain water management
The third shift involves extreme weather events, like floods. Rare events, like “100-year floods,” are happening more frequently. These events can cause devastating damage and strain water management systems designed based on past trends.
NASA scientists used remote sensing data from various satellites collected between 2003 and 2020. The data included rainfall from the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, soil moisture from the European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative, and terrestrial water storage from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites.
Researchers used the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite instrument to assess vegetation health. This data helped scientists evaluate how changes in the water cycle affected global vegetation and ecosystems.
The study suggests that Earth system models predicting future changes in the global water cycle must be updated to account for ongoing human impacts. As the water cycle shifts, these models must consider how human interventions influence natural water movement patterns.
With more data and improved models, water resource managers and producers will better understand and plan for the "new normal" of local water situations. This could help communities, especially in regions affected by changes in the water cycle, manage their water resources and ensure sustainable use in the future.
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