The image to the right shows the results of aquifer depletion in India. The loss of groundwater is threatening their agriculture.http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21128314.700-groundwater-greed-driving-sea-level-rises.html
The sea level is slowly rising. The melting of glaciers and other ice caps are increasing the level of the ocean. It is virtually impossible to notice, but the pumping of water from underground aquifers to the surface is also contributing to this problem. Few scientists believe in groundwater affecting the level of the ocean, but Leonard Konikow of the United States Geological Survey has evidence to prove it. Konikow measured how much water had ended up in the oceans by studying aquifers, and he estimated that about 4500 cubic kilometres of water was originally groundwater from the years 1900 and 2008. That means it only contributed about 1.26 centimeters to the overall rise in sea level. Nobody is sure what the future holds when it comes to groundwater, but some countries are cutting back on aquifer use.
I don't believe it is necessary to cut back on aquifer use. The amount of groundwater that contributes to rising of the sea level is little enough that if we use the groundwater carefully, and it doesn't end up in oceans, we can decline the rapidly increasing water level. We don't need to go to extreme measures such as using your own rain collecting source... Simple things like taking shorter showers and not leaving the sink running can help. We don't need to work harder, we need to work smarter!
Do you think the water level will increase or decrease in the next 5 years?
What can you and your family do to conserve groundwater?
What would happen if our groundwater comes near depletion in the future?
-John
The sea level is slowly rising. The melting of glaciers and other ice caps are increasing the level of the ocean. It is virtually impossible to notice, but the pumping of water from underground aquifers to the surface is also contributing to this problem. Few scientists believe in groundwater affecting the level of the ocean, but Leonard Konikow of the United States Geological Survey has evidence to prove it. Konikow measured how much water had ended up in the oceans by studying aquifers, and he estimated that about 4500 cubic kilometres of water was originally groundwater from the years 1900 and 2008. That means it only contributed about 1.26 centimeters to the overall rise in sea level. Nobody is sure what the future holds when it comes to groundwater, but some countries are cutting back on aquifer use.
I don't believe it is necessary to cut back on aquifer use. The amount of groundwater that contributes to rising of the sea level is little enough that if we use the groundwater carefully, and it doesn't end up in oceans, we can decline the rapidly increasing water level. We don't need to go to extreme measures such as using your own rain collecting source... Simple things like taking shorter showers and not leaving the sink running can help. We don't need to work harder, we need to work smarter!
Do you think the water level will increase or decrease in the next 5 years?
What can you and your family do to conserve groundwater?
What would happen if our groundwater comes near depletion in the future?
-John
John you are absolutely correct about this. The sea level is only increasing by a small amount, and there is no proof that it is actually the groundwater causing it.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the water level will continue to increase over the next 5 years. I agree with you that taking shorter showers and not leaving the sink running could really conserve groundwater!!
I totally agree with John. There are many simple things that we can do to conserve groundwater. There is no need to cut back on the aquifer use when we can just simply cut back on some of our bad habits that involve water. I know that I have a bad habit of letting the water run while I brush my teeth. If I simply turn the water off while I brush my teeth, I can do my part and help conserve groundwater.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to John's question, the things that my family and I can do to conserve groundwater is taking shorter showers. My brother and I both have a bad habit of taking long showers. If we simply limit the amount of time we each spend in the shower, we both can conserve groundwater.
-Taylor Soltys
I totally agree with John. There are many simple things that we can do to conserve groundwater. There is no need to cut back on the aquifer use when we can just simply cut back on some of our bad habits that involve water. I know that I have a bad habit of letting the water run while I brush my teeth. If I simply turn the water off while I brush my teeth, I can do my part and help conserve groundwater.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to John's question, the things that my family and I can do to conserve groundwater is taking shorter showers. My brother and I both have a bad habit of taking long showers. If we simply limit the amount of time we each spend in the shower, we both can conserve groundwater.
-Taylor Soltys
I totally agree with John. There are many simple things that we can do to conserve groundwater. There is no need to cut back on the aquifer use when we can just simply cut back on some of our bad habits that involve water. I know that I have a bad habit of letting the water run while I brush my teeth. If I simply turn the water off while I brush my teeth, I can do my part and help conserve groundwater.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to John's question, the things that my family and I can do to conserve groundwater is taking shorter showers. My brother and I both have a bad habit of taking long showers. If we simply limit the amount of time we each spend in the shower, we both can conserve groundwater.
-Taylor Soltys
I agree with John. Our use of groundwater almost shows no effects on the ocean levels. If we conserve water wisely, we won't have this problem.
ReplyDelete1. I think it will increase as gflaciers melt.
2. We can take shorter showers, turen off the sink, and dont waste drinking water
3. We would have to desalinate ocean water.