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
