All articles tagged with #freshwater
Using airborne electromagnetic surveys, researchers found a large freshwater reservoir beneath the Great Salt Lake, saturating sediments under the eastern margin and a basement depth deepening from hundreds of yards to over 2.5 miles; while promising, the survey covered only part of the lake, so the full freshwater volume remains uncertain.
An airborne electromagnetic survey by University of Utah researchers found a deep freshwater reservoir beneath the shrinking Great Salt Lake, extending 3–4 kilometers (10,000–13,000 feet) below the saline lake and possibly reaching toward its interior. The discovery could help mitigate dust pollution by wetting hotspots, though scientists aim to map the lake’s full footprint to quantify the freshwater resource and its ecological implications.
Researchers using airborne electromagnetic surveys and magnetic data mapped beneath Utah’s Great Salt Lake and uncovered a large, previously unknown freshwater reservoir that extends deep into the basin, challenging the idea that the lake is fully saline. The find suggests mountain-fed freshwater can infiltrate far beneath the surface and may offer new options for drought and dust mitigation, though surveys are incomplete and sustainable use requires caution; the study, published in Scientific Reports, emphasizes the need to survey the entire lake to determine the reservoir’s true extent.
Airborne electromagnetic data reveal a large freshwater reservoir beneath the Great Salt Lake, with a deep bedrock depression and sediment-filled zones that could store significant water across roughly 2,500 square kilometers and up to 3–4 kilometers deep; researchers plan broader surveys to map the extent and explore uses for dust mitigation and water management.
Six decades of observations show a historically salty patch in the Southern Indian Ocean is losing salt at a rapid pace, with the high-salinity region shrinking about 30% over the past 60 years as freshwater from the Indo-Pacific pool is transported southward by shifts in atmospheric circulation; scientists estimate the freshwater input is roughly 60% of Lake Tahoe’s annual inflow each year, gradually diluting surface waters and affecting global ocean circulation, including the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, though the study notes the freshening is a gradual process rather than a single dramatic event.
New research indicates that mosasaurs, giant marine reptiles, could also live in freshwater environments, as evidenced by isotope analysis of fossil teeth from North Dakota, suggesting they were not limited to oceans and may have preyed on dinosaurs in rivers before their extinction.
Researchers from the University of South Australia have developed a breakthrough desalination technology using a floating photothermal hydrogel evaporator with clay minerals, achieving seawater evaporation rates 18.8% higher than pure water. This innovation, which enhances the efficiency of solar-powered desalination, could significantly alleviate global freshwater shortages affecting billions, by providing a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to traditional methods that are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful.
A new study using NASA satellite data reveals a significant decline in Earth's freshwater levels, with a loss of 290 cubic miles since 2015, equivalent to emptying Lake Erie two and a half times. This decline, linked to climate change and exacerbated by El Niño events, suggests a potential long-term global drying trend. The study highlights the increasing stress on water systems affecting nearly 3 billion people and over half of global food production, raising concerns about future water availability.
A study using NASA-German satellite data reveals a significant drop in Earth's freshwater levels since May 2014, suggesting a shift to a drier phase for the continents. The decline, linked to major droughts and a significant El Niño event, has persisted despite the event's end, with global warming potentially exacerbating the issue. This reduction in freshwater poses risks of famine, conflict, and disease, as highlighted by a UN report on water stress.
NASA-German satellite data reveals a significant drop in global freshwater levels since 2014, attributed to persistent droughts and possibly exacerbated by global warming. The study highlights a 290 cubic mile reduction in freshwater storage from 2015 to 2023 compared to 2002-2014 levels, with major droughts occurring worldwide. The findings suggest a potential long-term shift towards drier conditions, with implications for agriculture, water supply, and climate resilience.
NASA and German satellites have detected a significant drop in global freshwater levels since May 2014, with levels remaining low due to persistent droughts and climate change. The GRACE satellites revealed that from 2015 to 2023, freshwater storage on land was significantly lower than the average from 2002 to 2014. This decline is linked to major droughts and warmer ocean temperatures, exacerbated by global warming, which increases atmospheric water vapor and alters precipitation patterns. The study suggests this trend may continue, posing risks to agriculture and water supplies.
NASA and German satellites have detected a significant drop in Earth's freshwater levels since 2014, with a persistent decline linked to global droughts and possibly global warming. The study, using data from GRACE satellites, highlights a 290 cubic mile reduction in freshwater storage, equivalent to two and a half times the volume of Lake Erie. This decline, exacerbated by extreme weather patterns and increased atmospheric water vapor, poses risks of water scarcity, impacting agriculture and communities worldwide.
An international team of experts has discovered a vast deposit of ancient freshwater deep beneath the mountains of Sicily, offering a potential solution to the water shortages facing the region. The 6-million-year-old groundwater body, located 2,400 meters below sea level, contains 17.3 cubic kilometers of water. The researchers believe that such unconventional sources of potable water could be explored and utilized in other water-scarce areas along the Mediterranean coastlines. The discovery has significant implications for addressing the pending water crisis in southern Italy and potentially in other regions facing water scarcity.
Geologists have discovered a massive deposit of ancient freshwater deep below the mountains of Sicily, estimated to contain 17.5 cubic kilometers of water. The deposit, trapped for around 6 million years, could potentially provide a solution to the water scarcity issues faced by arid lands along the Mediterranean coastlines. The discovery was made by analyzing maps and data from previous surveys looking for oil deposits. The researchers believe the water may have been trapped during the Messinian salinity crisis, a geological event that dried up the Mediterranean Sea basin. This finding has significant implications for addressing water scarcity in southern Italy and other regions in North Africa.
A group of bull sharks has been living in a freshwater golf course pond in Australia for over 17 years, making it the longest observed instance of bull sharks surviving in freshwater. The sharks were likely stranded in the pond during severe floods in the mid-1990s. While the original sharks have not been spotted since 2015, it is unclear if they are still alive. The adaptability of bull sharks to different environments is highlighted by this unique case, and experts warn that with increasing extreme floods due to climate change, caution should be exercised around bodies of water that may have recently flooded.