Climate Change’s Groundwater Time Bomb

Climate Change May Be Creating a Groundwater 'Time Bomb,' Scientists Say

Pam Wright, January 23, 2019 (The Weather Channel)

“Climate change may be creating a groundwater ‘time bomb’ as the world's underground water systems catch up to the impacts of global warming…[More than half of the world’s groundwater systems — the largest source of usable freshwater in the world — could take more than 100 years to completely respond to current environmental changes from global warming…Groundwater is replenished primarily by rainfall through a process known as recharge. Concurrently, water exits or discharges from groundwater sources into lakes, streams and oceans to maintain an overall balance…When there is a change in recharge due to a lack of rainfall, for example, levels of groundwater drop until balance is restored…

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The problem facing scientists, government officials and water management planners is knowing exactly when recharge changes occurring now as a result of global warming will be reflected in discharge from groundwater sources into lakes, streams and oceans…[Research found] that locations that are wetter and more humid like the Amazon and Florida Everglades may begin to experience recharge/discharge problems in the shorter term. It would take much longer in arid locations like the Sahara desert…With more than 2 billion people relying on groundwater as a source of drinking and irrigation water, a delay in reaction to the systems could become very problematic, especially in locations where people rely almost entirely on groundwater for personal, industrial and agricultural needs…” click here for more

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