groundwater Archives - Disasters News

Mar142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Groundwater Threatens Inland Flooding in Coastal Cities

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Rising sea levels caused by climate change are bringing an often-overlooked threat to coastal communities rising groundwater. While coastal erosion and storm surges have been widely studied, the inland spread of flood hazards due to groundwater rise remains a hidden danger. A recent study by Cox et al. focuses on Dunedin, New Zealand, a city already facing periodic flooding, and presents a method to predict how rising seas will impact groundwater levels, offering crucial insights for flood risk management. The research, based on data from 2019 to 2023 collected from 35 groundwater sensors, shows that as sea levels rise, groundwater levels will also increase, limiting the land’s ability to absorb rainfall and leading to higher risks of surface flooding. Even before reaching the surfac...

Mar142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising seas groundwater loss and urban expansion push Asia megadeltas toward crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Coastal flooding in Asia’s megadeltas is intensifying due to rapid urbanization, land use changes, excessive groundwater extraction, infrastructure development, and widespread sand mining. Since 1990, urban areas below five meters above sea level have expanded by over 70% in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Mekong deltas, and by at least 200% in the Chao Phraya delta. The excessive withdrawal of groundwater has accelerated land subsidence in all five megadeltas, with sinking rates surpassing one centimeter per year. Additionally, intense river sand mining, driven by the high demand for construction materials, has contributed to severe erosion along riverbanks and coastlines. Dams built upstream further disrupt natural river flows by trapping sediments that are essential for maintain...

Mar52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Urban Expansion Drains 64.6 billion cubic Groundwater Reserves in Five Indian States

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

A groundbreaking hydrology model based study has established a direct link between rapid urbanisation and alarming decline in groundwater reserves across five Indian states. Published in the Hydrogeology Journal the research titled Detection and Socio-economic Attribution of Groundwater Depletion in India presents a stark warning about the scale of groundwater loss particularly in northern and northwestern India. According to the study led by Gautam Kunwar from the University of Texas Austin, India has lost approximately 64.6 billion cubic metres of groundwater over the past two decades. While irrigation remains a key driver of depletion, the study highlights that urbanisation and industrialisation are equally responsible for falling groundwater levels a factor that has often been overl...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Amazon Fires Intensify as Groundwater Depletion El Niño Fuel Catastrophic Events

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated a clear link between climatic phenomena and the rising propensity for fires in the Amazon rainforest. Researchers have identified compromised groundwater storage, exacerbated by El Niño-driven droughts, as a critical factor in escalating fire risks. The findings, backed by satellite data and fire reports, could pave the way for more effective prevention strategies. Role of Groundwater and El Niño in Amazon Fires The study highlights that regions with depleted groundwater storage are at greater risk of fires during extreme droughts. Researchers observed that during El Niño events, prolonged dry conditions impact three key water reservoirs: topsoil, the tree root zone, and groundwater, with groundwater being the slowest to recover. El Niño, chara...

Sep22024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global Freshwater Crisis: UN Reports Highlight Severe Degradation in 90 Countries

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A series of alarming reports from UN-Water and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have revealed that 90 countries, primarily in Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, are facing significant degradation of their freshwater ecosystems. This widespread decline is marked by reduced river flow, shrinking lakes, increasing pollution, and poor water management, posing serious threats to food security, climate change, and biodiversity. The comprehensive triennial reports draw on the largest data sets ever compiled and highlight a stark contrast between high political commitment and the lack of financial and practical action needed to address the crisis. Despite recent global resolutions on sustainable water management, the reports emphasize the urgent need for enhanced global efforts to mee...

Jul112024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Temperatures Threaten Global Groundwater Safety: Millions at Risk by 2100

Breaking News, Disasters

In a stark warning, scientists highlight that without access to lakes or streams, one in four humans relies on underground reservoirs. However, as temperatures soar, these vital water sources face contamination risks. An international study using a global heat transport model reveals that by 2100, up to 590 million people could depend on groundwater that fails to meet safe drinking standards due to warming. This underlines a critical yet often overlooked consequence of climate change on Earth's land. Hydrologist Dylan Irvine from Charles Darwin University emphasizes the need to broaden focus beyond weather events and water availability. The study underscores that warming groundwater can alter its chemical composition, potentially making it unsafe for consumption due to dissolved mine...