Volume of World’s Freshwater Reserves Revealed
- 10 years ago
Australian researchers have now discovered that freshwater reserves under the ocean are much larger than previously thought and could satisfy the water needs of everyone for decades.
According to the United Nations, people have used much more water in the last century, namely due to irrigated agriculture and meat production. They estimate by 2030, almost half of people will be hardpressed to have enough water. But Australian researchers have now discovered that freshwater reserves under the ocean are much larger than previously thought and could satisfy the water needs of everyone for decades.
Lead author Vincent Post said, “The volume of this water resource is a hundred times greater than the amount we’ve extracted from the Earth’s sub-surface in the past century.”
Found deep under continental shelf seabeds, this low-salinity water was formed in pockets during the Last Glacial Maximum when sea levels were lower. Throughout environmental changes over the years, their aquifers have been protected by clay and sediment layers.
Good news is this water would be easier and less expensive to desalinate than seawater.
Bad news is the water would still require a great deal of filtering. Also, it’s hard and expensive to extract; those drilling must be very careful not to contaminate the aquifers.
Lastly, these freshwater reserves cannot be renewed by rainwater like our existing aquifers so they would have to be used wisely.
According to the United Nations, people have used much more water in the last century, namely due to irrigated agriculture and meat production. They estimate by 2030, almost half of people will be hardpressed to have enough water. But Australian researchers have now discovered that freshwater reserves under the ocean are much larger than previously thought and could satisfy the water needs of everyone for decades.
Lead author Vincent Post said, “The volume of this water resource is a hundred times greater than the amount we’ve extracted from the Earth’s sub-surface in the past century.”
Found deep under continental shelf seabeds, this low-salinity water was formed in pockets during the Last Glacial Maximum when sea levels were lower. Throughout environmental changes over the years, their aquifers have been protected by clay and sediment layers.
Good news is this water would be easier and less expensive to desalinate than seawater.
Bad news is the water would still require a great deal of filtering. Also, it’s hard and expensive to extract; those drilling must be very careful not to contaminate the aquifers.
Lastly, these freshwater reserves cannot be renewed by rainwater like our existing aquifers so they would have to be used wisely.