A warming climate and human water consumption drove at least half of the decline in natural lakes, the study found. The study said accurate tracking of lake water trends and identification of factors contributing to water loss can help guide water-management strategies affecting up to 2 billion people. Scientists have previously established that most climate warming since preindustrial times is due to human activities. “For drying lakes dominated by overconsumption, effective water­­ conservation efforts can help save these water bodies,” Yao said. “For drying lakes attributable to climate warming, climate mitigation [reducing greenhouse gas emissions] can help alleviate the more long-term impacts on these lake systems.”GiftOutline Gift Article

Source: Washington Post May 19, 2023 12:50 UTC