Earth’s large lakes are shrinking

Fangfang Yao; Ben Livneh; Balaji Rajagopalan

doi:10.25250/thescbr.brk774

Authors

Fangfang Yao University of Virginia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5382-6522
Ben Livneh University of Colorado https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5445-2473
Balaji Rajagopalan University of Colorado

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25250/thescbr.brk774

Keywords:

lakes, water loss, climate change, human water use, sedimentation

Abstract

Lakes play a crucial role in providing freshwater and support many essential ecosystem services. In a new study, we found significant water losses in 53% of large lakes on Earth in the past 28 years. These losses are attributed to human consumption, warming climate, and sedimentation. Two billion people reside in areas where lakes are drying, underscoring the urgent need for management solutions.

Author Biographies

Fangfang Yao, University of Virginia

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ben Livneh, University of Colorado

Associate Professor

Balaji Rajagopalan, University of Colorado

Professor

Original article reference

F. Yao, B. Livneh, B. Rajagopalan, J. Wang, J. Cretaux, Y. Wada, M. Berge-Nguyen. 2023. Satellites reveal widespread decline in global lake water storage. Science, 380(6646), 743-749, doi: 10.1126/science.abo2812.