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Human alteration of global surface water storage variability

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah W. Cooley

    (Stanford University
    University of Oregon)

  • Jonathan C. Ryan

    (University of Oregon
    Brown University)

  • Laurence C. Smith

    (Brown University
    Brown University)

Abstract

Knowing the extent of human influence on the global hydrological cycle is essential for the sustainability of freshwater resources on Earth1,2. However, a lack of water level observations for the world’s ponds, lakes and reservoirs has limited the quantification of human-managed (reservoir) changes in surface water storage compared to its natural variability3. The global storage variability in surface water bodies and the extent to which it is altered by humans therefore remain unknown. Here we show that 61% per cent of the Earth’s seasonal surface water storage variability occurs in human-managed reservoirs. Using measurements from NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite laser altimeter, which was launched in late 2018, we assemble an extensive global water level dataset that quantifies water level variability for 227,386 water bodies from October 2018 to July 2020. We find that seasonal variability in human-managed reservoirs averages 0.86 metres, whereas natural water bodies vary by only 0.22 metres. Natural variability in surface water storage is greatest in tropical basins, whereas human-managed variability is greatest in the Middle East, southern Africa and the western USA. Strong regional patterns are also found, with human influence driving 67 per cent of surface water storage variability south of 45 degrees north and nearly 100 per cent in certain arid and semi-arid regions. As economic development, population growth and climate change continue to pressure global water resources4, our approach provides a useful baseline from which ICESat-2 and future satellite missions will be able to track human modifications to the global hydrologic cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah W. Cooley & Jonathan C. Ryan & Laurence C. Smith, 2021. "Human alteration of global surface water storage variability," Nature, Nature, vol. 591(7848), pages 78-81, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:591:y:2021:i:7848:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03262-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03262-3
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gang Zhao & Yao Li & Liming Zhou & Huilin Gao, 2022. "Evaporative water loss of 1.42 million global lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Sweta Bhattacharya & Nancy Victor & Rajeswari Chengoden & Murugan Ramalingam & Govardanan Chemmalar Selvi & Praveen Kumar Reddy Maddikunta & Praveen Kumar Donta & Schahram Dustdar & Rutvij H. Jhaveri , 2022. "Blockchain for Internet of Underwater Things: State-of-the-Art, Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Changda Liu & Jie Li & Qiuhua Tang & Jiawei Qi & Xinghua Zhou, 2022. "Classifying the Nunivak Island Coastline Using the Random Forest Integration of the Sentinel-2 and ICESat-2 Data," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Xuehui Pi & Qiuqi Luo & Lian Feng & Yang Xu & Jing Tang & Xiuyu Liang & Enze Ma & Ran Cheng & Rasmus Fensholt & Martin Brandt & Xiaobin Cai & Luke Gibson & Junguo Liu & Chunmiao Zheng & Weifeng Li & B, 2022. "Mapping global lake dynamics reveals the emerging roles of small lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Schmitt, Rafael Jan Pablo & Rosa, Lorenzo, 2024. "Dams for hydropower and irrigation: Trends, challenges, and alternatives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    6. Irene Palazzoli & Gianluca Lelli & Serena Ceola, 2024. "Land Cover and Spatial Distribution of Surface Water Loss Hotspots in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Zhilong Zhao & Zengzeng Hu & Jun Zhou & Ruliang Kan & Wangjun Li, 2023. "Response of Two Major Lakes in the Changtang National Nature Reserve, Tibetan Plateau to Climate and Anthropogenic Changes over the Past 50 Years," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.
    8. Xuewen Liang & Yue Pan & Cunwu Li & Weixiong Wu & Xusheng Huang, 2023. "Evaluating the Influence of Land Use and Landscape Pattern on the Spatial Pattern of Water Quality in the Pearl River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-16, October.
    9. Yao Li & Gang Zhao & George H. Allen & Huilin Gao, 2023. "Diminishing storage returns of reservoir construction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Ning Wang & Jingbo Yang & Zaiyong Zhang & Yong Xiao & Hanbing Wang & Jinjun He & Lingqi Yi, 2023. "Analysis of Detailed Lake Variations and Associated Hydrologic Driving Factors in a Semi-Arid Ungauged Closed Watershed," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
    11. Tongbi Tu & Lise Comte & Albert Ruhi, 2023. "The color of environmental noise in river networks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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