Water scarcity is a major issue. Mexico and the world are dealing with severe droughts that have worsened over time. These droughts have become a serious problem with deadly consequences. In the past decade, water levels in many reservoirs have dropped. The NASA fears that climate change could lead to devastating effects, worse than droughts, in Mexico and globally.
Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, is facing a water crisis. The city’s water supply system, Cutzamala, is at very low levels. The NASA has confirmed this, noting a 28% drop in the Valle de Bravo reservoir’s capacity. What’s making things worse? Climate change and low rainfall in recent years are major factors. Rising temperatures due to heatwaves and infrastructure failures are forcing authorities to reduce water supply to big cities.
The NASA has warned of a concerning situation with groundwater levels. Satellite images show a worrying trend, with levels that should only occur once every 50 years in high-temperature regions. Climate change is a major contributor to this problem.
Consequences of droughts
As greenhouse gas emissions rise, climate change is causing big problems. Is there something worse than droughts? NASA researchers are studying the effects of climate change. The Andes glaciers are melting at a rapid rate, losing almost a meter of thickness every year since 2000. This makes the Andes the mountain range that has lost the most ice relative to its size worldwide.
Climate change impact
According to the NASA, some areas will experience more heat stress. There will be more rainfall in areas that don’t need it, like the northern hemisphere, southeast Greenland, and parts of Africa and Asia. This could lead to flooding. On the other hand, the Amazon basin, southern Africa, southwest North America, and the Mediterranean will see a drop in rainfall.
Understanding climate change
Droughts and floods have increased over the years as the planet gets hotter. Experts warn that climate change could be the cause of both droughts and floods. The effects are seen in daily life, with power outages due to low reservoir levels, water cuts due to drought, and other factors that affect health, crops, and economies.
The NASA’s analysis shows that understanding upcoming weather phenomena is key to dealing with their effects. Mexico is investing $122.6 billion in a massive water project to combat drought. This crisis is one of humanity’s biggest challenges that we must face to survive.