Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025

In Situ Soil Moisture Sensors in Undisturbed Soils
Published on: November 18, 2022
Indicator metrics and temporal aggregations introduce ambiguities in water scarcity estimates
Fitsume T Wolkeba1, Mesfin M Mekonnen2, Kate A Brauman3
1Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. fwolkeba@crimson.ua.edu.
Abstract:
Water scarcity is a global challenge affecting billions of people worldwide. This study systematically assesses differences in the estimation of the global population exposed to water scarcity based on 7 water scarcity indicators and 11 Environmental Flow Requirements (EFR) evaluated at various spatial and temporal resolutions. All indicators show an increase in water scarcity since 1901. However, considering monthly average water scarcity estimates spatially aggregated at the basin scale found 35% less population exposed than estimates based on a distributed grid over the landscape. Estimates temporally disaggregated to consider water scarcity for at least one month a year found 50% (tenfold) larger population exposed compared to average monthly (annual) estimates. The study illustrates that estimates of the impacts of water scarcity are an artifact of how water scarcity is defined and calculated. This suggests caution is needed when relying on a single method and emphasizes the importance of considering the diversity of factors that can influence estimates of impact when assessing water scarcity.
Related Concept Videos
Time-Series Graph
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
What is Climate?
Gravimetry: Overview
In precipitation gravimetry, the analyte is converted into a precipitate and weighed. For example, the silver content in a sample can be estimated by precipitating and...
Unsoundness of Aggregate due to Volume Change

