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Permanent shifts in the global water cycle
1Department of Computational Hydrosystems, UFZHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 27, 2025
Summary
Decades of terrestrial water storage data show a clear and irreversible decrease in soil moisture. This long-term trend highlights critical changes in global water resources.
Area of Science:
- Earth Science
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Terrestrial water storage (TWS) is a critical component of the Earth's water cycle.
- Understanding long-term trends in TWS is essential for water resource management and climate change impact assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze decades of terrestrial water storage changes.
- To identify long-term trends in soil moisture levels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized satellite gravimetry data (e.g., GRACE/GRACE-FO) spanning multiple decades.
- Applied advanced time-series analysis techniques to TWS data.
Main Results:
- Observed a statistically significant and irreversible decline in global soil moisture over several decades.
- Identified regional variations in the rate and magnitude of soil moisture decline.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate a persistent drying trend in terrestrial ecosystems.
- This irreversible decline in soil moisture has profound implications for agriculture, water availability, and ecosystem stability.
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