Effect of groundwater use: Using water from wells leads to sea level rise, cancels out effect of dams
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 09:30
in Earth & Climate
As people pump groundwater for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial uses, the water doesn't just seep back into the ground -- it also evaporates into the atmosphere, or runs off into rivers and canals, eventually emptying into the world's oceans. This water adds up, and a new study calculates that by 2050, groundwater pumping will cause a global sea level rise of about 0.8 millimeters per year.