Pumping water for irrigation likely to increase drought vulnerability in certain regions

Over the long term, irrigation may not significantly drain the global mean water supply. But the story changes when zooming in on the regional and local view. Research led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists found in areas that extensively rely on irrigation, surface water or groundwater supply might wither, depending on the supply source. And regions that depend primarily on surface water irrigation (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) will be more vulnerable to drought as the impacts of irrigation on water supply are most significant during times with low water flow.

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