Scientists complete first global survey of freshwater fluctuation

Ramsayer, K. (2021, March 04). Scientists complete first global survey of freshwater fluctuation. Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://phys.org/news/2021-03-scientists-global-survey-freshwater-fluctuation.html

 

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-scientists-global-survey-freshwater-fluctuation.html

 

A new form of measurement has been developed, one very applicable to our current climate crisis. To test the human impact on freshwater sources, satellites use lazer light pulses that are sent every second down to earths bodies of water. Once beamed down, they reflect back and give high precision surface measurements. This way, after large activities or projects are enacted with bodies of water we can see it’s increase or decrease. 

 

This part is more about the articles importance to environmental science rather than its relation, since we already are measuring the environment itself theres no further clarification needed. The reason this invention is so important, is because of the insight it gives us to future endeavors. Our population is growing faster than ever before, and we need to understand it’s impacts on fresh water. Are we loosing more than were generating? Is this rainy season lighter than we expected? Are there any threats being faced towards the great lakes water storage? Questions like these will be answered with this machine. This way, we can better predict and anticipate changes to our water storage. Overall improving our distribution of the human birth right to water. 

 

3 thoughts on “Scientists complete first global survey of freshwater fluctuation

  1. This invention really impresses me. This shows how the technology has advanced to create solutions to problems. How long will it take for these solutions to be put in action and help solve the water problems?

  2. This is a really interesting invention. I am glad that work is being put towards recognizing and recording important environmental factors, such as the amount of fresh water available to us. What are the biggest problems facing fresh water supplies today?

  3. This is a facininating invention and I think it can have a profound impact on how we construct environmental policy. However, it sounds like construction and matinience may be costly; I wonder if it would be cost-effective to create multiple of these machines?

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