National Geographic Special Issue: Water Is Life

Source: Hogshon, R. National Geographic 21st December 2011).

This week the National Geographic have released a special series dedicated to the importance of freshwater for humans and global biomes around the world. Specifically related to this blog, one of the articles summaries recent research presented at the American and Geophysical Union last month (National Geographic News, 20th December 2011). Findings from different mountain ranges around the world including the Andes, Himalayas and the Canadian Rockies indicate that rates of retreat are occurring faster than previously anticipated. For example, research by the University of British Columba, Vancouver suggest in the Saint Ellias region of the Canadian Rockies glaciers could decrease to 50% of their size by 2100, of which many may even disappear completely. The article also states that global changes in glacier melt will have severe consequences on local and regional river discharge, as discussed in my last post.

The national geographic provide a variety of interactive applications including: calculating your own water footprint and visual representations that put your water use into perspective compared to other regions of the world. As our population continues to increase, trying to use our freshwater as efficiently as possible has never been more important.