A triple increase in global river basins with water scarcity due to future pollution
Wageningen University & Research · Leibniz Association · +4 more institutions
Abstract
Abstract Water security is at stake today. While climate changes influence water availability, urbanization and agricultural activities have led to increasing water demand as well as pollution, limiting safe water use. We conducted a global assessment of future clean-water scarcity for 2050s by adding the water pollution aspect to the classical water quantity-induced scarcity assessments. This was done for >10,000 sub-basins focusing on nitrogen pollution in rivers by integrating land-system, hydrological and water quality models. We found that water pollution aggravates water scarcity in >2000 sub-basins worldwide. The number of sub-basins with water scarcity triples due to future nitrogen pollution…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 129.46
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 82
Authors
10- MWMengru WangCorresponding
Wageningen University & Research
- BLBenjamin Leon Bodirsky
Leibniz Association, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
- RRR. Rijneveld
Wageningen University & Research
- FBFelicitas Beier
Leibniz Association, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
- MPMirjam P. Bak
Wageningen University & Research
Topics & keywords
- Water scarcity
- Scarcity
- Environmental science
- Water resource management
- Water resources
- Water quality
- Water security
- Urbanization
- Sustainable cities and communities