Satellites reveal widespread decline in global lake water storage

Over half of the world’s freshwater lakes are in decline, storing less water than three decades ago, according to a study led by CIRES researchers that was featured on the cover of Science. 

The scientists took a new approach, focusing on lake and reservoir water storage with data from nine different satellites—over 250,000 images spanning three decades— using an innovative technique to reconstruct past water storage data. They also identified the causes of lake water storage decline: climate change (including warming temperatures and reduced inflows leading to evaporation), human consumption and sedimentation in reservoirs. 

“This is the first comprehensive assessment of trends and drivers of global lake water storage variability based on an array of satellites and models,” said lead author Fangfang Yao.