More of Us to Go Thirsty As Earth Dries Up

AS IT IS 2015-11-03 More of Us to Go Thirsty As Earth Dries Up

Water supplies around the planet are running dry at an alarming rate.

Scientists say the world is experiencing a shortage of fresh water. It will only worsen as the population grows and the climate changes. People living in the western part of the U.S. are experiencing this now. For several years, there hasn’t been much water there.

But the American West is not the only place thirsty for water.

Jerry Schubel is president and CEO of the Aquarium¹ of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.

"More than half of the world's population lives in water-stressed areas and, according to the United Nations, that number will increase to two-thirds by 2025, fewer than 10 years from now."

Jerry Schubel says the amount of water on earth has not changed for billions of years, but the ratio of fresh to salt water has. He also says there are also other factors that are creating a fresh water shortage.

"In much of the world, shortage of fresh water is a looming² crisis that will only be exacerbated⁴ by climate change and a growing population."

Schubel says most of the world's population live in countries that share bodies of water. Many of those countries don't have agreements on how to share that water.

"And many of these regions are in areas of political unrest: North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Southwest, Central and South Asia. The aggregate⁵ population in these areas is predicted to triple by the end of this century. So, water shortages could well become flashpoints for regional and international conflicts."

Water is Life

Scientists say conservation is the first step to solving the water crisis. Kevin Wattier, manager at the Long Beach water department says desalinating – removing salt from sea water -- is also an option. But that comes at a price.

"It would cost at least twice or three times as much to desalinate⁶ sea water as it would cost to buy imported water. You will increase your global carbon footprint when you go to sea water desal."

Schubel says the problem of global water shortage can be solved only if countries work together.

"We could supply everyone on this planet with safe drinking water and enough water to grow their food. But it will take money, technology, political will and cooperation. And learning how to share requires collaborative decision making at intergovernmental levels."

Extreme Heat in Persian Gulf⁷

Water shortages plague many parts of the world. Heat waves could become the norm in the Persian Gulf by the end of the century.

Just this past summer, very hot high temperatures in Iran sent the heat index - a combination of temperature and humidity - up to 73 degrees Celsius⁸.

The reason? Climate change.

According to a new research, the combination of intense sun and shallow waters makes the Persian Gulf area "a specific regional hotspot where climate change is a threat to human health.

Heat could be so intense that in many regional cities, the temperature "could exceed a tipping point for human survival, even in shaded and well-ventilated spaces.”

A team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Loyola Marymount University published their writing in the journal Nature of Climate Change.

The study also found at high levels of heat and humidity, even a healthy young adult is at risk.

When temperatures soar, humans cool off by sweating. The evaporating sweat carries heat away. But when it's very humid, evaporation⁹ is slowed and it's harder for the body to cool down.

When heat and humidity are extremely high, the human body can lose the ability to regulate its temperature. That is called hyperthermia. The body’s temperature rises, and if this condition goes on long enough, death occurs.

The tipping point means a combination of 35 degrees Celsius with enough humidity to make it difficult for humans to survive more than six hours.

"It is an upper limit to adaptability¹⁰ to climate change due to heat stress," MIT researcher Elfatih Eltahir told reporters at a news conference called to discuss the findings.

The study that showed the consequences of a “business-as-usual” situation where nothing is done about greenhouse gasses, also points out that curbing¹¹ emissions¹² could prevent deadly temperature extremes.

The researchers predict that in cities like Doha, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Bandar Abbas, Iran, could exceed the 35 Celsius threshold several times over a 30-year period.

Extreme conditions could "characterize the usual summer day in the future," said Eltahir.

Words in This Story

ratio – n. the relationship that exists between the size, number, or amount of two things

exacerbate³ – v. to make a situation or problem worse

aggregate – n. a total amount

flashpoint – n. a point, place or situation in which sudden anger or violence could happen

desalinate – v. to remove salt from something, such as water

hot spot – n. a very popular or active place

ventilate – v. to allow fresh air to enter and move through

hyperthermia – n. the condition of having a body temperature greatly above normal

1 aquarium   

n.水族馆，养鱼池，玻璃缸

参考例句：

• The first time I saw seals was in an aquarium.我第一次看见海豹是在水族馆里。
• I'm going to the aquarium with my parents this Sunday.这个星期天，我要和父母一起到水族馆去。

2 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

3 exacerbate   

v.恶化，增剧，激怒，使加剧

参考例句：

• WMO says a warming climate can exacerbate air pollution.世界气象组织说，气候变暖可能会加剧空气污染。
• In fact efforts will merely exacerbate the current problem.实际上努力只会加剧当前的问题。

4 exacerbated   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs. 这些症状可能会因为某些药物而加重。
• The drugs they gave her only exacerbated the pain. 他们给她吃的药只是加重了她的痛楚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 aggregate   

adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合

参考例句：

• The football team had a low goal aggregate last season.这支足球队上个赛季的进球总数很少。
• The money collected will aggregate a thousand dollars.进帐总额将达一千美元。

6 desalinate   

v.除去盐分，淡化海水

参考例句：

• The system can desalinate up to 600 liters of brackish water a day.这个系统一天可以将高于600公升的盐水去盐。
• Energy and the technology to desalinate water are both expensive.能源和海水淡化技术都是非常昂贵的。

7 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

8 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

9 evaporation   

n.蒸发，消失

参考例句：

• Be careful not to lose too much liquid by evaporation.小心不要因蒸发失去太多水分。
• Our bodies can sweat,thereby losing heat by evaporation.我们的身体能出汗，由此可以蒸发散热。

10 adaptability   

n.适应性

参考例句：

• It has a wide range of adaptability.它的应用性广。

11 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

12 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。