Reveal lake shrinkage due to severe drought

Lake Poopó in Bolivia, Lake Umbria in Italy, and the Great Salt Lake in the United States all share a common and concerning phenomenon: the dramatic shrinkage of their water bodies primarily attributed to severe drought. These once-prominent lakes have faced substantial reductions in water volume and surface area due to a combination of factors, including diminished inflows from rivers and streams, decreased precipitation, and elevated evaporation rates exacerbated by extended periods of drought. As these lakes continue to diminish in size, they serve as poignant examples of the global water crisis and the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure the preservation of precious freshwater resources for both ecological stability and human well-being.

The shrinking of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, also known as America's Dead Sea, has significant consequences for the people, ecology, and economy of northern Utah (Marks, 2022). It is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere and supports life that thrives in water that is much saltier than seawater, such as brine shrimp and flies that millions of birds rely on for food. As the lake water levels go down, not only is the food source for birds in danger, but the exposed, dry lake bed has increased the amount of dust going into the air. The dust contains copper, arsenic, and other heavy metals that may pose a public health threat to nearby populated areas if they are inhaled, which can make respiratory diseases worsen (European Space Agency, 2022).

Lake Poopó is located in the Bolivian Altiplano Mountains (more than 12,000 feet above sea level) and is only about 10 feet deep on average. Because of these characteristics, it has a high evaporation rate. Since the 1990s, increased temperatures due to climate change have tripled the evaporation rate for the lake (Rafferty, 2016). Drought and climate change have resulted in many of the glaciers of South America shrinking, which in turn has been the driving factor for the lake losing water (Marks, 2022). The lack of water in the lake has impacted the region’s ecology and economy, threatening the livelihoods of people who relied on fishing in the lake (Rafferty, 2016)

Lake Urmia is located in Iran and is an important contributor to the local economy through tourism. Its marshes support over 200 species of birds and other species who rely on the lake to survive. The lake has receded to 10 percent of its original size due to dammed rivers, increased groundwater pumping, diversions, climate change, and drought (Marks, 2022).