Europe’s Freshwater Reserves Declining Amid Climate Change, Satellite Data Shows

Europe’s Freshwater Reserves Declining Amid Climate Change, Satellite Data Shows
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A new analysis using two decades of satellite data has revealed significant declines in Europe’s freshwater reserves, with southern and central regions experiencing widespread drying, The Guardian reported. Scientists at University College London (UCL), in collaboration with Watershed Investigations, examined 2002–2024 satellite measurements that track changes in Earth’s gravitational field, allowing researchers to estimate shifts in groundwater, rivers, lakes, soil moisture, and glaciers.

The study highlights a north-south divide: northern and northwestern Europe, including parts of Scandinavia, the UK, and Portugal, have seen increased rainfall, whereas southern and southeastern areas—Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Romania, Ukraine, and parts of the UK—have been losing freshwater storage. Groundwater analysis confirms the depletion trend, suggesting that even Europe’s more resilient water sources are under pressure.

In the UK, trends are mixed, with the west receiving more rain while the east grows drier, a pattern intensified by longer dry spells and heavier summer downpours. Professor Mohammad Shamsudduha of UCL noted that shifting rainfall patterns could pose serious challenges, especially in regions like southeast England, where groundwater provides roughly 70% of public water supply.

European water usage data indicate total surface and groundwater withdrawals declined between 2000 and 2022, yet groundwater extractions rose 6%, largely for public water supply and agriculture. The European Commission has introduced a water resilience strategy aimed at improving resource management, reducing infrastructure leakage, and boosting efficiency by at least 10% by 2030.
Experts warn the trend could have far-reaching consequences for food security, agriculture, and water-dependent ecosystems.

Hannah Cloke, hydrology professor at the University of Reading, stressed the urgency of adopting water-saving practices, reuse initiatives, and nature-based solutions. Shamsudduha emphasized that climate impacts traditionally seen in the global south are increasingly affecting Europe, urging policymakers to embrace innovative approaches, including widespread rainwater harvesting, to secure water resources for the future.