Global hydrological cycles and world water resources

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  • OKI Taikan
    Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo

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  • グローバルな水循環と世界の水資源
  • グローバル ナ ミズ ジュンカン ト セカイ ノ ミズシゲン

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<p>Water is a naturally circulating resource that is constantly recharged. Therefore, even though stocks of water in natural and artificial reservoirs help increase the amount of water resources available to human societies, the flow of water should be the main focus of water resources assessment. The climate system puts an upper limit on the circulation rate of available renewable freshwater resources (RFWRs). Although current global withdrawals are well below the upper limit, more than two billion people live in highly water-stressed areas because of the uneven distribution of RFWRs in time and space. Climate change is expected to accelerate water cycles, and thereby increases the amount of available RFWRs. This would slow down the increase in population under water stress; however, changes in seasonal patterns and the increasing probability of extreme events might offset this effect. Reducing current vulnerability is the first step in preparing for such anticipated changes.</p>

Journal

  • Oyo Buturi

    Oyo Buturi 80 (10), 862-867, 2011-10-10

    The Japan Society of Applied Physics

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