75% of Humanity in Water Crisis: Earth Drying at Extrere Rate

A groundbreaking study published last week in Science Advances reveals an alarming reality: continents are drying at unprecedented rates, with drought areas expanding by twice the size of California annually. Using advanced satellite data from the GRACE and GRACE-FO missions, an international team of researchers found that four “mega-drying regions” have formed in the Northern Hemisphere, with 75% of the world’s population, about 6 billion people, now living in 101 countries losing freshwater.

The most startling finding: continents now contribute more to sea level rise than the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets combined, due to groundwater depletion (68% of losses) and intensifying extreme droughts. Israel, located at the heart of the Middle Eastern mega-drying region that stretches from North Africa to China, stands at the forefront of this crisis – making smart water management solutions like desalination and innovative technologies critical not only for countries like Israel, but for the entire world.

The research emphasizes that the process has accelerated dramatically since 2014, with dry areas now drying faster than wet areas are getting wetter. The researchers warn that without urgent action to preserve groundwater reserves and reduce carbon emissions, the trend will continue to intensify, threatening global food and water security, accelerating climate migration, and potentially leading to international conflicts over resources.

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