Human alteration of global surface water storage variability

Knowing the extent of human influence on the global hydrological cycle is essential for understanding the sustainability of freshwater resources on Earth. However, a lack of water level observations for the world’s ponds, lakes, and reservoirs has limited the quantification of human-managed (reservoir) changes in surface water storage compared to its natural variability.

As economic development, population growth, and climate change continue to pressure global water resources, this recent study, published in Nature, aims to provide a baseline for understanding human-managed surface water storage.