Name: Haley Carlson
Student ID#:
GEO 300 Recitation Day/Time:
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Due Date:
CT#: 1
Q#: 1–3
Word Count: 519
Unsustainable Groundwater Extraction Threatens Global Food Security
Interpretation (33 words) :
Groundwater depletion is occurring around the globe at alarming rates and few regulations for extraction are in place. This will have profound negative impacts of global food production and security in the future.
Analysis (408 words) :
With the advent of the Green Revolution and technological advancements in irrigation techniques groundwater resources around the globe have been deleting rapidly (Taylor 2014: p
179). This has significant negative implications regarding global food production and security.
Groundwater is utilized for 40% of global food production and is used on 40% of agricultural land equipped for irrigation. In some regions it accounts for significantly more of the irrigated agriculture and total food production (Scanlon et al. 2012: p 9320). In China one of the biggest threats to food security is water shortages. In the coming decades a significant number of wells are expected to run dry. It is anticipated that they will lose the ability to feed 10% of the 1.3 billion people residing in China (Jiao 2010:p 1462).
This problem is particularly serious because groundwater depletion cannot be easily reversed once extraction rates have exceeded recharged rates. Depending on the aquifer it can take months to millions of years to reach equilibrium again (Rodell 2009:p 999). Pumping at current rates in many regions cannot be sustained indefinitely putting at risk industry, agriculture, and urban populations that have grown to depend on these water resources.
Groundwater depletion isn’t a problem that will only affect the future; it is currently negatively impacting communities. Many of the states in Indian suffer from severe water shortages. Despite water scarcity concerns irrigated land area tripled between 1970 and 1999, 40-50% of that land relies on groundwater. This has put them in direct competition with Pakistan who relies almost solely on groundwater for their irrigation systems along the border. This has the potential to exacerbate an already strained transboundary relationship (Rodell, Velicogna, & Famiglietti
2009: p 999). Negative impacts are being felt in the United States as well, especially the High
Plains and the California Central Valley. These areas account for 50% of the groundwater

depletion that has taken place since 1900 and depletion rates doubled between the years1960 and
2000 (Scanlon et al. 2012:p 9320).
Groundwater can be thought of as a water savings account that we are currently drawing more out of than putting back in. This undermines resiliency to future increases in fresh water demand and the impacts of climate change on precipitation patterns (Taylor 2014:p 180). Throughout the globe not enough is being done to decrease depletion and ensure sustainable extraction. The race to the bottom continues, putting the food security for a rapidly increasing global population at risk.
Evaluation (26 words) :
The analysis by Li Jiao could be biased because she is a part of the community she is writing about and might not be completely objective.
Inference (28 words) :
Groundwater depletion will impact regions differently and can be devastating on a small scale in regions that rely heavily on groundwater for local food production and potable water.
Explanation (24 words) :
Groundwater depletion is a serious problem that will impact food security around the globe, particularly as population increases and demand for fresh water rises.
Bibliography :
Jaio Li. 2010. Water Shortages Loom as Northern China’s Aquifers are Sucked Dry.
Science.
238(5985):1462-1463
Rodell Matthew, Velicogna Isabella, Famiglietti James S. 2009. Satellite-based estimates of groundwater depletion in India. Nature.
460(7258):999-1002
Scanlon Bridget R, Faunt Claudia C, Longuevergne Laurent, Reedy Robert C, Alley William M,
Mcguire Virginia L, Mcmahon Peter B. 2012. Groundwater Depletion and Sustainability of Irrigation in the US High Plains and Central Valley. Proceeding of the National
Academy of Sciences of the Unites States . 109(24):9320-9326
Taylor Richard. 2014. Hydrology: When Wells Run Dry.
Nature. 180(516): 179-180