Daily Current Affairs: 1-July-2023
Groundwater, a vital resource for drinking and irrigation purposes, has been excessively extracted by humans in recent years. A new study has revealed that this excessive extraction has caused a shift in the Earth’s axis of rotation. While the shift itself is not significant enough to have immediate consequences, it has contributed to global sea level rise. This essay will explore the key findings of the study, the concept of polar motion, the groundwater status in India, the relationship between urbanization and groundwater, and the major challenges associated with groundwater management.
Key Findings of the Study
The study highlights the following key findings:
- Groundwater Extraction: Between 1993 and 2010, approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were pumped out by humans. This massive extraction has resulted in a drift of the planet’s axis at a rate of 4.36 cm per year towards the east.
- Impact on Sea Levels: Although the shift in the Earth’s axis caused by groundwater extraction may not have immediate real-life consequences, it has contributed to the rise in global sea levels. This further emphasizes the significance of addressing excessive groundwater extraction.
Understanding Polar Motion
The Earth rotates around an imaginary axis that passes through the north pole, the center of mass, and the south pole. Naturally, the poles and the axis undergo shifts as the distribution of mass on the planet changes. This phenomenon is known as “polar motion.” Several factors contribute to polar motion, including ocean currents, hurricanes, and human activities.
Groundwater Status in India
India stands as the largest user of groundwater globally, accounting for a quarter of the total withdrawal. Approximately 48% of water supply in Indian cities relies on groundwater. However, the unmanaged extraction of groundwater coupled with the increasing population poses significant challenges. By 2050, an estimated 3.1 billion people may face seasonal water shortages, while nearly a billion people may experience perpetual water scarcity. This could compromise water and food security and lead to poverty, despite having adequate infrastructure in place.
Urbanization and Groundwater
As urban areas expand, water supply, sanitation, and drainage become crucial aspects of development. Groundwater plays a vital role in fulfilling these requirements, as it is often of better quality than surface water and readily available near demand sites. This accessibility reduces capital and operational costs but also makes groundwater vulnerable to over-exploitation.
Major Challenges in Groundwater Management
- Climate Change Impacts: Variability in rainfall patterns, urban floods, and higher temperatures associated with climate change can hinder the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation).
- Accelerated Population Growth: The rapid urban population growth increases the demand for water, waste management, and pollution control. This places additional strain on groundwater resources and their management.
- Unplanned Urbanization: Expanding built-up areas and paving surfaces disrupt natural infiltration and evapotranspiration processes, leading to increased surface runoff and urban flooding. This also results in the over-exploitation of groundwater and contamination of aquifers.
- Subsoil and Infrastructure Effects: The excessive extraction of groundwater and the construction of underground infrastructures like tunnels and basements can lead to hydraulic and corrosion effects on building foundations, flooded structures, and loss of habitat.
- Groundwater Pollution: Urbanization contributes to groundwater pollution through infiltration and seepage from roads, industrial sites, waste dump sites, and effluent drains. Contaminants such as heavy metals and micro-pollutants, as well as microbiological contamination from sewage systems, further degrade groundwater quality.
- Institutional and Management Framework Vacuum: The organizations responsible for managing groundwater in India often lack accountability, knowledge, and capacity. Unaccounted and unregulated private water wells, ineffective regulations, and a general lack of interest and awareness among stakeholders add to the management challenges.
Important Points:
- Excessive extraction of groundwater has caused a shift in the Earth’s axis of rotation.
- Groundwater extraction contributed to global sea level rise, although the shift itself is not significant enough to have immediate consequences.
- Polar motion refers to the natural shifting of the Earth’s poles and axis due to changes in mass distribution.
- Factors contributing to polar motion include ocean currents, hurricanes, and human activities.
- India is the largest user of groundwater globally, with a fourth of the total global withdrawal.
- Indian cities rely on groundwater for about 48% of their water supply.
- Unmanaged groundwater extraction and population growth may lead to seasonal and perpetual water shortages, compromising water and food security.
- Urbanization requires efficient water supply, sanitation, and drainage systems, where groundwater plays a crucial role.
- Major challenges in groundwater management include the impacts of climate change, accelerated population growth, unplanned urbanization, over-exploitation of groundwater, and groundwater pollution.
- Climate change affects the spatial and temporal distribution of water, potentially hindering sustainable development goals.
- Rapid urban population growth increases demand for water and waste management.
- Unplanned urbanization disrupts natural water processes, leading to surface runoff and urban flooding.
- Groundwater pollution occurs through infiltration from roads, industrial sites, and effluent drains, impacting groundwater quality.
- Institutions responsible for groundwater management often lack accountability, knowledge, and capacity.
- Effective regulations, stakeholder awareness, and responsible groundwater usage are essential for sustainable water management.
Why In News
According to a recent study, the alarming rate of groundwater extraction for drinking and irrigation purposes has exerted such a significant force on the Earth’s mass distribution that it has caused a measurable shift in its axis of rotation. These findings highlight the far-reaching consequences of human activities on the delicate balance of our planet’s systems.
MCQs about Groundwater Extraction on Earth’s Axis and Urban Water Security
-
What is the main cause of the shift in the Earth’s axis of rotation ?
A. Ocean currents
B. Human activities
C. Hurricanes
D. Melting glaciers and ice in Greenland
-
Which country is the largest user of groundwater globally?
A. China
B. India
C. United States
D. Brazil
-
What major challenges are associated with groundwater management?
A. Population growth and climate change
B. Pollution and unplanned urbanization
C. Infrastructure effects and institutional vacuum
D. All of the above
-
What are the consequences of unmanaged groundwater extraction and increasing population in India?
A. Seasonal water shortages by 2050
B. Perpetual water shortage for nearly a billion people
C. Compromised water and food security
D. All of the above
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
