September 19, 2023 –– Recent observations have highlighted a trend in the southwestern United States: giant fissures or cracks are appearing due to the over-extraction of groundwater. These fissures have been spotted in states such as Arizona, Utah, and California.
Human Actions Causing the Cracks.
According to a report by Science Springs, too much groundwater pumping in the US Southwest is causing the ground to split open. Citing Joseph Cook from the Arizona Geological Survey, Science Springs reports that the fissures are a direct result of human actions. Groundwater is a crucial resource, accounting for nearly half of the world’s drinking water and 40% of its irrigation. However, it’s being extracted faster than it can naturally replenish, leading to the formation of these cracks.
The New York Times Investigation.
A recent investigation by the New York Times and summarized by WION
- Aquifers, responsible for supplying about 90% of US water systems, are depleting at an alarming rate.
- Nearly half of the monitored sites across the US have shown significant decline over the past 40 years.
- 40% of the sites have reached all-time low water levels in the past decade.
- Some of these aquifers might take centuries, if not thousands of years, to recover.
The New York Times investigation
Selected State Highlights and Interactive Maps.
Arizona. The American Geosciences Institute
California. Using the broader term “land subsidence,” instead of fissures, the United States Geological Survey
Utah. The Utah Geological Survey published a study titled “Land Subsidence and Earth Fissures in Cedar Valley” along with maps. The 2.4-mile long earth fissure in Enoch City was significant according to the Utah Geological survey because it was the “first one in Utah that has encroached into a developing area. In other western states, land subsidence and earth fissures have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to buildings, roads, bridges, railroads, utilities, well casings, dams, canals, and other infrastructure.” Like Arizona, Utah offers an interactive hazard map
Implications of the Crisis.
Reporting from IFL Science
In Summary.
The reports about the fissures conclude that continuous depletion of groundwater, combined with increasing temperatures and droughts, has led to a severe crisis in the US Southwest. This environmental challenge necessitates immediate attention and collaborative action, both in terms of research and policy formulation.
Image Source:Â Screenshot from YouTube video.
Leave a Reply