Reveal lake shrinkage due to severe drought
Explore several lakes that have been shrinking due to climate change and drought
As regional and global temperatures significantly increase, major water bodies that people, plants, and animals depend on are drying. Severe droughts due to climate change are of increasing concern to water supplies around the world, keeping these lakes from replenishing as they dry or as increasing human populations drain more water from them. Change in lakes is to some extent typical; they rise and fall with regular seasonal variation. Some may be drained for maintenance or irrigation purposes or dammed for other human development purposes. But severe drought, especially one that occurs for many consecutive years, may be one of many cumulative impacts for why lakes are shrinking. The lakes that you will explore in this story are lakes where drought is a significant contributing factor for the falling water levels.
Great Salt Lake
Imagery of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA, on May 15, 2019 (left) and May 9, 2024 (right).
The shrinking of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, also known as America's Dead Sea, has significant consequences for the people, ecology, and economy of northern Utah (Marks, 2022). It is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere and supports life that thrives in water that is much saltier than seawater, such as brine shrimp and flies that millions of birds rely on for food. As the lake water levels go down, not only is the food source for birds in danger, but the exposed, dry lake bed has increased the amount of dust going into the air. The dust contains copper, arsenic, and other heavy metals that may pose a public health threat to nearby populated areas if they are inhaled, which can make respiratory diseases worsen (European Space Agency, 2022).
Lake Poopó
Imagery of the Lake Poopó, located in Bolivia on May 15, 2019 (left) and May 9, 2024 (right).
Lake Poopó is located in the Bolivian Altiplano Mountains (more than 12,000 feet above sea level) and is only about 10 feet deep on average. Because of these characteristics, it has a high evaporation rate. Since the 1990s, increased temperatures due to climate change have tripled the evaporation rate for the lake (Rafferty, 2016). Drought and climate change have resulted in many of the glaciers of South America shrinking, which in turn has been the driving factor for the lake losing water (Marks, 2022). The lack of water in the lake has impacted the region’s ecology and economy, threatening the livelihoods of people who relied on fishing in the lake (Rafferty, 2016).
Lake Urmia
Imagery of the Lake Urmia, located in Iran on May 15, 2019 (left) and May 9, 2024 (right).
Lake Urmia is located in Iran and is an important contributor to the local economy through tourism. Its marshes support over 200 species of birds and other species who rely on the lake to survive. The lake has receded to 10 percent of its original size due to dammed rivers, increased groundwater pumping, diversions, climate change, and drought (Marks, 2022).