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55-521: Secret Lake is a meltwater lake 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Ares Cliff , near the east coast of Alexander Island in Antarctica . The lake is situated in a north-west facing glacial cirque and is fed from an area of stagnant ice . It lies 100 metres (330 ft) above the east edge of Mars Glacier and is visible only from the cirque or from the air. The lake was first mapped by Directorate of Overseas Surveys from satellite imagery supplied by

110-570: A glacier . Pollution particles affect albedo by preventing sun energy from bouncing off a glacier's white, gleaming surface and instead absorbing the heat , causing the glacier to melt . Water security The aim of water security is to make the most of water's benefits for humans and ecosystems. The second aim is to limit the risks of destructive impacts of water to an acceptable level. These risks include for example too much water (flood), too little water (drought and water scarcity ) or poor quality ( polluted ) water. People who live with

165-781: A moraine-dammed lake that is released suddenly can result in the floods, such as those that created the granite chasms in Purgatory Chasm State Reservation . In a report published in June 2007, the United Nations Environment Programme estimated that global warming could lead to 40% of the world population being affected by the loss of glaciers, snow and the associated meltwater in Asia. The predicted trend of glacial melt signifies seasonal climate extremes in these regions of Asia. Historically Meltwater pulse 1A

220-691: A big impact on water availability. Flooding can worsen water quality. Stronger storms can damage infrastructure, especially in the Global South . There are different ways to deal with water insecurity. Science and engineering approaches can increase the water supply or make water use more efficient. Financial and economic tools can include a safety net to ensure access for poorer people. Management tools such as demand caps can improve water security. They work on strengthening institutions and information flows. They may also improve water quality management, and increase investment in water infrastructure . Improving

275-399: A conflict between countries, states, or groups over the rights to access water resources . The United Nations recognizes that water disputes result from opposing interests of water users, public or private. A wide range of water conflicts appear throughout history, though they are rarely traditional wars waged over water alone. Instead, water has long been a source of tension and one of

330-585: A high level of water security always have access to "an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods and production". For example, access to water, sanitation and hygiene services is one part of water security. Some organizations use the term water security more narrowly for water supply aspects only. Decision makers and water managers aim to reach water security goals that address multiple concerns. These outcomes can include increasing economic and social well-being while reducing risks tied to water. There are linkages and trade-offs between

385-704: A highly variable process. Cities that indirectly source water from meltwater include Melbourne , Canberra , Los Angeles , Las Vegas among others. In North America, 78% of meltwater flows west of the Continental Divide , and 22% flows east of the Continental Divide. Agriculture in Wyoming and Alberta relies on water sources made more stable during the growing season by glacial meltwater. The Tian Shan region in China once had such significant glacial runoff that it

440-624: A major effect on water security as various levels. Geographic variability in water availability, reliability of rainfall and vulnerability to droughts, floods and cyclones are inherent hazards that affect development opportunities. These play out at international to intra-basin scales. At local scales, social vulnerability is a factor that increases the risks to water security, no matter the cause. For example, people affected by poverty may have less ability to cope with climate shocks. There are many factors that contribute to low water security. Some examples are: A major threat to water security

495-467: A population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters , and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability." World Resources Institute also gave a similar definition in 2020. "For purposes of this report, we define water security as

550-425: A range of theories, models and technologies to understand the trade-offs that exist in responding to risk. Water conflict typically refers to violence or disputes associated with access to, or control of, water resources, or the use of water or water systems as weapons or casualties of conflicts. The term water war is colloquially used in media for some disputes over water, and often is more limited to describing

605-439: A well managed risk of water-related disasters". The World Water Council also uses this more specific approach with a focus on water supply. "Water security refers to the availability of water, in adequate quantity and quality, to sustain all these needs together (social and economic sectors, as well as the larger needs of the planet's ecosystems) – without exceeding its ability to renew." WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene)

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660-437: Is water scarcity . About 27% of the world's population lived in areas affected by water scarcity in the mid-2010s. This number will likely increase to 42% by 2050. Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity. One is physical. The other is economic water scarcity . Physical water scarcity

715-469: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Meltwater When meltwater pools on the surface rather than flowing, it forms melt ponds . As the weather gets colder meltwater will often re-freeze. Meltwater can also collect or melt under the ice's surface. These pools of water, known as subglacial lakes can form due to geothermal heat and friction . Melt ponds may also form above and below Arctic sea ice , decreasing its albedo and causing

770-479: Is a nonprofit dedicated to understanding and managing water risk in China. The World Wildlife Fund has a Water Risk Filter that helps companies assess and respond to water risk with scenarios for 2030 and 2050. Understanding risk is part of water security policy. But it is also important to take social equity considerations more into account. There is no wholly accepted theory or mathematical model for determining or managing water risk. Instead, managers use

825-564: Is a statistical link between increased changes in rainfall patterns and lower per capita incomes. Relative levels of economic development and equality or inequality are strong determinants of community and household scale water security. Whilst the poverty and hydrology hypothesis suggests that there is a link between poverty and difficult hydrologies, there are many examples of "difficult hydrologies" that have not (yet) resulted in poverty and water insecurity. Social and economic inequalities are strong drivers of water insecurity, especially at

880-877: Is a threat to water security. It can affect the supply of drinking water and indirectly contribute to water scarcity. Weather and its related shocks can affect water quality in several ways. These depend on the local climate and context. Shocks that are linked to weather include water shortages, heavy rain and temperature extremes. They can damage water infrastructure through erosion under heavy rainfall and floods, cause loss of water sources in droughts, and make water quality deteriorate. Climate change can reduce lower water quality in several ways: People in low-income countries are at greater risk of water insecurity and may also have less resources to mitigate it. This can result in human suffering, sustained poverty, constrained growth and social unrest. Food and water insecurity pose significant challenges for numerous individuals across

935-487: Is about using water to increase economic and social welfare, move towards long-term sustainability or reduce risks tied to water. Decision makers and water managers must consider the linkages and trade-offs between the varied types of outcomes. Improving water security is a key factor to achieve growth, development that is sustainable and reduce poverty. Water security is also about social justice and fair distribution of environmental benefits and harms. Development that

990-418: Is also growing competition for water. This reduces the availability of water resources in many areas in the world. Water security incorporates ideas and concepts to do with the sustainability , integration and adaptiveness of water resource management . In the past, experts used terms such as integrated water resources management (IWRM) or sustainable water management for this. Water risk refers to

1045-415: Is an important concept when in discussions of water security. Access to WASH services is one part of achieving water security. The relationship works both ways. To be sustainable, WASH services need to address water security issues. For example WASH relies on water resources that are part of the water cycle . But climate change has many impacts on the water cycle which can threaten water security. There

1100-598: Is becoming more aware of the potential impacts of water risk and the need for its proper management. By 2025, water risk will threaten $ 145 trillion in assets under management. To control water risk, companies can develop water risk management plans. Stakeholders within financial markets can use these plans to measure company environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. They can then identify leaders in water risk management. The World Resources Institute has developed an online water data platform named Aqueduct for risk assessment and water management. China Water Risk

1155-455: Is difficult to predict the effects of climate change on national and local levels. Water security will be affected by sea level rise in low lying coastal areas while populations dependent on snowmelt as their water source will be affected by the recession of glaciers and mountain snow. Future climate change must be viewed in context of other existing challenges for water security. Other challenges existing climate variability in areas closer to

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1210-464: Is distributed throughout the year and perennial river flows sustained by groundwater base flows. For example, many of the world's industrialized nations have a hydrologic environment that they can manage quite easily. This has helped them achieve water security early in their development. A difficult to manage hydrologic environment is one with absolute water scarcity such as deserts or low-lying lands prone to severe flood risk. Regions where rainfall

1265-420: Is fraught with hazards largely faced by women and girls. There is strong evidence that improving access to water and sanitation is a good way of addressing such inequalities. Impacts of climate change that are tied to water, affect people's water security on a daily basis. They include more frequent and intense heavy precipitation which affects the frequency, size and timing of floods. Also droughts can alter

1320-423: Is not a coincidence. The poverty and hydrology hypothesis states that regions with a difficult hydrology remain poor because the respective governments have not been able to make the large investments necessary to achieve water security. Examples of such regions would be those with rainfall variability within one year and across several years. This leads to water insecurity which constrains economic growth. There

1375-408: Is sustainable can help reduce poverty and increase living standards. This is most likely to benefit those affected by the impacts of insecure water resources in the region, especially women and children. Water security is important for attaining most of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is because access to adequate and safe water is a precondition for meeting many of

1430-459: Is very variable from one season to the next, or regions where rainfall varies a lot from one year to the next are also likely to face water security challenges. The term for this is high inter-annual climate variability. An example would be East Africa, where there have been prolonged droughts every two to three years since 1999. Most of the world's developing countries have challenges in managing hydrologies and have not achieved water security. This

1485-632: Is where there is not enough water to meet all demands. This includes water needed for ecosystems to function. Regions with a desert climate often face physical water scarcity. Central Asia , West Asia , and North Africa are examples of arid areas. Economic water scarcity results from a lack of investment in infrastructure or technology to draw water from rivers, aquifers , or other water sources. It also results from weak human capacity to meet water demand. Many people in Sub-Saharan Africa are living with economic water scarcity. Water pollution

1540-647: The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey . The name by United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee refers to the secluded and isolated location of the lake. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from "Secret Lake" . Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey .   [REDACTED] This Alexander Island location article

1595-737: The climate resilience of water and hygiene services is important. These efforts help to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development . There is no single method to measure water security. Metrics of water security roughly fall into two groups. This includes those that are based on experiences versus metrics that are based on resources. The former mainly focus on measuring the water experiences of households and human well-being. The latter tend to focus on freshwater stores or water resources security . The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report found that increasing weather and climate extreme events have exposed millions of people to acute food insecurity and reduced water security. Scientists have observed

1650-489: The "absolute level of water resource availability". But it also refers to how much it varies in time and location. I nter-annual means from one year to the next, I ntra-annual means from one season to the next. It is possible to refer to location as spatial distribution . Scholars distinguish between a hydrologic environment that is easy to manage and one that is difficult. An easy to manage hydrologic environment would be one with low rainfall variability. In this case rain

1705-466: The United States. Strategies employed by households in response to these pressing issues encompass labor intensive methods, such as melting ice, earning wages, and occasionally incurring debt, all aimed at water conservation. Additionally, families may turn to foraging for water-based plants and animals, seeking alternative sources of sustenance. Adjusting consumption patterns becomes imperative, involving

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1760-568: The absence of water scarcity . It differs from the concepts of food security and energy security . Whereas those concepts cover reliable access to food or energy, water security covers not only the absence of water but also its presence when there is too much of it. One definition of water security is "the reliable availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks ". A similar definition of water security by UN-Water is: "the capacity of

1815-459: The capacity of a population to Some organizations use water security in a more specific sense to refer to water supply only. They do not consider the water-related risks of too much water . For example, the definition of WaterAid in 2012 focuses on water supply issues. They defined water security as "reliable access to water of sufficient quantity and quality for basic human needs, small-scale livelihoods and local ecosystem services, coupled with

1870-457: The causes for conflicts. Water conflicts arise for several reasons, including territorial disputes, a fight for resources, and strategic advantage. There are three groups of water security outcomes. These include economic, environmental and equity (or social) outcomes. Outcomes are things that happen or people would want to see happen as a result of policy and management: There are four major focus areas for water security and its outcomes. It

1925-462: The challenging decision of abandoning specific family members. This is achieved through withholding resources from non-family members, prioritizing the health of some family members over others, and, in extreme cases, leaving individuals behind. As the climate changes, the impact of food and water insecurity is disproportionately felt, necessitating a re-evaluation of societal misconceptions about those making survival sacrifices. Larger entities, including

1980-412: The community and household scales. Gender, race and caste inequalities have all been linked to differential access to water services such as drinking water and sanitation. In particular women and girls frequently have less access to economic and social opportunities as a directly consequence of being primarily responsible for meeting household water needs. The entire journey from water source to point of use

2035-472: The different outcomes. Planners often consider water security effects for varied groups when they design climate change reduction strategies. Three main factors determine how difficult or easy it is for a society to sustain its water security. These include the hydrologic environment, the socio-economic environment, and future changes due to the effects of climate change . Decision makers may assess water security risks at varied levels. These range from

2090-433: The equator, population growth and increased demand for water resources. Others include political challenges, increased disaster exposure due to settlement in hazard-prone areas, and environmental degradation. Water demand for irrigation in agriculture will increase due to climate change. This is because evaporation rates and the rate of water loss from crops will be higher due to rising temperatures. Climate factors have

2145-402: The food and beverage sector, agriculture, oil and gas and utilities. Agriculture uses 69% of total freshwater in the world. So this industry is very vulnerable to water stress. Risk is a combination of hazard, exposure and vulnerability. Examples of hazards are droughts, floods and decline in quality. Bad infrastructure and bad governance lead to high exposure to risk. The financial sector

2200-490: The formation of thin underwater ice layers or false bottoms . Meltwater is water that melts off of glaciers or snow. It then flows into a river or collects on the surface forming a melt pond, which may re-freeze. It may also collect under ice or frozen ground. Meltwater provides drinking water for a large proportion of the world's population, as well as providing water for irrigation and hydroelectric plants . This meltwater can originate from seasonal snowfall, or from

2255-705: The glacial meltwater are a concern in more remote highland regions of the Andes, where the proportion of water from glacial melt is much greater than in lower elevations. In parts of the Bolivian Andes, surface water contributions from glaciers are as high as 31-65% in the wet season and 39-71% in the dry season. Glacial meltwater comes from glacial melt due to external forces or by pressure and geothermal heat . Often, there will be rivers flowing through glaciers into lakes. These brilliantly blue lakes get their color from " rock flour ", sediment that has been transported through

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2310-599: The government and various organizations, extend assistance based on available resources, highlighting the importance of addressing information gaps in specific data. Water can cause large-scale destruction due to its huge power. This destruction can result from sudden events. Examples are tsunamis , floods or landslides . Events that happen slowly over time such as erosion , desertification or water pollution can also cause destruction. Other threats to water security include: There are different ways to tackle water insecurity. Science and engineering approaches can increase

2365-534: The household to community, city, basin, country and region. The opposite of water security is water insecurity . Water insecurity is a growing threat to societies. The main factors contributing to water insecurity are water scarcity , water pollution and low water quality due to climate change impacts. Others include poverty , destructive forces of water, and disasters that stem from natural hazards . Climate change affects water security in many ways. Changing rainfall patterns, including droughts, can have

2420-437: The individual goals. It is also important for attaining development that is resilient to climate change. Planners take note of water security outcomes for various groups in society when they design strategies for climate change adaptation. Three main factors determine the ability of a society to sustain water security: The hydrologic environment is important for water security. The term hydrologic environment refers to

2475-510: The largest impacts in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Small Islands and the Arctic.  The report predicted that global warming of 2 °C would expose roughly 1-4 billion people to water stress. It finds 1.5-2.5 billion people live in areas exposed to water scarcity. There are various definitions for the term water security . It emerged as a concept in the 21st century. It is broader than

2530-571: The melting of more permanent glaciers. Climate change threatens the precipitation of snow and the shrinking volume of glaciers. Some cities around the world have large lakes that collect snow melt to supplement water supply. Others have artificial reservoirs that collect water from rivers, which receive large influxes of meltwater from their higher elevation tributaries. After that, leftover water will flow into oceans causing sea levels to rise. Snow melt hundreds of miles away can contribute to river replenishment. Snowfall can also replenish groundwater in

2585-618: The meltwater levels are highest. Glacial meltwater can also affect important fisheries, such as in Kenai River , Alaska. Meltwater can be an indication of abrupt climate change . An instance of a large meltwater body is the case of the region of a tributary of Bindschadler Ice Stream, West Antarctica where rapid vertical motion of the ice sheet surface has suggested shifting of a subglacial water body. It can also destabilize glacial lakes leading to sudden floods , and destabilize snowpack causing avalanches . Dammed glacial meltwater from

2640-616: The possibility of problems to do with water. Examples are water scarcity, water stress, flooding, infrastructure decay and drought. There exists an inverse relationship between water risk and water security. This means as water risk increases, water security decreases. Water risk is complex and multilayered. It includes risks flooding and drought. These can lead to infrastructure failure and worsen hunger. When these disasters take place, they result in water scarcity or other problems. The potential economic effects of water risk are important to note. Water risks threaten entire industries. Examples are

2695-560: The rationing of servings and prioritizing nutritional value, particularly for vulnerable members like small children. The phenomenon of substituting more expensive, nutritious food with cheaper alternatives is also observed. Furthermore, individuals may consume from sources considered "stigmatized" by society, such as urine or unfiltered water. Migration emerges as a viable option, with families fostering children to relatives outside famine zones and engaging in seasonal or permanent resettlement. In certain instances, resource preservation involves

2750-408: The rivers to the lakes. This sediment comes from rocks grinding together underneath the glacier. The fine powder is then suspended in the water and absorbs and scatters varying colors of sunlight , giving a milky turquoise appearance. Meltwater also acts as a lubricant in the basal sliding of glaciers. GPS measurements of ice flow have revealed that glacial movement is greatest in summer when

2805-510: The total amount of freshwater and cause a decline in groundwater storage, and reduction in groundwater recharge . Reduction in water quality due to extreme events can also occur. Faster melting of glaciers can also occur. Global climate change will probably make it more complex and expensive to ensure water security. It creates new threats and adaptation challenges . This is because climate change leads to increased hydrological variability and extremes. Climate change has many impacts on

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2860-468: The water cycle . These result in higher climatic and hydrological variability, which can threaten water security. Changes in the water cycle threaten existing and future water infrastructure. It will be harder to plan investments for future water infrastructure as there are so many uncertainties about future variability for the water cycle. This makes societies more exposed to risks of extreme events linked to water and therefore reduces water security. It

2915-542: The water supply or make water use more efficient. Financial and economic tools can be used as a safety net for poorer people. Higher prices may encourage more investments in water systems. Finally, management tools such as demand caps can improve water security. Decision makers invest in institutions, information flows and infrastructure to achieve a high level of water security. The right institutions are important to improve water security. Institutions govern how decisions can promote or constrain water security outcomes for

2970-412: Was a prominent feature of the last deglaciation and took place 14.7-14.2 thousand years ago. The snow of glaciers in the central Andes melted rapidly due to a heatwave, increasing the proportion of darker-coloured mountains. With alpine glacier volume in decline, much of the environment is affected. These black particles are recognized for their propensity to change the albedo – or reflectance – of

3025-613: Was known as the "Green Labyrinth", but it has faced significant reduction in glacier volume from 1964 to 2004 and become more arid, already impacting the sustainability of water sources. In tropical regions, there is much seasonal variability in the flow of mountainous rivers, and glacial meltwater provides a buffer for this variability providing more water security year-round, but this is threatened by climate change and aridification . Cities that rely heavily on glacial meltwater include La Paz and El Alto in Bolivia , about 30%. Changes in

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