Global warming may deepen thirst for blue gold

 
Fresh water is set to become even more precious as global warming begins to bite, experts warn ahead of World Water Day on Thursday. The theme of this year's event is water scarcity, a problem familiarly driven by population explosion, chronic wastage and pollution.

The UN estimates that, by 2025, two thirds of the planet's population will be living with water stress, North Africa and West Asia the worst-afflicted regions. But global warming is bound to accentuate the scarcity, say experts. In many regions, greater aridity, shifting rainfall patterns and dwindling runoff from snow and ice in mountains may badly deplete rivers, lakes and aquifers. In contrast other regions will get more rainfall – but this may take the form of fierce rainstorms that cause flash floods rather than a useful drizzle that soaks into the ground. In higher latitudes and some wet tropics, including populous areas of East and South – East Asia, water availability is very likely to increase over this century, according to the latest report seen by AFP. A rise of 4 degree celsius would bring the tally to as many as many as 3.2 billion people, the draft calculates. Africa and Asia would be the two worst affected countries.

  (The Business Line, 22nd  March,2007)