Work

Rainfall recycling needs to be considered in defining limits to the world’s green water resources

Year: 2019

Type: letter

Abstract: In PNAS, Schyns et al.’s (1) analysis of the limits to the world’s green water resources starts from the commonly made assumption that rainfall is an independent, exogenously determined variable, not influenced by anthropogenic land cover change. An increasing body of research now suggests that this is incorrect (2). It matters where rainfall comes from, and where evapotranspiration (ET) goes to. While blue and green water as distinct hydrologic concepts advance scientific discussion, setting potential limits to green water use requires an understanding of rainfall recycling across the globe. Portraying water management as a green water versus blue water allocation issue avoids the up- and downwind dynamics of the … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: m.vannoordwijk{at}cgiar.org. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1903554116

Authors: Meine van Noordwijk, David Ellison

Institutions: World Agroforestry Centre, Wageningen University & Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Water resources management and optimization

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W2940156768

Cites: 10

Cited by: 22

Related to: 10