{"id":581719,"date":"2026-10-20T14:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/the-human-fingerprint-on-earths-water-cycle\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T14:01:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T04:01:00","slug":"the-human-fingerprint-on-earths-water-cycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=581719","title":{"rendered":"The Human Fingerprint on Earth\u2019s Water Cycle"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center 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Us<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/search\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Search<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-spacer\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/the-human-fingerprint-on-earth%E2%80%99s-water-cycle\/terrestrialwaterstorage_trends.jpg\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"A global map depicts trends of terrestrial water storage over more than two decades, with increases shown in shades of blue and declines in orange and brown. (opens in a new tab)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1380\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/the-human-fingerprint-on-earth%E2%80%99s-water-cycle\/terrestrialwaterstorage_trends.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1380&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2000x1380 size-2000x1380\" alt=\"A global map depicts trends of terrestrial water storage over more than two decades, with increases shown in shades of blue and declines in orange and brown.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Measurements from NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/grace.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">GRACE<\/a> (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gracefo.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">GRACE-FO<\/a> (GRACE Follow-On) missions reveal trends in terrestrial water storage from April 2002 to November 2025. Areas outlined in black indicate where trends showed strong associations with human activities. Trends are depicted in terms of average annual change in equivalent water depth.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA Earth Observatory\/Michala Garrison, based on data from <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2600775123\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>O\u2019Neill, M.M., et al<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Humans are exerting increasing influence over how water moves through lakes, rivers, soil, and the subsurface, and a new NASA study shows where those effects are greatest. Using more than two decades of satellite measurements of subtle changes in Earth\u2019s gravity, the researchers <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2600775123\" rel=\"noopener\">sharpened the picture<\/a> of how\u2014and why\u2014terrestrial water storage has changed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This map encapsulates their findings, depicting changes in terrestrial water storage from April 2002 to November 2025. Beyond the influence of climate variability, the scientists identified 40 regions where the changes also aligned with human activities such as irrigation, reservoir impoundment, and land-use change. These activities were significantly related to terrestrial water storage trends on every nonpolar continent except Australia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some areas, the effects of human activities were especially strong. \u201cIn four continental regions, an anthropogenic variable showed a stronger relationship with the storage trends than any climate variable did,\u201d said Mary Michael O\u2019Neill, a hydrologist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center and lead author of the study.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They include well-known spots such as California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/groundwater-declines-in-the-us-southwest-152970\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Central Valley<\/a> and northern India, where farmers\u2019 heavy reliance on groundwater has drawn down storage\u2014in India\u2019s case, faster than earlier estimates suggested. Elsewhere, some types of farming and water management appear to have done the opposite.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gravity as a Water Gauge<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The data behind the map come from the <a href=\"https:\/\/grace.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">GRACE<\/a> (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gracefo.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">GRACE-FO<\/a> (GRACE Follow-On) missions, each of which consists of two satellites that fly in tandem. As the lead satellite passes over an area with greater mass, the slight change in gravity tugs at it, and instruments aboard the satellites measure the change in distance between them. Since water and ice are heavy and shift around regularly, scientists can use GRACE data to infer gains and losses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The satellites\u2019 data are typically processed into monthly maps that show broad patterns of water storage. But over more than 20 years, the satellites have passed over most of the planet many times. By combining all of those passes, the researchers could map long-term water trends with five to 10 times more spatial detail than previous analyses. The tradeoff was a loss of temporal detail. They then applied statistical techniques to weigh the importance of various anthropogenic and climatic factors in the storage trends and to pinpoint where human activities may have contributed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The improved spatial resolution uncovered some human impacts that had not been previously detected, said Matthew Rodell, deputy director of Earth Sciences for Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Geophysics at Goddard and one of the study\u2019s authors. The analysis also showed that some known trends were stronger than previously realized.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where the Water Went<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across several continents, groundwater-irrigated farmland was strongly associated with declines in terrestrial water storage. In North America, these declines appeared in California\u2019s Central Valley, the southern High Plains of the U.S., and Chihuahua, Mexico, where long-term droughts have increased farmers\u2019 reliance on groundwater. Groundwater pumping also drove declines in northern India, where the refined analysis showed a steeper downward trend than previously realized. Consistent with previous findings, retreating Himalayan glaciers accounted for only 15 percent of the decline there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other types of agriculture had a different relationship with water storage trends. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, some increases occurred where rainfed cropland has expanded. There, swaths of native savanna were replaced by millet cultivation throughout the study period, and water tables rose despite below-average precipitation. A similar pattern emerged in northern Brazil\u2019s Maranh\u00e3o state, where soybean fields have replaced forests and shrublands. The resulting water storage trend might be explained in part by the efficient water use of cereal and legume plants and by Indigenous practices that help direct water into shallow aquifers, the researchers said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water storage and diversion projects also came into focus on the new map. Hundreds of large reservoirs were filled during the study period, the authors note, but the coarse spatial resolution of gravity measurements previously made them difficult to track. In the new analysis, the Boguchany Reservoir on Russia\u2019s Angara River, the second-largest reservoir filled in the 21st century, produced the strongest water storage trend in nonpolar northern Asia.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/149000\/149577\/iss065e111045.jpg\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"2021-06-13 00:00:00 (opens in a new tab)\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/149000\/149577\/iss065e111045.jpg?w=720&#038;h=480&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-720x480 size-720x480\" alt=\"2021-06-13 00:00:00\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/149000\/149577\/iss065e111045.jpg?w=720&#038;h=480&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 720w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/149000\/149577\/iss065e111045.jpg?w=300&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/149000\/149577\/iss065e111045.jpg?w=400&#038;h=267&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/149000\/149577\/iss065e111045.jpg?w=600&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A segment of the Karakum Canal, which diverts river water to irrigate cropland in the desert, is visible as a <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/agriculture-fans-out-in-turkmenistan-149577\/\" rel=\"noopener\">linear, vegetated feature<\/a> in this photo, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station on June 13, 2021.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The map also resolves smaller reservoirs and other hydrologic engineering projects. The <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/agriculture-fans-out-in-turkmenistan-149577\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Karakum Desert<\/a> in Turkmenistan registered water storage gains stemming from the long, largely unlined Karakum Canal running through it. The canal diverts river water to support desert agriculture, but enough seeps into the ground during its journey to alter the water picture in the desert. The map\u2019s finer resolution allows for better monitoring of such hydrologic changes in remote areas where other measurement options may be limited.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moving forward, O\u2019Neill wants to capture how dams, diversions, irrigation, and other controls on Earth\u2019s water affect storage downstream, and to disentangle the influence of local and non-local activities. \u201cI\u2019d also like to recover more of the temporal picture,\u201d she said. One way to do that is by combining the higher-resolution data with standard monthly products or by applying the recent technique over shorter timeframes. \u201cThis could help track how localized trends evolve in response to specific events like droughts or policy changes.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>NASA Earth Observatory map by Michala Garrison, using data from <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2600775123\" rel=\"noopener\">O\u2019Neill, M.M., et al. (2026)<\/a>.<\/em> <em>Astronaut photograph<em> <a href=\"https:\/\/eol.jsc.nasa.gov\/SearchPhotos\/photo.pl?mission=ISS065&#038;roll=E&#038;%23038;frame=111045\" rel=\"noopener\">ISS065-E-111045 <\/a>was acquired on June 13, 2021, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a focal length of 1,150 millimeters<\/em>. It is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/expedition-65\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Expedition 65 crew<\/a>. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>International Space Station Program<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0supports the laboratory as part of the\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/iss-national-laboratory\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>ISS National Lab<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA\/JSC\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/eol.jsc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth<\/em><\/a><em>. Story by Lindsey Doermann.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-file-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module align wp-block-nasa-blocks-file-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row width-full margin-bottom-4\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col display-flex flex-align-center desktop:flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-row hds-file-list-row\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail hds-file-list-thumbnail\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail-inner hds-file-list-thumbnail-inner hds-cover-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/the-human-fingerprint-on-earth%E2%80%99s-water-cycle\/terrestrialwaterstorage_trends_lrg.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A global map depicts trends of terrestrial water storage over more than two decades, with increases shown in shades of blue and declines in orange and brown.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" data-video-loop=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/the-human-fingerprint-on-earth\u2019s-water-cycle\/terrestrialwaterstorage_trends_lrg.jpg?w=319&#038;h=319&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 319w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/the-human-fingerprint-on-earth\u2019s-water-cycle\/terrestrialwaterstorage_trends_lrg.jpg?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-details\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-name hds-file-list-name\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">Terrestrial water storage trend map<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-list-date hds-file-list-date\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-file-list-filetype\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">JPEG (615.77 KB)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-cta hds-file-list-download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a aria-label=\"Download Terrestrial water storage trend map\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/the-human-fingerprint-on-earth%E2%80%99s-water-cycle\/terrestrialwaterstorage_trends_lrg.jpg\"  download rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16.0001\" r=\"16\" fill=\"#1C67E3\"\/><path d=\"M15.2357 8.00007L15.2357 16.4829L11.9504 13.4078L10.8801 14.4094L16.0001 19.2001L21.1201 14.4094L20.0499 13.4078L16.7645 16.4829L16.7645 8.00007L15.2357 8.00007Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M9.6 20.8001V18.4001H8V22.4001H24V18.4001H22.4V20.8001H9.6Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>References &#038; Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2018, May 23) <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/twin-satellites-map-14-years-of-freshwater-changes-92183\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Twin Satellites Map 14 Years of Freshwater Changes<\/a>. Accessed October 19, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>O\u2019Neill, M.M., <em>et al.<\/em> (2026) <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2600775123\" rel=\"noopener\">Spatially refined satellite gravimetry captures human signatures in global terrestrial water storage trends<\/a>. <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences<\/em>, 123 (38) e2600775123.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-content-lists-inner hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-content-lists\">\n<div id=\"content-list-112bbb02-52c4-4c73-ac9c-e77bb39a05b1\" class=\"hds-content-lists margin-y-3 padding-x-0 bg-spacesuit-white width-full maxw-full\" 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data-current-query=\"{\"block_id\":\"content-list-112bbb02-52c4-4c73-ac9c-e77bb39a05b1\",\"categories\":\"\",\"content_categories\":\"\",\"exclude_child_terms\":false,\"exclude_child_pages\":false,\"layout\":\"grid\",\"listing_page\":\"no\",\"listing_page_category_id\":2151,\"meta_fields\":[],\"news_tags\":\"\",\"number_of_items\":3,\"order\":\"DESC\",\"orderby\":\"date\",\"current_page\":1,\"requesting_id\":1225914,\"science_only\":false,\"search_query\":\"\",\"show_content_type_tags\":\"yes\",\"show_excerpts\":\"yes\",\"show_pagination\":true,\"show_publish_date\":\"no\",\"show_readtime\":\"yes\",\"show_thumbnails\":\"yes\",\"calendar_overflow_mode\":\"modal\",\"science_org\":\"\",\"content_science_orgs\":\"\",\"internal_terms\":\"\",\"mission_programs\":\"\",\"mission_status\":\"\",\"mission_target\":\"\",\"mission_type\":\"\",\"response_format\":\"html\",\"show_drafts\":false,\"related_content\":\"1277091,1229267,1253347,1473102,1255405,1350486,1227968,1273899,1378514,1447420\",\"use_content_term_filters\":false,\"filter_logic\":\"default\",\"post_types\":\"any\",\"base_terms\":\"{\"category\":\"\",\"science-org\":\"6478\",\"internal-terms\":\"\",\"news-tags\":\"\"}\"}\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-widescreen padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-start margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"section-heading-sm line-height-sm\">You may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-2 maxh-tablet\">Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0 margin-0 flex-justify-center\">\n<div class=\" grid-col-12\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\" style=\"display: block\">\n<div id=\"filter-tags\" class=\"grid-col-12 filter-tags-container\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"smd-orbit-loader\" role=\"status\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"orbit-plane\"><span class=\"orbit-dot\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-list-container\" class=\"hds-content-items hds-content-items-grid margin-top-2\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-rest-url=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/smd\/v1\/content-list\">\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=50&#038;h=33 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=100&#038;h=67 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=150&#038;h=100 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=200&#038;h=133 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=300&#038;h=200 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=400&#038;h=267 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=600&#038;h=400 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=720&#038;h=480 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/elephantbutte_oli2_20260727_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;%23038;w=300&#038;%23038;h=200\" ><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/elephant-butte-reservoir-runs-low\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Elephant Butte Reservoir Runs Low<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    3 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">Drought in the Rio Grande basin contributed to New Mexico\u2019s largest reservoir dwindling to its lowest level in decades.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=50&#038;h=33 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=100&#038;h=67 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=150&#038;h=100 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=200&#038;h=133 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=300&#038;h=200 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=400&#038;h=267 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=600&#038;h=400 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=720&#038;h=480 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/kenyawater_oli_20260126_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;%23038;w=300&#038;%23038;h=200\" ><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/rising-waters-swamp-lake-naivasha\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Rising Waters Swamp Lake Naivasha<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    6 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">Relentless rains are threatening a lake in Kenya\u2019s Great Rift Valley that has become a key hub in the global\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=50&#038;h=33 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=100&#038;h=67 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=150&#038;h=100 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=200&#038;h=133 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=300&#038;h=200 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=400&#038;h=267 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=600&#038;h=400 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;w=720&#038;h=480 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/bluemesablooms_oli_20211117_th.jpg?fit=clip&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&#038;%23038;w=300&#038;%23038;h=200\" ><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/examining-algal-blooms-in-blue-mesa\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Examining Algal Blooms in Blue Mesa<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    5 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">Using satellite data, researchers connected harmful algal blooms with warm water and low water levels at one of Colorado\u2019s largest\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"pagination-container\" class=\"pagination\">\n<nav class=\"hds-pagination hds-pagination--content-lists\" role=\"navigation\" 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tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=585&#038;h=425&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-585x425 size-585x425\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=585&#038;h=425&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 585w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=300&#038;h=218&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=400&#038;h=291&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/image-of-the-day\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Earth Observatory Image of the Day<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">NASA&#8217;s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x864 size-1536x864\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/explore\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Explore Earth Science<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1536&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=768&#038;h=768&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=1024&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1536&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=50&#038;h=50&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=100&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=200&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=400&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=600&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=900&#038;h=900&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=1200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/data\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Earth Science Data<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Open access to NASA\u2019s archive of Earth science data<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x768 size-1536x768\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png 3600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=300,150 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=768,384 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=1024,512 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=1536,768 1536w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=2048,1024 2048w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=400,200 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=600,300 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=900,450 900w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=1200,600 1200w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?resize=2000,1000 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Human activities have become intertwined with how water is distributed across the continents. A new study brings their effects into sharper focus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16994,21133,16608,21410,17053,19017],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-earth-observatory","category-grace-gravity-recovery-and-climate-experiment","category-grace-fo-gravity-recovery-and-climate-experiment-follow-on","category-ground-water","category-human-dimensions","category-surface-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.3 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Human activities have become intertwined with how water is distributed across the continents. 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