Created a single water cycle diagram and compared with 464 WCDs from around the world
“Although human freshwater appropriation now equals half of global river discharge, only 15% of the WCDs depicted human interaction with water“
Almost none (2%) showed water pollution or climate change
Nearly all (95%) depict a single water catchment
These inaccuracies are reflected in specific problems with water (mis)management; trace back to lack of understanding by researchers, policy makers and the public
Accurately depicting water cycles will not solve the global water crisis, but “is an important step towards equitable water governance, sustainable development and planetary thinking in the Anthropocene”
Questions
large and small water cycles: are these depicted in the new proposed WCD?
what role of forests and vegetation and their interactions with atmosphere?
how do we replace global existing WCDs with an updated version?
