Water on Earth

The per capita water availability on our planet has been consistently dipping. There was over 6000 cubic metres in 1947, and this amount is projected to decrease to less than 1150 cubic metres in 2050, which is regarded by WHO as insufficient for healthy living. As the global population grows to over nine billion by 2050, water scarcity could 'blow up' the world through failure of crops, breakdown of ecosystems, collapse of industries, etc. The majority of India survives on ground water. Ground water levels are receding all over the country, rivers are drying up, and fertile lands are turning towards desertification. Global warming is making the situation even worse. Already parts of India are facing drought due to failure of the monsoon year after year. Nature created the surface and ground water habitats for fresh water through geological activities millions of years ago. Until about a hundred years ago, fresh water from these habitats appeared to be perennial. But its traditional habitats are being systematically destroyed by human activities and the ignorant public remains a mute spectator. The book seeks to create scientific awareness about habitats of water, its global distribution, ground water, rivers, and surface water. It introduces concepts of ground water, recharging and regenerating fresh water by mimicking nature in green houses, desalination through evaporation and condensation and other modern techniques. Additionally, the book introduces the emerging concept of 'water footprint' of crops and commodities so that people participate in deciding the pattern for its rational utilization. [Subject: Geography, Environmental Studies, Earth Science]