Latest news with #ArizonaStateUniversity
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Groundwater in the Colorado River basin won't run out — but eventually we won't be able to get at it, scientists warn
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Stark new satellite data reveal that the Colorado River basin has lost huge amounts of groundwater over the last few decades, with some research suggesting that this groundwater could run out by the end of the century. But is that really the case? And if so, what could be done to prevent that happening? While groundwater is being depleted, it's unlikely the water will ever run out completely. However, continued drainage of the basin could make the water table fall so far it's basically inaccessible, experts told Live Science. The Colorado River snakes through seven U.S. states (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California) and two Mexican states (Baja California and Sonora). Some 40 million people, including those in Phoenix and Las Vegas, depend on it for their water needs. But as supplies of this surface water have dried up over the past two decades — reaching record lows — more and more people have been pumping groundwater from far below the surface, mainly for agricultural use. To get a better idea of how much groundwater is being extracted, Jay Famiglietti, director of science for the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative at Arizona State University, and his colleagues turned to data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On satellite missions. These satellites track changes in Earth's gravity field to measure shifts in the amount of water above and below the ground, and when combined with data on snowpack, surface water and soil moisture, this information can allow scientists to estimate how much groundwater has been depleted. The researchers estimate that since 2003, pumping from wells has drained about 28 million acre feet (34 cubic kilometers) of groundwater from the Colorado River Basin. This is akin to the capacity of Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, which sits behind the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. The study was published May 27 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. About three-quarters of the groundwater depletion is happening in the river's lower basin, largely in Arizona, where water is pumped from desert aquifers to irrigate farmland, according to the study. In these largely rural areas, farms aren't usually hooked up to municipal water systems, and instead rely on water pumped from wells on the property. Because the wells are private, there is often no municipal, county- or state-level measurement of how much water they are drawing up. Famiglietti and his colleagues estimate that annual groundwater losses in the basin averaged more than 1.2 million acre-feet (1.5 cubic kilometers) and if the trend continues, it could lead to water shortages and limit food production. "We're passing a critical point where it is getting more and more expensive to go deeper into the aquifer, and the water quality is dropping," Famiglietti said. Dozens of wells have dried up in the area. Collapsing aquifers have caused land subsidence, and created fissures. Ryan Mitchell, chief hydrologist at the Arizona Department of Water Resources, who was not involved in the new study, told Live Science that he welcomes the paper's findings and is concerned about the levels of estimated groundwater depletion in some areas. However, he takes issue with a sentence in the paper that suggests that an Arizona Department of Water Resources simulation indicated "complete depletion by the end of the century." He said the simulations don't indicate complete depletion of groundwater at all, let alone by the end of the century. The groundwater won't run out, he said, but neither GRACE satellite data nor measurements of water use will tell us exactly how much water is left in aquifers. "It's almost like it's an unknowable number in the same way that if someone said how many grains of sand are on the beach, you could make some assumptions and make some guesses but you can never actually know the exact amount of sand grains," Mitchell said. Bridget Scanlon, a research professor in the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, and her team recently used GRACE data to assess the implications of drought in the Colorado River basin. They saw similar patterns, finding that there was a period of high groundwater use as irrigation expanded between the 1940s and 1970s. Then, the amount of groundwater recovered during a wet period in the early 1980s and 1990s. Related: Atlantic ocean currents are weakening — and it could make the climate in some regions unrecognizable But since then, the picture has differed depending on how areas are managed. In "active management areas," or areas where water use is monitored, the levels of groundwater have stayed roughly level. In these areas, groundwater is pumped, but based on how much is drawn up, management agencies can divert more water to the depleted area to filter back down to the aquifer. In unmanaged areas, no agency tracks how much groundwater is pumped, so agencies don't know when to replenish the aquifers. High extraction in unmanaged areas is driving the overall draining of groundwater, Scanlon told Live Science. "We can't manage what we don't measure," he said. "It shows that if you have rules in place and you keep a close eye on water use and you actively manage it, you can kind of keep it at a sustainable level." One thing is for sure: Waiting for precipitation to end the drought and replenish aquifers won't be enough. Studies imply that the flow of the Colorado River is expected to continue to decline thanks to climate-linked reductions in snowfall and rainfall — and that means there will be less surface water to use, less water to recharge aquifers and more reason to extract water from underground. Drilling deeper wells is one solution, but there are problems with that, Famiglietti said. At some point, it will cost millions of dollars for a deep-enough well that will have high energy costs to pump water, he said, and that water is likely to require treatment. "As you go deeper into the groundwater, that water has been sitting around in contact with soil and rocks for a long time, so it's dissolving solids and salts," Famiglietti said. This can lead to water that is salty, poor-tasting or that contains high levels of arsenic. "And because these are often refilled by agricultural water, they [are] collecting higher concentrations of pesticides and fertilizer," Famiglietti said. Another option is to reduce water use, by, for example, changing what is farmed, to shift from water-intensive crops like alfalfa, Famiglietti said. "It can't be business as usual," he said. "We have to think about what our priorities are for water use." "I'm as concerned about tomorrow as I am about 100 years from now," he said. 'It's very clear that we need more groundwater management in the lower basin, which is mostly in Arizona. Only 18% by area is managed, and there's an awful lot of depletion happening outside of those areas." Every expert Live Science talked with suggested that extending the area covered by active water management areas would help — first, by keeping tabs on what is being used where, and then trying to replace what is used. As part of such schemes, water could be brought in from elsewhere, Scanlon said. For example, this already happens when San Antonio buys water and pipes it from East Texas more than 150 miles (240 kilometers) away. RELATED STORIES —Atlantic ocean currents are weakening — and it could make the climate in some regions unrecognizable —Over half of the world's largest lakes and reservoirs are losing water —'Precipitation, the source of all fresh water, can no longer be relied upon': Global water cycle pushed out of balance 'for 1st time in human history' "Groundwater is a finite resource," Mitchell said. "You need to be able to let it recharge naturally or be able to replenish what you use. He said Scanlon's research shows that "we're doing OK in the active management areas, and we're not doing so hot in the areas where we don't have some kind of framework in place." A legislative bill to extend the areas that are actively managed has been proposed in Arizona, but similar ones have stalled after facing opposition. Those opposed say restricting water doesn't protect existing agricultural use of groundwater and will stifle economic growth. Some also object to water use being decided at the state level when they would prefer smaller water districts with locally elected directors. "We're not trying to spy on anyone; we just want to know what the water uses are," Mitchell said. "But it's hard because trust in governments is at an all-time low. We are trying to put things in place to help the mom-and-pop domestic wells — those folks who can't afford to drill 2,000-foot [600 meters] wells because it's just too deep and too expensive. We want to try to help them protect their water resources."
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
As an AI entrepreneur, will.i.am says data privacy and training the next generation should be prioritized
Musician and founder of the platform spoke during Business Insider's CMO Insider breakfast at Cannes. He discussed everything from AI to data privacy. This article is part of " CMO Insider," a series on marketing leadership and innovation. Musician, producer, and entrepreneur compared AI to early video games during a discussion at Business Insider's CMO Insider breakfast at Cannes on Tuesday. "AI is in its infancy," he said. "It's Pac-Man; it ain't even Halo yet." Now a founder of the platform , was interviewed by Jamie Heller, the editor in chief of Business Insider, at the event, which had BCG as its founding sponsor. Early video games, said, required a level of imagination from the player in the absence of sophisticated graphics and a real story. This same level of imagination is needed from "the people that love AI, the folks whose imagination is doing the work as you're training it or it's learning from your imagination," he said. He said AI will not stifle creativity, but provide room to enhance it. While AI may be in its early stages, its potential impact over the next few years is undeniable. One area that will need to adjust to make way for AI is higher education. That is why, said, recently partnered with Arizona State University to provide technology to help enhance the learning experience and prepare students for the reality that awaits them upon graduation at the end of the decade. "When you go out into the world, you're not just competing with humans," he said of these students. Rather, there's an "onslaught of agents" that are replacing the jobs that students are going to school for, and there's no one trying to offset how they compete with them, he said. He said working with is going to provide a path so that students will make an agent of their own; when they graduate, so will their agent. "Humans have to be able to compete with the marketplace, and that marketplace is going to be like ghost bots that are going to be doing amazing work," he added. Like-minded partners is currently working with brands like Formula 1, Mercedes, and Qualcomm. In looking for brands to work with, said that there has to be a sense of shared values. "If the values aren't aligned, that could be a problem," he said. "For example, it'll be hard for us to work with companies that have data privacy practices that don't really gel with how we want to move in this AI space." He added that he's fearful that AI could follow the same trajectory of many social media platforms, whose data practices have been "parasitic." "There have been lots of issues with data practices and lack of regulations and governance around it," he said. "So if that is to come into this new age we are stepping into with AI, it's not a good result."
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kate Spade cofounder remembers designer's struggle with fame, final phone call
Kate Spade cofounder remembers designer's struggle with fame, final phone call The name 'Kate Spade' refers to both the iconic fashion brand and its founder, but there was much more to the story than one woman. Elyce Arons is also at the heart of Kate Spade's history, and she's telling her side in a new memoir remembering her late friend. 'We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade' is out now from Simon & Schuster. Arons and Spade met as freshmen at the University of Kansas, later transferring to Arizona State University together, where Spade would meet her husband, Andy Spade (brother of comedian David Spade). The trio cofounded the iconic affordable luxury handbag company together. Arons and Spade were inseparable for much of their adult lives until Spade died in 2018. In her memoir, Arons includes a letter in which Spade calls her 'the first person in my life to really show me how it feels to be truly loved.' Kate Spade was 'miserable' being a public figure Arons' memoir chronicles the humble early days of Kate Spade, starting with Spade's 'aha! moment' after she couldn't find the right handbag for a fashion shoot at her magazine editor job. She and Andy laid the foundations for a new company, then convinced Arons to move back to New York City and join them. Their fledgling company developed out of Spade's New York apartment, and they partnered with local textiles manufacturers who thought they 'were kind of crazy,' Arons writes. When their operation grew too large for Spade's apartment, they moved to an office and sourced dozens of discarded desks they found on the sidewalk. None of the early partners were eager to be the brand's public face, but because Spade – known in her personal life as Katy – had the name on the label, the task went to her. 'Katy never wanted to be the public face of anything. On the contrary, she was apprehensive of fame. But by creating the brand's aesthetic, she was the designer,' Arons writes. "Despite her shyness, Katy had charisma, authenticity, the look, and the X factor that made her the front person and face of the brand. Her name was on the label. We were happy with it for the most part. The only caveat was our worry for her sake about how reluctant she was to carry our torch.' Though Arons writes that Spade 'persevered and did become an expert at being the company face and voice,' she still struggled with public recognition. She was naturally 'slightly introverted' and was uncomfortable with celebrity. She also often had to travel as the face of the company, going on tour to represent new accessory lines and products. Arons describes this as a 'miserable' experience for Spade. When they launched their first perfume, Spade toured alone, eventually confronting Arons in a phone call that she felt 'abandoned' by her team. 'I know it's not your fault that you're not here, but I feel abandoned by you. You guys got me into this. You should be doing this tour with me,' Spade said, according to Arons. Elyce Arons' last conversation with Kate Spade: 'Inconceivable' Years after selling their company, Arons and Spade started shoe and purse company Frances Valentine together. Their sales were strong and it looked to Arons like 'lightning just might strike twice.' Spade died a year later. 'I talked often with Katy about her struggle with depression, which I knew she had been dealing with those last few years. She was actively seeking help with specialists, and we understood the goal was to mitigate the times Katy was carrying that deep sadness which she couldn't seem to shake and had weighed heavily on her in recent years,' Arons writes. 'Most of the time she was herself, and we spent our days together as usual working or socializing. We had discussed the suicides of celebrities in the past and she had said definitively to me, 'I would never, ever do that.'' Still, Arons says she didn't know how deep Spade's depression was. She writes that Spade's death 'left us with many questions.' She had spoken with Spade just the day before about Spade's summer travel plans when Spade said she had to answer a call from her dad and would call Arons back later. That it would be their last conversation was "inconceivable" to Arons. 'Losing my best friend for life – the woman who shared my sense of humor, who'd been my constant companion at school, at work, at dinners, on the phone, in my house, on vacations – was like losing your face in a mirror,' Arons writes. 'It was disconcerting, disturbing and very lonely.' Kate Spade and husband Andy lived apart but 'loved each other' At the time of her death, Spade and her husband had been living apart but just 'needed a break' and 'never even discussed divorce,' Andy told People in a statement after her death. In 'We Might Just Make it After All,' Arons writes that the pair 'loved each other to the ends of the earth.' She also lambasts those who wrote 'surface-y, ready-made explanations' for Spade's death, like marriage or company problems. 'A highly sensitive person, she felt things more deeply than most,' Arons writes. 'But I know for sure she was not so upset about how many pairs of shoes we sold that she would take her own life. We all have dark moments and periods. In one of those moments, she lost hope.' Celeb memoirs to binge this summer: Aging, marriage, Beyoncé and more This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
USA Today
5 days ago
- Health
- USA Today
Is watermelon good for you? All the things you don't know, but should, about the fruit
Is watermelon good for you? All the things you don't know, but should, about the fruit Show Caption Hide Caption How to cut a watermelon Cut watermelon in a unique shape that will help prevent messes too. ProblemSolved, Reviewed Summer is almost here, and you know what that means: Time to eat America's favorite fruit. Any guesses? That's right: America's favorite fruit is watermelon, of course. It's known for its striking colors, juicy crunch and water-laden slices. But watermelon offers a lot more than just being a delicious summertime staple. Made up of more than 90% water, the fruit is also incredibly hydrating and is loaded with electrolytes to help one recharge after a morning workout or afternoon of play. It's chock full of nutrients and can even be a healthy companion snack for anyone looking to drop a few pounds. Is watermelon healthy? Watermelon has a host of health benefits including protecting one's joints from inflammation, improving digestive conditions and being more rich in lycopene than any other fruit. Lycopene is an important antioxidant that has been linked to a decreased risk of cancer and heart disease. The fruit is also a great source of beta-carotene, which works to protect one's body from damaging molecules called free radicals. Watermelon is also "high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and healthful phytochemicals," Carol Johnston, PhD, RD, professor and senior associate dean of faculty success in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University, previously told USA TODAY. Phytochemicals strengthen one's immune system and helps to prevent DNA damage. Karen Collins, MS, a registered dietitian and nutrition advisor to the American Institute for Cancer Research, previously told USA TODAY the fruit is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C and "helps boost potassium and magnesium consumption, minerals that contribute to healthy blood pressure." Can watermelon help you lose weight? Another one of watermelon's health benefits is that it is low in calories while still being filling, making it a popular food some turn to when trying to shed weight. Tara Schmidt, lead registered dietitian for the Mayo Clinic Diet, previously praised watermelon as one weight management tool because it is "high in water, high in fiber and low in calories. Water and fiber are two components in satiety, the feeling of being full," she explains. A cup of diced watermelon has less than 50 calories and offers about .6 grams of fiber and .9 grams of protein. What does vitamin A do? Plus which foods you should eat to get more. Does watermelon have a lot of sugar? While Johnston says watermelon "satisfies the sweet tooth," it has less sugar than many other popular fruits. Mangoes, grapes, cherries and pears all have more grams of sugar per serving than watermelon. But watermelon still has about 17 grams per slice, so it's best not to load up on too much of it at once. And while it's often eaten by the slice, the fruit's "natural sweetness" also makes it a good option to mix with other fruits and vegetables and can "keep salads both healthful and far from hum-drum," says Collins. Watermelon pieces in a pitcher of water are often used to create fruit water, which can help "cut down on the temptation to choose sugar-sweetened drinks," explains Collins. "And you can nibble on watermelon chunks from a bowl or platter and feel quite full without unintentionally overdoing it on calories," she adds. Food facts: Are eggs good for you? Here's the healthiest way to eat them. Is watermelon healthy to eat every day? Erring on the side of consuming too much fruit is preferred over eating too little. Still, Collins advises pairing watermelon with other foods. "Trying to fill up on nothing but bowls of watermelon is not leaving room for other foods that provide nutrients you need for overall health," she councils. "But watermelon can be a great partner in shaping eating habits and helping maintain a healthy weight."
Spectator
5 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
What the army parade says about America
So the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the US Army will not be a day that will live infamy. Nor will it be one many Americans will recall with pleasure, in part because it coincided with the birthday of President Trump, a man who generates some sort of veneration from his MAGA supporters and a reaction known as TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome, from others. No vaccination is known that will prevent the onset of either disease, leaving those immune to both looking for a candidate. The President's decision to order out this parade enabled him to join the rather exclusive club of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, men he says he 'respects', 'likes' and calls 'a great leader', respectively. His initiation fee to become a member of this club comes to up to $45 million, with $16 million to be used to repair streets damaged by tanks. But, hey, it's a business expense, and so is charged off to the taxpayers. The significance of the event tells us a great deal about what is going on in America today. It has changed. This was not the first show of military hardware at parades in the nation's capital. It was not unusual for the military to be featured at Presidential inaugurations, and the parade ordered by President H.W. Bush in 1991 to celebrate the success of the war to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait drew no protests, Arizona State University history professor Brooks Simpson told CBS News. Those days are gone, probably forever. But plus ça change, as they say. Some 34 years ago the New York Times's Anthony Lewis was not pleased by George H.W. Bush's decision to celebrate the success in driving Hussein from Kuwait, '… A celebratory parade would be inappropriate. Fireworks while Kurdish babies die?' Today's mainstream media are largely disapproving. The New York Times finds the event particularly inappropriate at a time when the President has taken charge of California's national guard, without the approval of Gavin Newsom, its governor and a leading candidate for the approbation of those Democrats who will nominate the party's candidate for the presidency in 2028. The differences between the American event and those in China, Russia and North Korea are more profound than the similarities. Whereas Trump faced a nationwide protest by millions of Americans free to make their voices heard, neither Xi, nor Putin, nor Kim were troubled by protesters, that being an occupation with lethal results in those countries. And the marchers were dissimilar in a way that speaks volumes about the difference between America and despotic regimes. The soldiers marching in Washington were volunteers, those participating in parades in China, Russia and North Korea are largely conscripts, with Russia's treatment of its soldiers made clear every day in Ukraine. The Americans interviewed on television, and some that I know, expressed pride in participating in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the US Army that has kept us free after removing the British yoke in what we call our War for Independence.
