Are Earth's land areas getting drier?

We all know that water is essential to life on our planet as it supports ecosystems. Approximately 71% of the Earth is covered with this liquid, and it’s estimated that there are around 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth. However, over 97% of this liquid is undrinkable salt water. The rest of it is freshwater, but around 68% of the planet’s freshwater is locked up in ice and glaciers. According to the USGS, if all the Earth’s water, which includes the freshwater sources and oceans, were put into a sphere, the diameter of this “water ball” would be about 860 miles across.

Water is also being discovered outside our planet. In various forms, the liquid has been found in asteroids, comets, other moons and other planets that may possess subsurface oceans or even water vapor in their atmosphere.

The demand for fresh water is increasing across the globe. Data from the National Environmental Education Foundation estimates that “40 states can expect water shortages in some portion of their states in the next 10 years.” Water supplies are decreasing worldwide due to extended droughts, increases in the world’s population, changes in land use and energy generation. The NEFF also states that freshwater is largely used for thermoelectric power, agricultural irrigation, public supplies and other factors. Demand for freshwater across the globe is likely to go up by at least 50% over the next 20 years.

According to TheWorldCounts.com, agriculture uses approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater supplies. Industry takes about 20% with the rest for domestic use. The top water consuming agricultural product is chocolate. For example, for over 2.2 pounds of chocolate, it requires approximately 4,500 gallons of water.

According to a report from the United Nations in 2024, with a warmer Earth and more extremes, over three-fourths of all the world’s land became drier within the last 30 years, especially when compared to the previous 30 years. Not including Antarctica, drylands currently cover approximately 41% of global land. This figure covers around 25% of the global population.

Some of the driest regions, according to the report, include the western U.S., especially the southwestern portion. A large region of Europe falls within this category with the highest threat of water shortages in the southern regions. Other areas include Brazil, parts of Asia and central Africa. Currently, northwestern Africa is suffering through one of its worst droughts in history.

Drought conditions have intensified in record years. Since 2000, regions hit by severe drought have risen nearly 30%.

With agriculture requiring large amounts of freshwater use, the demand for additional agricultural crops is needed as the world population has passed 8 billion. In addition, urbanization increases domestic water consumption, creates pressure on infrastructure and reduces the recharge of aquifers due to impermeable surfaces like concrete.

One of the key indicators for drought in the U.S. is the Drought Monitor that is issued weekly. The latest report indicates that approximately 50% of the country is experiencing drier-than-normal conditions to exceptional drought. The hardest-hit areas are in the southwestern portion. Severe-to-extreme drought conditions persist from southeastern Canada, through southern Arizona, southern New Mexico and southwestern Texas. With the recent storms across the South, Southeast and Midwest, drought conditions were eased over the last several weeks.

In Northern California, it was a good year for moisture as the state’s largest reservoirs, Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville, are above average levels. However, in the southern part of California, Lake Powell and Lake Mead are only about 34% of capacity.

Here in the Inland Northwest, reservoir levels are currently close to normal levels. April’s precipitation for the month has been off to a slow start. As of the weekend, only 0.31 inches of moisture has fallen in Coeur d’Alene. The normal for April is 1.77 inches. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene region is not under any dry or drought conditions. However, much of Shoshone County is experiencing “moderate” drought conditions. Parts of western Montana, especially in the mountain regions, are under a severe to extreme drought. If conditions remain drier than normal into May, then the drought areas could expand across a wider area of the Inland Northwest.

The high pressure ridge over the western U.S. is now expected to hold on for at least the next several weeks. Pacific storm systems should bring our region occasional shower activity with the best chance of moisture toward the end of the month.

Rainfall is expected to increase in May, and we should be close to the 2.37-inch normal in Coeur d’Alene. The cooler-than-normal sea-surface temperature event, La Niña, has dissipated. As ocean waters are expected to warm slightly, the upcoming summer season still looks drier than normal, but we don’t believe that our region will be as dry as 2024 when only 1.59 inches was reported the entire summer. Stay tuned.

• • • 

Contact Randy Mann at randy@longrangeweather.com.