America’s Rivers Have Secretly Gotten So Much Saltier
Why Have Rivers in the U.S. Gotten So Salty, and Who Is to Blame? Popular Mechanics
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A Nationwide Study on the Impact of Human Activities on River Salinity and Alkalinity
Introduction
- A nationwide study of 226 river-monitoring sites shows how humans are increasing salt levels in rivers.
- But alkalinization of rivers—rivers becoming less acidic—is also increasing, and is considered beneficial for the environment.
- Understanding natural processes, such as rock weathering, could offer solutions to combat human interference in carbon threats.
Background
The fresh water of the United States isn’t as fresh as it once was. In fact, it’s getting truly salty—and we have ourselves to blame for the shift.
In a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, researchers from Syracuse and Texas A&M universities applied machine learning to study the salinity and alkalinity levels in 226 river monitoring sites across the country. An increase in salt in freshwater poses a risk to both humans and animals by making it undrinkable, harming wildlife, and increasing the cost of treating the water. On the flip side, alkalinity offers positive environmental impacts like neutralizing water acidity and helping water absorb carbon dioxide.
Human Impact on Salinity and Alkalinity
The study’s results show that humans play the biggest negative role in the rise of salinity and that nature—not humanity—offers the largest positive impact on alkalinity levels. The new research opposes our previous understanding that had linked increased salinity with increased alkalinity.
Reaching back 30 years to study data and considering 32 watershed factors, the machine-learning models then predicted monthly salinity and alkalinity levels at each site. “The team’s models determined human activities as major contributors to the salinity of U.S. rivers,” according to a news release from Syracuse University, “while rising alkalinity was mainly attributed more to natural processes than human activities.”
The two most prominent drivers in higher salt content in U.S. rivers came from population density and impervious surface percentage (think artificial surfaces, like roads or buildings). The application of road salt was deemed another major contributor to the increase of salinity.
Tao Wen, one of the researchers who worked on the study, says that the results from the machine learning model matched previous studies focused on field observation, lab work, and statistical analysis, proving the team’s approach. That confidence then led them to create a model to learn the cause of river alkalinity changes.
The model offers a new view that contradicts earlier idea that human activities improved the alkalinization of rivers. “In contrast, the alkalinity prediction model identified natural processes as predominantly contributing to variation in river alkalinity flux, including runoff, carbonate sediment, or siliciclastic sediment, soil pH, and soil moisture,” the study says. “Unlike prior studies, our analysis suggests that the alkalinization in U.S. rivers is largely governed by local climatic and hydrogeological conditions.”
Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Changes in alkalinity are thanks in part to natural rock weathering. When carbon dioxide from the atmosphere combines with water, it can form carbonic acid. When that acid—now part of a river system—hits rock, it triggers a chemical reaction that extracts gaseous carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This natural rock weathering process erodes rocks, but also sequesters atmospheric CO2 and provides a key regulator of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
“Rock weathering is the primary source of alkalinity in natural waters and is one of the main ways to bring down carbon dioxide in air,” Wen says. The team believes the new findings can help lead future research about enhanced rock weathering efforts.
“Alkalinity is a critical component of the carbon cycle,” Wen says. “While we found that natural processes are the primary drivers of alkalinization, these natural factors can still be changed by humans. We can alter the alkalinity level in rivers by changing the natural parameters, so we need to invest more to restore the natural conditions of watersheds and tackle global warming and climate changes to deal with alkalinization in U.S. rivers.”
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the increasing salt levels in rivers, which is relevant to SDG 6, as it focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The impact of salt in freshwater on humans, animals, and the cost of treating water connects to SDG 6’s targets of improving water quality and reducing pollution.
The article also mentions the positive environmental impacts of alkalinity in rivers, such as neutralizing water acidity and helping water absorb carbon dioxide. This connects to SDG 13, which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Alkalinity can contribute to carbon sequestration and help mitigate climate change.
Additionally, the article highlights the role of natural processes, such as rock weathering, in regulating alkalinity levels in rivers. This connects to SDG 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The article mentions how alkalinity contributes to the carbon cycle and helps regulate greenhouse gases.
Lastly, the article mentions the impact of human activities, such as population density and impervious surface percentage, on salt content in rivers. This connects to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Human activities can have negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- SDG 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
- SDG 15.1: Ensure conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
Based on the issues discussed in the article, the specific targets under the relevant SDGs are as follows:
– SDG 6.3 targets improving water quality by reducing pollution, which is relevant to addressing the increasing salt levels in rivers caused by human activities.
– SDG 13.2 targets integrating climate change measures into national policies, which is relevant to addressing the impact of alkalinity on carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
– SDG 14.2 targets sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, which is relevant to preserving the positive environmental impacts of alkalinity in rivers.
– SDG 15.1 targets ensuring the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems, which is relevant to addressing the impact of human activities on salt content in rivers.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
– Salinity levels in freshwater rivers: This indicator can be used to measure progress towards improving water quality (SDG 6.3) by monitoring the reduction of salt levels in rivers.
– Alkalinity levels in rivers: This indicator can be used to measure progress towards integrating climate change measures (SDG 13.2) by assessing the contribution of alkalinity to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
– Conservation and restoration efforts in marine and coastal ecosystems: This indicator can be used to measure progress towards sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems (SDG 14.2) by evaluating the effectiveness of conservation and restoration initiatives.
– Reduction in salt content in rivers: This indicator can be used to measure progress towards ensuring the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems (SDG 15.1) by monitoring the reduction of salt content caused by human activities.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. | – Salinity levels in freshwater rivers |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | – Alkalinity levels in rivers |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. | – Conservation and restoration efforts in marine and coastal ecosystems |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.1: Ensure conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. | – Reduction in salt content in rivers |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: popularmechanics.com
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