Water and Irrigation in The Gambia
Water is abundant in The Gambia. The tiny nation follows along the river for which it is named; one of its two seasons is defined by rainfall; widespread flooding is an annual concern. As climate change worsens, however, this vital resource is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Weather in The Gambia There are two seasons in The […]
The Gobi Desert and Revegetation
When it comes to a desert, most of us think hot and arid, with picturesque sand dunes and not much else. The Lut Desert, for example, is the hottest place on Earth, where temperatures reaching 159°F (70.7°C) have been recorded.[1] But while heat is often considered to be hand-in-hand with a desert, this is not […]
Rare Earth Elements
Did you know that rare earth (RE) elements aren’t necessarily scarce? Other metals widely used for industrial purposes, such as copper and zinc, are scarcer than some REs. What are Rare Earth Elements, then, and why do we call them “rare”? What Are REs? Most important, REs are a collection of 17 metallic elements. While […]
Water and Climate Change
Water Stress Water stress is when the gap between the need for water and the renewable availability of water is small. When a country must use 80% of its available water supply, that country is under “extreme water stress.”[1] Mexico, India, South Africa, even England has experienced these conditions. Parts of the US endure these […]
Potable Water
Water is vital for life. And yet more than ¼ of the world’s population does not have safe drinking water. What Is Potable Water? Put simply, potable water is safe to drink. We use it to bathe and irrigate, in industry, for recreation, and – yes – to drink. In 2022, 296 million people had […]