Recent studies reveal alarming trends in global water storage, with over 2,000 gigatons of soil moisture lost worldwide in the past two decades - more than double Greenland's ice loss during 2002-20061. Additionally, 53% of the world's largest lakes and reservoirs experienced water loss at a rate of approximately 22 gigatons per year between 1992 and 20202. Satellite observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) missions indicate that global terrestrial water storage, excluding ice sheets and glaciers, declined abruptly between May 2014 and March 2016, failing to recover by 20233. This widespread decline affects various water sources, including soil moisture, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater, posing significant challenges to agriculture, ecosystems, and water security on a global scale.

Climate change and human activities are the primary forces behind the significant decline in Earth's land-based water storage. Rising global temperatures have led to increased evaporation, reduced snowpack, and more frequent droughts, with the 2014-2016 global terrestrial water storage decline coinciding with back-to-back El Niño events1. Human water use, particularly over-pumping of groundwater and unsustainable irrigation practices, has exacerbated the problem. Notable examples include:

• The Ogallala Aquifer in the US and the North China Plain, which have lost approximately 30 mm sea-level equivalent water since 20022.

• Reservoir sedimentation, causing a 1% annual storage loss globally3.

• Deforestation, which reduces soil infiltration capacity4.

• Infrastructure development and land use changes, contributing to the loss of 27,000 billion m³ of water storage globally from 1971-2020 due to reservoir sedimentation and wetland degradation23.

The consequences of water depletion are far-reaching and severe. Agricultural risks have intensified, with soil moisture declines correlating to a doubled frequency of once-in-a-decade droughts, directly threatening crop yields and food security1. Water loss from land storage has contributed significantly to sea level rise, accounting for 22% of recent barystatic sea level increase2. Ecological collapse is evident in areas like the Aral Sea, where shrinkage has eliminated native fish species, and the Salton Sea, where declining water levels have worsened airborne dust toxicity3. These impacts underscore the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies that address both climate adaptation and reduced human consumption to mitigate the ongoing crisis.