Archive for April 15, 2011

Erkin | April 15, 2011
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Did you know…? Facts and figures about lakes

  • Less than two percent of the freshwater on our planet exists in a readily usable form for human uses. And of this total, it is estimated that lakes contain more than 90% of all the liquid freshwater on the earth’s surface. Thus, this water source is important for meeting the needs of both humans and ecosystems, including the life-supporting services provided to humanity by the latter.
  • Lakes and reservoirs provide a range of resource values, including drinking water, irrigation water, navigation, fisheries, tourism, recreation, flood and drought management, climate mediation, as well as having religious and historic values. Read more
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Erkin | April 12, 2011
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Oceanography from Space

The use of space satellite data for ocea n observations allows marine scientists to view biological, chemical, and physical interactions within the oceans on regional and global scales.

Satellite studies have revolutionized our ideas of how the ocean works. Satellite sensors measure a myriad of different phenomena including: sea surface temperature, surface wind, ocean color and productivity, ocean height, tides, and currents. Read more

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Erkin | April 9, 2011
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War and Water

With all of its life-giving properties, water is not often associated with acts of war. Yet many important interconnections are apparent in modern life. For example, wars are sometimes fought on waterways; those engaged in military operations have many needs for water; war can adversely impact water resources; and increasingly, observers worry that wars might break out due to escalating conflicts over water resources.

Many view the idea of global water wars as not possible, whereas others believe such wars are likely. Historically, water has been more of an indirect source of conflict, rather than a direct source or cause for war. However, for millions of people—from Bosnia to Iraq, and from Chechnya to Somalia—water’s intricate relation with war is an everyday reality.  Read more

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Erkin | April 8, 2011
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Ban urges accelerated efforts to expand access to safe drinking water

Warning that a world without water will be very unstable, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for a three-pronged strategy to ensure that the poorest inhabitants of the developing world have access to clean water and basic sanitation within seven years.

Mr. Ban told participants at “One World One Dream: Sanitation and Water for All,” an event held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, that the world faces an uphill battle to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) calling for the proportion of people with access to safe drinking water by the target year of 2015. Read more

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Erkin | April 7, 2011
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Japan March 11 tsunami

Dear Friends,

Even as you read this message, Japan continues to grapple with the aftermath of the deadly March 11 tsunami. Japan’s susceptibility to earthquakes have been widely discussed ever since. Less discussed has been its unique resilience-building strategy. Relatively mild tsunamis/ earthquakes hit the island-nation frequently.

With each one, it built upon its intricate disaster risk reduction system comprising of barriers, embankments, dams, early warning systems, satellites, standard building codes and awareness-building. The video Disaster Reduction: Japan’s Global Contribution attempts an outline. There is as much to learn from Japan’s remarkable resilience as its unfortunate plight. Read more

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