Archive · 24 Sep 2025
Ganga River Drying Unprecedented in the Last Millennium
Scientists have found that the Ganga River is drying up more than it has in the last 1,300 years.
They studied the river and found that the drying from 1991 to 2020 is the most severe.
This drying is linked to less rain during the monsoon season.
It poses a threat to water and food supply for over 600 million people.
Climate change may make things worse in the future.
More research is needed to fully understand the situation.
Researchers found the Ganga River drying trend from 1991-2020 is unprecedented.
Study analyzed 1,300 years of water flow data.
Drying is linked to decreased rainfall during the southwest monsoon.
The Ganga River basin faces a severe drying trend.
Drying threatens water and food security for over 600 million people.
- Who
- Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and the University of Arizona
- What
- Found the drying of the Ganga River basin from 1991-2020 is unprecedented over the past millennium.
- When
- Study covers the period from 700 CE to 2020, with a focus on 1991-2020.
- Where
- Ganga River basin.
- Why
- Due to reduced rainfall during the southwest monsoon, potentially worsened by groundwater depletion and climate change impacts.
Scientists
Environmentalists
Causes of drying
Scientists
Scientists attribute the drying trend to reduced rainfall during the southwest monsoon.
Environmentalists
Environmentalists believe the drying trend can be due to multiple factors, including climate change impacts and groundwater depletion.
- Key Finding
- Drying from 1991-2020 is unprecedented over 1,300 years
- Researchers
- Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and the University of Arizona
- Study Period
- 700 CE - 2020, with focus on 1991-2020
- Primary Cause
- Reduced rainfall during southwest monsoon
- Affected Population
- Over 600 million people
