Satellite gravimetry study finds a human signature in global terrestrial water storage trends
20 October 2026
A study titled Spatially refined satellite gravimetry captures human signatures in global terrestrial water storage trends was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The lead author is Mary Michael O'Neill, and Matthew Rodell is among the authors.
The study used data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment and its follow-on mission over the period April 2002 to November 2025.
It identified 40 regions where the change in water storage is linked to human activity.
In four continental regions a human-related variable outperformed every climate variable in explaining the trend.
The analysis gives spatial detail five to 10 times finer than previous analyses.
Of the decline recorded in northern India, 15 per cent was attributed to retreating Himalayan glaciers.
In plain words
GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment — A pair of satellites that measure changes in the Earth's gravity field to track movements of water and ice.
PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — A peer-reviewed scientific journal.