Explore BrainMass

The Effect of Global Warming on Aquifer

Underneath parts of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma lies the Ogallala Aquifer. There are dire warnings about the rapid depletion of this vast aquifer. Yet, at the same time, states like Kansas are very much the food production centers of the nation. These food producers use the irrigation that is also draining the aquifer.

For your essay, make a case for curbing or continuing the use of irrigation in states that use the Ogallala Aquifer for water used in irrigation.

Solution Preview

There are numerous reasons that states that use the Ogallala Aquifer should curb it's usage including the fact that its current usage has been deemed unsustainable by several academic research studies. By 2060, researchers from Kansas State University have concluded that at least 69% of the Ogallala Aquifer will be depleted, which will have a disastrous impact on the entire country's agriculture industry. Therefore, it is imperative for states to curb their usage as another research study conducted by Texas Tech University has concluded that the states most impacted by current usage such as those in the Panhandle will be unable to support irrigation by 2030 if current usage is maintained. Irrigation agriculture will be significantly threatened with extinction if the current practices continue, which require a new approach wherein water can be ...

Solution Summary

This tutorial provides guidelines for a paper making a case for whether state should continue using the Ogallala Aquifer for water used in irrigation.