Examples of unsustainable water consumption - as satellite timelapse view
Published on by Markus Pahlow, University of Canterbury - Senior Lecturer
Some of these examples may show efficient use of water, but nevertheless unsustainable (leading to at least environmental degradation and decreasing water availability for humans and wildlife, among a great many of other issues) and the use is often socially not equitable.
Landsat data made these data streams possible.
Timelapse of the development of (you may want to change the settings to 'slow'...):
The development in irrigated agriculture in the Saudi Arabian desert (1984-2012):
http://earthengine.google.org/#intro/SaudiArabiaIrrigation
Drying of the Aral Sea:
http://earthengine.google.org/#intro/AralSea
Lake Urmia in Iran about to dry out:
http://earthengine.google.org/#intro/LakeUrmia
Las Vegas, a city developing in the desert:
http://earthengine.google.org/#intro/LasVegas
Likewise, the coastal expansion in Dubai:
http://earthengine.google.org/#intro/CreationOfDubai
Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil: