DOES CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECT WATER RESOURCES?Water. Water is the basis of life on earth. It hydrates our agricultural resources, powers our hydroelectric plants and is essential for human hydration, sanitation and survival. It is therefore fortunate that on Earth, 70.8% of the surface is covered by water, but 97% of this water is high salinity seawater. The rest is fresh water, but within this band of fresh water, only 25% is fluid water, 75% of which is locked in the polar ice sheets of the Arctic and Antarctic. Even if we can't reach them, we contribute to the greenhouse effect (which melts the ice caps and raises sea levels). But the fresh water we have access to is usually locked in groundwater reserves (or aquifers) or in a large, fast-flowing lake or river. But as we go about our daily activities, we are making climate change worse, and in the last century humans caused the Earth's temperature to increase by 1°C by releasing tons and tons of CO2 into our atmosphere. As we deplete our water resources and contribute to climate change, we could begin to see water become either a scarce commodity or an enemy to be hated, as it can not only cause droughts and, therefore, famines , but it can also have a positive impact. effect. This can create larger rivers and lakes due to increased snow runoff, but this itself has a negative side effect. Increased river flows and runoff can create raging floods that can tear apart cities and leave thousands stranded on rooftops waiting for a helicopter or boat to pick them up. Here are some perspectives on how climate change can create not only droughts and dust storms, but also floods and erosion, and the sobering thought that all of this is... middle of paper......t our immediate area will not be affected by the lack of clean, usable water. I think we can say with certainty that it is not foreseeable that we will find ourselves in a situation like Africa, California or even Central Otago. ConclusionDuring this research, I discovered that climate change actually has positive effects on water resources, at least in some regions. locations. For example, increased snow runoff will increase, lengthening the Taieri and providing water to the entire valley, and wastewater treatment systems could potentially provide clean water to all of Dunedin for years to come. No one knows for sure what effects climate change will have on our immediate environment. One thing is certain though, and that is that we all need to conserve the precious resources we have and ensure they remain clean for future generations..