Minimizing uncertainties in climate projections and water budget reveals the vulnerability of freshwater to climate change

Rising global temperatures will increase water in the atmosphere and diminish terrestrial water resources. Understanding changes in stored terrestrial water in surface or underground reservoirs is crucial for ecosystem and human sustainability. For example, modern agriculture often depends on groundwater and reservoirs, and water storage changes affect crop yield. Climate change will alter how much water is stored terrestrially; therefore, predicting these changes is crucial for adapting crops and other human water needs to changing water resources. Our findings reveal that warmer temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns can increase plant water consumption and evapotranspiration and reduce stored water. Stored water also depends on land use. For example, converting natural wetlands into urban areas reduces groundwater. The implications of warmer climates on water storage are region dependent, potentially exacerbating competition for water between human and natural ecosystems.