SciDev.Net
Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
Definitions
List of terms for Desert science
Producing enough food for a rapidly growing population, and taking care of our planet are two of the world's biggest challenges.
W
Water
Oceans make up 97.5 per cent of the Earth's water supplies. The remaining 2.5 per cent is freshwater, most of which is locked up in ice caps and glaciers. Twenty per cent of all freshwater is groundwater and only one per cent can be found in rivers and lakes.
Water harvesting
The collection of rainwater that would otherwise evaporate, infiltrate the ground, or flow into drainage systems. Rainwater can be collected from rooftops and stored in small water butts for future household use. Alternatively, large reservoirs of rainwater can be kept in underground cisterns and used for agriculture and industry.
Information Services
The global food crisis
A series of articles debate key issues such as GM technology, media reporting and agricultural policymaking
