Global terrestrial water storage (TWS) anomalies continue to decrease, reaching a record low of –7,404 km3 in 2024, a reduction of 796 km3 from 2023. TWS gains in Africa, Australia, Europe, and central and western Antarctica were offset by substantial losses in northwestern Canada, South America, southern Africa and Greenland.
Key points
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Anthropogenic factors dominate TWS changes, contributing –504 km3 of the –796 km3 global total loss; natural variability accounted for the remaining –292 km3.
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Between 2023 and 2024, intensified drought conditions amplified minimum TWS anomalies from ~–26 cm to –48 cm in parts of the Amazon, southwestern Brazil and southern Africa. In contrast, precipitation brought relief to other drought-affected regions, raising TWS anomalies from –21 cm to –4 cm in northwestern Europe and amplifying from 9 cm to 26 cm in central Russia.
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Exceptionally wet conditions continued in the Sahel, eastern and central Africa, with maximum TWS anomalies now exceeding 80 cm compared to 40 cm in 2023.
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Data availability
The GRACE/FO TWS data, developed by the Center for Space Research (CSR) at the University of Texas, Austin, can be downloaded at https://www2.csr.utexas.edu/grace/RL06_mascons.html, RL06.3.
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Acknowledgements
The authors were supported by the NASA GRACE-FO Science Team and the NASA Western Water Application Office.
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Li, B., Rodell, M. & Save, H. Terrestrial water storage in 2024. Nat Rev Earth Environ 6, 261–263 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00659-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00659-w
