4. The Conservation of Hot Springs

All hot springs, regardless of their temperature and flow rate, their size and location, or their economic usage, face threats to their sustainability. These threats are to a large degree based on human activities, which have led to the contamination and over-exploitation of a vast number of natural water resources on a global scale. This applies to groundwater reservoirs as well as hydrothermal systems. Researchers have analysed satellite observations spanning 14 years and were able to directly associate undesirable changes in freshwater storage areas with several key factors: human impact, climate change and natural variability (NASA. (NASA (2018) NASA satellites reveal major shifts in global freshwater. Retrieved from https://​www.​nasa.​gov/​press-release/​nasa-satellites-reveal-major-shifts-in-global-freshwater). NASA Satellites Reveal Major Shifts in Global Freshwater. Retrieved from https://​www.​nasa.​gov/​press-release/​nasa-satellites-reveal-major-shifts-in-global-freshwater.). While perhaps not much can be done about natural variability such as changing rainfall patterns influenced by climatic phenomena like the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the threat of climate change however should be taken more seriously and counteracted in every possible way; especially, where human interference might accelerate a looming water crisis.