Conclusions and solutions

Summary of  data from EO Broswer

This graph shows the trend of the diameter of the lake in every season for six years. As we can see it tends to decrease in the summer and increases during the winter. This suggests that during the winter there are more precipitations unlike  the summer in which there could possibly be droughts; so the rainfall could be one of the main factors influencing the diameter of the lake.

From this graph we can also notice a general trend in the diameter of the lake during these six years: the peak diameter in the winter is consistently decreasing. To have a  better idea of the rate at which the diameter of the lake is decreasing , we should use more historical data, that is not available  on Sentinel-2.

Final Conclusions and Solutions:

Conclusions

In conclusion, after all the hard work from the interviews/surveys and the EO browser data analysis, we can infer that most people agree that climate change is one of the main causes of the reduction of the lake's diameter. Climate change causes higher average temperatures and a pattern of decreased rainfall. This leads to less water entering the lake through precipitation and more water leaving through increased evaporation. 

A second important factor is human activity:

• water is sourced from the lake from ACEA to supply local towns

• supposedly the Papal gardens are abundantly watered from the lake 

• water is pumped from the lake for irrigation of gardens and land around the lake in general 

• illegal wells subtract water from the water table around the lake contributing to the lowering of the level

• even though the firepeople said that they did not take so much water from the lake individuals still believe that this is a factor and wildfires are increasing with climate change. 

In general, most of these human activities are worsened by the rise in temperatures due to climate change. 

Solutions  

The decreasing level of the lake has become a major concern for the local communities and authorities. To address this issue, we need to identify the underlying factors that have contributed to this problem. The two main areas that require attention are the global problem of climate change and the local issues of human activity.

 Climate change has been a global concern for several years. The rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events have resulted in the depletion of water resources across the globe. The lake's water levels have been impacted by the decrease in rainfall, which has resulted in less water flowing into the lake. This has also had an impact on the lake's ecosystem, including the flora and fauna that depend on it. To reduce your carbon footprint:

•  switch to electric cars or bikes

• choose public transport, 

• set your thermostat to a cooler temperature,

•  insulate your house, 

• use energy-efficient boilers or solar panels

•  explore other sources of electricity like solar energy and lobby governments for cleaner electrical energy production.

Human activity, on the other hand, has also played a significant role in the decreasing level of the lake. Over-extraction of groundwater for agriculture and domestic use has resulted in the depletion of the lake's water levels. Deforestation and land-use changes have also impacted the lake's watershed, resulting in soil erosion and sedimentation. These activities have reduced the capacity of the lake to hold water, further exacerbating the problem of the decreasing level of the lake. Lobbying for:

• local rules and practices to change

• enforce existing rules

• promote water-efficient irrigation methods

• discourage lawn irrigation and swimming pools

• make a sustainable water usage plan with ACEA

• reuse grey waters for irrigation

• manage forests to reduce wildfires with little water use.

Addressing these two areas is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the lake's ecosystem and the livelihoods of the communities that depend on it. Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change are needed at the global level. At the local level, efforts to promote sustainable land use practices, reduce groundwater extraction, and improve water management practices are required. This could include the use of rainwater harvesting techniques, reforestation, and the promotion of water conservation practices.

 The decreasing level of the lake is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to address. By focusing on the global and local factors that have contributed to this problem, we can work towards ensuring the sustainability of the lake's ecosystem and the livelihoods of the communities that depend on it.