Divergent effects of climate change on future groundwater availability in key mid-latitude aquifers
Journal
Nature Communications
Journal Volume
11
Journal Issue
1
Pages
-
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Abstract
Groundwater provides critical freshwater supply, particularly in dry regions where surface water availability is limited. Climate change impacts on GWS (groundwater storage) could affect the sustainability of freshwater resources. Here, we used a fully-coupled climate model to investigate GWS changes over seven critical aquifers identified as significantly distressed by satellite observations. We assessed the potential climate-driven impacts on GWS changes throughout the 21st century under the business-as-usual scenario (RCP8.5). Results show that the climate-driven impacts on GWS changes do not necessarily reflect the long-term trend in precipitation; instead, the trend may result from enhancement of evapotranspiration, and reduction in snowmelt, which collectively lead to divergent responses of GWS changes across different aquifers. Finally, we compare the climate-driven and anthropogenic pumping impacts. The reduction in GWS is mainly due to the combined impacts of over-pumping and climate effects; however, the contribution of pumping could easily far exceed the natural replenishment. © 2020, The Author(s).
Other Subjects
ground water; rain; anthropogenic effect; aquifer; climate change; climate effect; future prospect; groundwater; midlatitude environment; pumping; satellite altimetry; water availability; water storage; anthropogeny; Article; biogeochemistry; climate change; dynamics; environmental factor; evaporation; evapotranspiration; human; hydrology; irrigation (agriculture); latitude; pollution; precipitation; sea surface temperature; seasonal variation; soil infiltration; soil moisture; soil texture; temperature; warming; water availability; water supply
Type
journal article