Are we permanently losing groundwater?
How exactly climate-change gets connected with groundwater storage and transportation?
Although global aquifer storage capacity remains to be disappearing at the rate of around 20 cubic-kms per annum, the extreme rainfall events resulting from the current climate change would not make such loss of groundwater storage to remain to be permanent - resulting from the fact that the way the groundwater gets infiltrated from run-off, the way groundwater gets stored and the way the groundwater gets transported no more follows the conventional groundwater hydraulics in those regions that experience the extreme rainfall events. Thus, from the climate change effects, the physics or the drainage mechanism of the amount of groundwater that remains captured, stored and transported has altered significantly from the conventional groundwater hydraulics principle (and that’s the whole reason behind, whether, why this particular groundwater storage loss problem is not only associated with arid regions).
Although subsidence happens over those areas, where, groundwater has been exploited beyond threshold limits (such as in US and China, where land subsidence hangs around 40 – 60 mm per annum; but subsidence, in other places, mostly, remain to be less than 10 mm per annum), the groundwater at some other regions gets replenished (and again not by conventional means) and as such we require not just an improved groundwater management at the local-scale but we require groundwater management at the larger continental-scales spanning across the countries. Before we get into groundwater management, we got to investigate the modified drainage principles of fundamental groundwater flow mechanism, following extreme rainfall events. The essence is that the relation between surface-hydrology and sub-surface hydrology connected through unsaturated zone deserves a special attention towards understanding the way, groundwater gets recharged resulting from extreme rainfall events, and in fact, in a much faster way than expected. Nature never harms any living species as long as the nature is not getting disturbed, I suppose.
Yes. That is right. Surface water hydrology and groundwater hydrology are connected through the unsaturated zone and deserve special attention. Groundwater has been exploited beyond the threshold in some regions and localities. Groundwater is less prone to climate change but abusing groundwater (abstracting beyond the specific yield) may lead to permanently losing groundwater
Your insightful points regarding groundwater storage and the influence of climate change are indeed significant. It is an undeniable fact that the dynamics of groundwater storage and transportation are undergoing changes due to the extreme weather events instigated by climate change.
The traditional principles of groundwater hydraulics are being put to the test. The processes of infiltration, storage, and transportation of groundwater no longer adhere to conventional patterns, particularly in regions subjected to extreme rainfall events. This deviation is instigating a shift in the physics and drainage mechanisms of groundwater.
Land subsidence, a consequence of over-exploitation of groundwater, poses a substantial issue in areas such as certain parts of the US and China. Conversely, in other regions, groundwater is experiencing replenishment, albeit through unconventional methods.
This situation underscores the necessity for enhanced groundwater management, not merely at a local level, but also on larger, continental scales. Comprehending the altered drainage principles of fundamental groundwater flow mechanisms in the aftermath of extreme rainfall events is of paramount importance.
The interconnection between surface hydrology and subsurface hydrology via the unsaturated zone warrants special attention. Gaining an understanding of how groundwater recharges from extreme rainfall events, often at a faster rate than anticipated, is crucial for effective water resource management.
Your concluding remark about nature not inflicting harm on any living species unless disturbed serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of maintaining equilibrium with our environment. We must endeavor to comprehend and adapt to these changes, rather than resist them. Although the issue is complex, with meticulous study and management, we can progress towards sustainable solutions.
Finally, Surface water has a direct effect on groundwater, I explain this topic in these articles:
1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347762773_Assessing_the_earth_dams'_effect_on_the_groundwater_of_its_location_case_study_Kord-Oliya_dam?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ
2.
I explaine this topic in this article, the surface water like precipitation, well water havasting and surface recharge have different effects on ground water level.
1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347126373_Groundwater_Level_Prediction_through_GMS_Software_-_Case_Study_of_Karvan_Area_Iran?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ
2.www.researchgate.net/publication/347762773_Assessing_the_earth_dams'_effect_on_the_groundwater_of_its_location_case_study_Kord-Oliya_dam?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ
2.
Climate changes causes to decreaseing or increasing in precipitation.it has a direct effect on groundwater recharg (storage). The phenomenon is explained in these article:
1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347126373_Groundwater_Level_Prediction_through_GMS_Software_-_Case_Study_of_Karvan_Area_Iran?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ
1. https://
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