scholarly journals Causes and consequences of long-term groundwater overabstraction in Jordan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Brückner ◽  
Rebecca Bahls ◽  
Mohammad Alqadi ◽  
Falk Lindenmaier ◽  
Ibraheem Hamdan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Contour Lines ◽  
Hydraulic Conditions ◽  
Groundwater Basins

AbstractIn 2017, a comprehensive review of groundwater resources in Jordan was carried out for the first time since 1995. The change in groundwater levels between 1995 and 2017 was found to be dramatic: large declines have been recorded all over the country, reaching more than 100 m in some areas. The most affected areas are those with large-scale groundwater-irrigated agriculture, but areas that are only used for public water supply are also affected. The decrease of groundwater levels and saturated thickness poses a growing threat for drinking water supply and the demand has to be met from increasingly deeper and more remote sources, causing higher costs for drilling and extraction. Groundwater-level contour lines show that groundwater flow direction has completely reversed in some parts of the main aquifer. Consequently, previously established conceptual models, such as the concept of 12 “groundwater basins” often used in Jordan should be revised or replaced. Additionally, hydraulic conditions are changing from confined to unconfined; this is most likely a major driver for geogenic pollution with heavy metals through leakage from the overlying bituminous aquitard. Three exemplary case studies are presented to illustrate and discuss the main causes for the decline of the water tables (agriculture and population growth) and to show how the results of this assessment can be used on a regional scale.

scholarly journals Large-scale Climate Variability Footprint in Water Levels of Alluvial Aquifers Across Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abolfazl Rezaei
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Climate Indices ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Aquifer Storage ◽  
Atmospheric Circulations

Abstract The ability to predict future variability of groundwater resources in time and space is of critical
importance in society’s adaptation to climate variability and change. Periodic control of large scale ocean-atmospheric circulations on groundwater levels proposes a potentially effective source of longer term forecasting capability. In this study, as a first national-scale assessment, we use the continues wavelet transform, global power spectrum, and wavelet coherence analyses to quantify the controls of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) over the representative groundwater levels of the 24 principal aquifers, scattered across different 14 climate zones of Iran. The results demonstrate that aquifer storage variations are partially controlled by annual to interdecadal climate variability and are not solely a function of pumping variations. Moreover, teleconnections are observed to be both frequency and time specific. The significant coherence patterns between the climate indices and groundwater levels are observed at five frequency bands of the annual (~1-yr), interannual (2-4- and 4-6-yr), decadal (8-12-yr), and interdecadal (14-18yr), consistent with the dominant modes of climate indices. AMO’s strong footprint is observed at interdecadal and annual modes of groundwater levels while PDO’s highest imprint is seen in interannual, decadal, and interdecadal modes. The highest controlling influence of ENSO is observed across the decadal and interannual modes whereas the NAO’s footprint is marked at annual and interdecadal frequency bands. Further, it is observed that the groundwater variability being higher modulated by a combination of large-scale atmospheric circulations rather than each individual index. The decadal and interdecadal oscillation modes constitute the dominant modes in Iranian aquifers. Findings also mark the unsaturated zone contribution in damping and lagging of the climate variability modes, particularly for the higher frequency indices of ENSO and NAO where the groundwater variability is observed to be more correlated with lower frequent climate circulations such as PDO and AMO, rather than ENSO and NAO. Finally, it is found that the data length can significantly affect the teleconnections if the time series are not contemporaneous and only one value of coherence/correlation is computed for each particular series instead of separate computations for different frequency bands and different time spans.

scholarly journals Regional hydrogeology for groundwater resource management policies. The Latium volcanic domain (central Italy)

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Mazza ◽  
Lucia Mastrorillo
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Hydrogeological Model ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Regional Hydrogeology ◽  
Conceptual Hydrogeological Model ◽  
Set Up

Growing urban areas in the Latium volcanic domain has resulted in the increase of water demand. The uncontrolled increase in water withdrawals cause an inexorable reduction of springs discharges and progressive drawdown of groundwater levels. This emergency needs an urgent rationalization of groundwater management thorough understanding of qualitative and quantitative features of the aquifers. The main aim of this paper is to emphasize the importance of the method of study and the results obtained by researchers belonging to the Laboratory of Quantitative Hydrogeology (University of Roma Tre) to support the use and protection of groundwater resources. Therefore, we propose a summary of methods applied in previous hydrogeology studies that have contributed to legislation on groundwater resources management in the volcanic aquifers. The study area corresponds to the Latium volcanic domain and covers approximately 6500 km2. About 3000 stratigraphic data and about 2600 water points have been collected in order to set up a conceptual hydrogeological model. The conceptual model has been validated by the resolution of the hydrological budget. Detailed evaluation of the water supply is essential for the correct setting of the hydrological budget, in fact it represents the main output of the budget. These analysis highlight the condition of the resource. Critical areas have been identified for reshaping of water supply in order to increase environmental remediation and economic development.

India : underground water resources

1977 ◽  
Vol 278 (962) ◽  
pp. 507-524 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Underground Water ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Geological Formation ◽  
High Yielding Varieties ◽  
Available Resources

Irrigation is important in India where one-third of the land surface is semi-arid and the rainfall is seasonal and erratic. The irrigated area in the country has almost doubled during the last 25 years and now stands at 43 million ha. Groundwater contributes to 40 % of all irrigation. Apart from providing irrigation, groundwater has been contributing to irrigated agriculture in many other ways and has, therefore, become a vital factor in the country’s plans for agricultural development. The total usable groundwater resources of the country are assessed at 350 x 109 m3. The factors contributing to these resources and governing their occurrence and distribution in different parts of the country are described. At present about 35 % of the available resources are utilized. Different types of groundwater structures, typical to India and suited to meet the irrigation needs of small farmers, are being constructed to tap the available resources in various parts of the country. Their design and construction features, determined to a large extent by the local geological formation, are explained. The first large-scale venture in scientific planning and the development of groundwater was undertaken in 1934. A major break-through came in 1965 with the advent of high-yielding varieties of crops. Two important factors, namely the expansion of the rural electrification programme and the development of the cooperative credit structure, have helped in sustaining a high tempo of development since then. The present dimensions and other features of the development programme are indicated. A systematic programme of groundwater investigations is a must for scientific development and management of the resources. It has been greatly intensified during the recent years and investigations include hydrogeological survey, geophysical studies, exploratory drilling, pump tests, and water balance studies including the construction of mathematical models. The approach and methodology adopted to keep down the cost of investigations is described. No amount of groundwater investigation and planning will help in preventing infructuous expenditure, unless there is legislation to control and regulate groundwater development. The steps taken in this direction are mentioned.

scholarly journals Australia, Wet or Dry, North or South: Addressing Environmental Impacts and the Exclusion of Aboriginal Peoples in Northern Water Development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily O’Neill ◽  
Lee Godden ◽  
Elizabeth Jane Macpherson ◽  
Erin O’Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Aboriginal Peoples ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Australian Water ◽  
Water Development

Within Australia almost since colonisation, there have been debates about whether water supply would pose a ‘limit’ to expansion of settlement. The seminal work by economist Bruce Davidson, ‘Australia Wet or Dry?’ in the mid-twentieth century critically examined the public money invested in large-scale irrigated agriculture in the north of the continent, and indirectly critiqued irrigation schemes in the Murray Darling Basin. Davidson coined the term ‘the Northern Myth’ to describe a widely held belief in the ability of Northern Australia to accommodate vastly expanded irrigated agricultural operations because of abundant water and land. This paper examines the current policy promoting northern development, including proposed significant extensions to dams and other water supply projects in Northern Australia. It places the latest push for northern water development in the broader historical context of Australian water resource management, finding continual reiteration of ideas that engineers can ‘create water’ and find technical ‘solutions’ to overcome the limitations of a ‘drought-ridden continent’. We argue future policy directions in Northern Australia must draw on the lessons of past water resource policy with respect to two crucial aspects: redressing the historical and current exclusion of Aboriginal peoples’ rights to water, and the embedding of environmental values in strategic water planning.

scholarly journals Groundwater Governance in Pakistan: From Colossal Development to Neglected Management

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asad Sarwar Qureshi
Keyword(s):  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Groundwater Abstraction ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Groundwater Exploitation ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
The World

Groundwater is playing an essential role in expanding irrigated agriculture in many parts of the world. Pakistan is the third-largest user of groundwater for irrigation in the world. The surface water supplies are sufficient to irrigate 27% of the area, whereas the remaining 73% is directly or indirectly irrigated using groundwater. The Punjab province uses more than 90% of the total groundwater abstraction. Currently, 1.2 million private tubewells are working in the country, out of which 85% are in Punjab, 6.4% are in Sindh, 3.8% are in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and 4.8% are in Baluchistan. The total groundwater extraction in Pakistan is about 60 billion m3. The access to groundwater has helped farmers in securing food for the increasing population. However, unchecked groundwater exploitation has created severe environmental problems. These include rapidly falling groundwater levels in the irrigated areas and increased soil salinization problems. The groundwater levels in more than 50% of the irrigated areas of Punjab have dropped below 6 m, resulting in increased pumping cost and degraded groundwater quality. Despite hectic efforts, about 21% of the irrigated area is affected by different levels of salinity. The country has introduced numerous laws and regulations for the sustainable use and management of groundwater resources, but the success has so far been limited. Besides less respect for the law, unavailability of needed data and information, lack of political will and institutional arrangements are the primary reasons for poor groundwater management. Pakistan needs to revisit its strategies to make them adaptable to local conditions. An integrated water resource management approach that brings together relevant government departments, political leadership, knowledge institutions, and other stakeholders could be an attractive option.

scholarly journals Anthropogenic and geogenic influences on peri-urban aquifers in semi-arid regions: insights from a case study in northeast Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1261-1278
Author(s):  
Theresa Frommen ◽  
Maike Groeschke ◽  
Maximilian Nölscher ◽  
Paul Koeniger ◽  
Michael Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Planning Strategy ◽  
Quality Aspects ◽  
Management Concept

AbstractRapid urbanization has exerted considerable pressure on groundwater resources in Jaipur, India. Peri-urban areas are particularly affected as the public supply infrastructure often does not reach this fast-growing fringe, which often lacks a planning strategy, leading to an informal water supply based on groundwater. At the same time, the hills and historic reservoirs located in these areas are important for groundwater recharge and, therefore, critical for sustainable groundwater-resource management. To understand the local hydrogeology and the role of anthropogenic influences, a 2-year field study was carried out in northeastern Jaipur. The aim was to develop a conceptual model on which a management concept can be built. The study comprised hydrochemical and stable isotope analyses of water samples, depth-to-water measurements, a leveling survey and geophysical investigations. The study revealed that the groundwater from both the Proterozoic hard rock and the overlying Quaternary alluvial aquifer generally does not meet the Indian drinking water thresholds for nitrate concentration and/or total dissolved solids (TDS). While anthropogenic activities are the main source of quantity problems (declining groundwater levels through overabstraction), the biggest quality problems (nitrate up to 550 mg/L and TDS >500 mg/L) are most likely of geogenic origin and only enhanced by anthropogenic impacts. Quantity and quality aspects improve significantly in areas influenced by recharge from the historic reservoirs, leading to the conclusion that artificial recharge structures may be the way forward to improving community water supply and that groundwater protection should be given priority in these areas.

scholarly journals GMD perspective: The quest to improve the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 7545-7571
Author(s):  
Tom Gleeson ◽  
Thorsten Wagener ◽  
Petra Döll ◽  
Samuel C. Zipper ◽  
Charles West ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model Evaluation ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Expert Elicitation ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Scale Models

Abstract. Continental- to global-scale hydrologic and land surface models increasingly include representations of the groundwater system. Such large-scale models are essential for examining, communicating, and understanding the dynamic interactions between the Earth system above and below the land surface as well as the opportunities and limits of groundwater resources. We argue that both large-scale and regional-scale groundwater models have utility, strengths, and limitations, so continued modeling at both scales is essential and mutually beneficial. A crucial quest is how to evaluate the realism, capabilities, and performance of large-scale groundwater models given their modeling purpose of addressing large-scale science or sustainability questions as well as limitations in data availability and commensurability. Evaluation should identify if, when, or where large-scale models achieve their purpose or where opportunities for improvements exist so that such models better achieve their purpose. We suggest that reproducing the spatiotemporal details of regional-scale models and matching local data are not relevant goals. Instead, it is important to decide on reasonable model expectations regarding when a large-scale model is performing “well enough” in the context of its specific purpose. The decision of reasonable expectations is necessarily subjective even if the evaluation criteria are quantitative. Our objective is to provide recommendations for improving the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models. We describe current modeling strategies and evaluation practices, and we subsequently discuss the value of three evaluation strategies: (1) comparing model outputs with available observations of groundwater levels or other state or flux variables (observation-based evaluation), (2) comparing several models with each other with or without reference to actual observations (model-based evaluation), and (3) comparing model behavior with expert expectations of hydrologic behaviors in particular regions or at particular times (expert-based evaluation). Based on evolving practices in model evaluation as well as innovations in observations, machine learning, and expert elicitation, we argue that combining observation-, model-, and expert-based model evaluation approaches, while accounting for commensurability issues, may significantly improve the realism of groundwater representation in large-scale models, thus advancing our ability for quantification, understanding, and prediction of crucial Earth science and sustainability problems. We encourage greater community-level communication and cooperation on this quest, including among global hydrology and land surface modelers, local to regional hydrogeologists, and hydrologists focused on model development and evaluation.

scholarly journals Selecting Suitable MODFLOW Packages to Model Pond–Groundwater Relations Using a Regional Model

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1111
Author(s):  
Carmen Serrano-Hidalgo ◽  
Carolina Guardiola-Albert ◽  
Javier Heredia ◽  
Francisco Javier Elorza Tenreiro ◽  
Nuria Naranjo-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Regional Aquifer

In large-scale regional models, used for the management of underground resources, it is quite common to find that relationships between the regional aquifer and small wetlands are not included. These models do not consider this connection because of the small amount of water involved, but they should consider the potential for significant ecological impacts if the groundwater resources in the ecosystems associated with these wetlands are mismanaged. The main objective of this work is to investigate the possibilities offered by MODFLOW LGR-V2 to represent (at small scale) the Santa Olalla pond, located in the Doñana Natural Park (South of Spain), and its relationship with the Almonte-Marismas regional aquifer. As a secondary objective, we propose to investigate the advantages and disadvantages that DRAIN, RIVER and LAKE MODFLOW packages offer within the MODFLOW LGR-V2 discretizations. The drain boundary condition with a coarse discretization implemented through ModelMuse allows the most adequate performance of the groundwater levels in the environment of the pond. However, when using lake boundary condition, the use of the MODFLOW LGR-V2 version is particularly useful. The present work also gives some guidelines to employ these packages with the MODFLOW graphical user’s interface, ModelMuse 4.2.

Tectonic relaxation and the development of cross fold in the Singhbhum Proterozoic mobile belt: Insights from physical and numerical model experiments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puspendu Saha ◽  
Atin Kumar Mitra ◽  
Nibir Mandal
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Mobile Belt ◽  
Horizontal Shear ◽  
Eastern Flank ◽  
Analogue Models ◽  
Gravity Driven Flow

<p>Mobile belts are generally characterized by deformational structures of multiple generations, indicating complex spatial and temporal evolution of the strain fields. These deformed terrains show interference patterns indicating superposition of structures striking transverse to the orogenic trend which leads to the development of cross folds in mobile belts. Despite significant work on cross-folding, it is still not well understood how horizontal shortening can develop regionally along the trend of an orthogonal convergent belts. Our present work deals with the spectacular cross-folds in the eastern flank of the Singhbhum Proterozoic mobile belt.</p><p>This study uses three-dimensional continuum models to address the long-standing question: what is the tectonics of regional scale cross-folds with axial planes transecting the orogenic trend? Physical experiments were conducted with PDMS (Poly dimethyl siloxane), a Newtonian viscous material under lower strain rate of deformation. We propose that the belt underwent orogen-parallel flow during tectonic relaxation, developing orogen-parallel shortening, as observed in analogue models. This gravity-driven flow appears to be potential factor for cross folding in orogenic belts. In order to substantiate the deformation of analogue models, the horizontal shear stress was mapped in FE models. This reveals a distinct zone of shear stress localization in the eastern flank. Model results suggest that the arcuate belt is likely to show deformations by large horizontal shear at the flank of the model. This prediction agrees to the observations from analogue models. In order to study the large scale three-dimensional flow pattern, velocity vectors are plotted in the model. The vector diagram shows that the material flow does not take place orthogonally to the orogenic trend, while at the NE margin the flow direction is parallel to orogenic trend, resulting in the development of cross folds in Singhbhum mobile belts.</p>

scholarly journals GMD Perspective: the quest to improve the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental to global scale models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Gleeson ◽  
Thorsten Wagener ◽  
Petra Döll ◽  
Samuel C. Zipper ◽  
Charles West ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model Evaluation ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Expert Elicitation ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Scale Models

Abstract. Continental- to global-scale hydrologic and land surface models increasingly include representations of the groundwater system. Such large-scale models are essential for examining, communicating, and understanding the dynamic interactions between the Earth System above and below the land surface as well as the opportunities and limits of groundwater resources. We argue that both large-scale and regional-scale groundwater models have utility, strengths and limitations so continued modeling at both scales is essential and mutually beneficial. A crucial quest is how to evaluate the realism, capabilities and performance of large-scale groundwater models given their modeling purpose of addressing large-scale science or sustainability questions as well as limitations in data availability and commensurability. Evaluation should identify if, when or where large-scale models achieve their purpose or where opportunities for improvements exists so that such models better achieve their purpose. We suggest that reproducing the spatio-temporal details of regional-scale models and matching local data is not a relevant goal. Instead, it is important to decide on reasonable model expectations regarding when a large scale model is performing “well enough” in the context of its specific purpose. The decision of reasonable expectations is necessarily subjective even if the evaluation criteria is quantitative. Our objective is to provide recommendations for improving the evaluation of groundwater representation in continental- to global-scale models. We describe current modeling strategies and evaluation practices, and subsequently discuss the value of three evaluation strategies: 1) comparing model outputs with available observations of groundwater levels or other state or flux variables (observation-based evaluation); 2) comparing several models with each other with or without reference to actual observations (model-based evaluation); and 3) comparing model behavior with expert expectations of hydrologic behaviors in particular regions or at particular times (expert-based evaluation). Based on evolving practices in model evaluation as well as innovations in observations, machine learning and expert elicitation, we argue that combining observation-, model-, and expert-based model evaluation approaches, while accounting for commensurability issues, may significantly improve the realism of groundwater representation in large-scale models. Thus advancing our ability for quantification, understanding, and prediction of crucial Earth science and sustainability problems. We encourage greater community-level communication and cooperation on this quest, including among global hydrology and land surface modelers, local to regional hydrogeologists, and hydrologists focused on model development and evaluation.

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