Groundwater management for adaptation under changing climate conditions in Indian Punjab

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samanpreet Kaur ◽  
Prit Pal Singh Lubana ◽  
Rajan Aggarwal

India is the largest groundwater user in the world, with an estimated usage of around 230 km3 per year. Agricultural demand for irrigation is already the single largest draw on India's water, yet estimates by the Ministry of Water Resources indicate that by the year 2050 irrigation needs will rise by 56%. From the climate change viewpoint, India's groundwater hotspots are concentrated in the seven states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The state of Punjab, with only 1.57% of the total geographical area, is contributing 27–40% rice, 55–65% wheat and 18–25% cotton to the central pool since the last three decades. The dropping water levels in these regions are largely attributed to unsustainable consumption of groundwater for irrigation and other uses along with increased runoff and/or evapotranspiration, which climate change may further exacerbate. This paper presents an overview of current groundwater issues and examines the potential and negative effects of climate change on the groundwater resources in Punjab. Therefore, in this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the problem of declining groundwater resources and possible factors responsible for this and suggest suitable strategies for arresting over-exploitation and for sustainable agriculture in Punjab.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 10873-10911 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Mabrouk ◽  
A. Jonoski ◽  
D. Solomatine ◽  
S. Uhlenbrook

Abstract. Serious environmental problems are emerging in the River Nile basin and its groundwater resources. Recent years have brought scientific evidence of climate change and development-induced environmental impacts globally as well as over Egypt. Some impacts are subtle, like decline of the Nile River water levels, others are dramatic like the salinization of all coastal land in the Nile Delta – the agricultural engine of Egypt. These consequences have become a striking reality causing a set of interconnected groundwater management problems. Massive population increase that overwhelmed the Nile Delta region has amplified the problem. Many researchers have studied these problems from different perspectives using different methodologies, following different objectives and, consequently, arrived at different findings. However, they all confirmed that significant groundwater salinization has affected the Nile Delta and this is likely to become worse rapidly in the future. This article presents, categorizes and critically analyses and synthesizes the most relevant research regarding climate change and development challenges in relation to groundwater resources in the Nile Delta. It is shown that there is a gap in studies that focus on sustainable groundwater resources development and environmentally sound protection as an integrated regional process in Nile Delta. Moreover, there is also a knowledge gap related to the deterioration of groundwater quality. The article recommends further research that covers the groundwater resources and salinization in the whole Nile Delta based on integrated three-dimensional groundwater modelling of the Nile delta aquifer.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Malekinezhad ◽  
Fatemeh Barzegai Banadkooki

Abstract This paper analyzes the impacts of climate change and human pressures on Yazd-Ardakan aquifer using the Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 (HADCM3) circulation Model and A2 emission scenario. Water levels in the study aquifer were simulated using three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater model (MODFLOW 2000) with GMS 8.3 as pre- and postprocessing software. Input for groundwater recharge time series under the climate change scenarios were derived using a regression equation based on the cumulative deviation from mean rainfall using MATLAB. Human pressures on the aquifer were modeled through climate change impacts on water requirements of cultivated areas. Three scenarios were simulated to represent the effects of climate change and human pressures on aquifer storage and hydraulic head. Climate change and human pressures (scenario 1) will reduce aquifer storage and result in decreasing hydraulic head by −0.56 m year−1. Reduction in pumping water under scenario 2 (irrigation system modification) and scenario 3 (irrigation system modification and cropping patterns) will result in groundwater level fluctuation of about −0.32 and 0.08 m year−1, respectively. Scenario 3 is capable of restoring and protecting the groundwater resources in Yazd-Ardakan aquifer. The results of this study are useful to obtain sustainable groundwater management in Yazd-Ardakan aquifer.


Author(s):  
I. H. Thakuria ◽  
P. P. Hazarika ◽  
K. Deka ◽  
B. K. Medhi ◽  
N. Rahman ◽  
...  

Groundwater is an essential resource for sustainable development all over the world. To understand the use of water resources, the fundamental characteristics and recharge of the groundwater need to be analyzed. GIS is considered as an effective and powerful tool for collecting, storing, transforming the spatial information for the need-based site-specific decision-making process. Thus, GIS tools have opened new paths in land and water resource studies. In the present study, GIS-based mapping of the groundwater in the central Brahmaputra Valley Zone is done with a view to observing the various quality characters. The results of this investigation could be used by decision-makers for the sustainable management of groundwater resources. The groundwater pH of the district was found to be within the desirable limit as recommended by WHO but 67.30% sample covering 79% of the total geographical area of the district was slightly alkaline in nature. Groundwater quality parameters that surpassed the desirable limit recommended by WHO, were electrical conductivity and nitrate which accounted for 41.22% and 0.79% of the total samples. Total Dissolved Solids, calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate and nitrate in groundwater were recorded within the desirable limit of WHO and thus could be considered as safe. Spatial autocorrelation run for all the quality parameters with respect to their positions and values over the entire district envisaged the possibilities of forming different pattern namely CLUSTER for pH, EC, As, F, Fe, Al, Mn,HCO3, RANDOM for Mg, Ca, CO3, NO3, SO4 and DISPERSED for TDS. GIS-aided mapping of groundwater quality parameters embracing their category wise spatial distribution, area, maximum and minimum values, surface autocorrelation of observed values could give a better idea to opt for suitable need-based management strategy for the entire district.


2020 ◽  
pp. 50-57
Author(s):  
Joanna Klimowicz

XXI wiek przyczynił się do rozwoju nowych, innowacyjnych technologii w wielu dziedzinach życia, m.in. w medycynie, lotnictwie, inżynierii molekularnej czy budownictwie. Współczesne technologie rozwijają się bardzo szybko, przynosząc rozmaite udogodnienia współczesnym człowiekowi. Jednakże XXI wiek przyniósł nam też niszczycielskie działanie narastających anomalii pogodowych związanych z pogłębiającymi się zmianami klimatu. Żyjąc w dobie konsumpcjonizmu, powinniśmy się zastanowić w jaki sposób przyczyniamy się do tego stanu? Czy my współcześnie żyjący możemy wpłynąć na poprawę naszej egzystencji? Czy współcześnie proponowane rozwiązania są w stanie ochronić nas przed wieloma negatywnymi skutkami zmian klimatu? Czy możemy wpłynąć na wzrost zanieczyszczenia powietrza, wzrost temperatury oraz związane z nimi narastające zjawiska takie jak powodzie czy pożary? Mieszkańcy współczesnych miast stykają się z wieloma tymi niedogodnościami. My jako architekci i urbaniści powinniśmy reagować i wprowadzać takie rozwiązania, które będą sprzyjały poprawie warunków życia. Tematem artykuły jest przedstawienie wybranych przykładów rozwiązań zastosowania zieleni, wpływającej na niwelowanie niekorzystnych warunków klimatycznych panujących w miasta. Odpowiednio projektowana zieleń, zarówno w skali urbanistycznej jak i architektonicznej miasta, przyczynia się do niwelowanie Miejskiej Wyspy Ciepła, wpływa na poprawę komfortu zamieszkania, jest stabilizatorem temperatury oraz wilgotności. Badania kamerą termowizyjną wykazują w jaki sposób zastosowanie zieleni przyczynia się do obniżania temperatury w zabudowie śródmiejskiej. Wyniki badań stanowić uzupełnienie prowadzonych analiz związanych z obserwacją zachowań termicznych zabudowy miejskiej. Możliwość odniesienia wyników wpłynie na świadomość mieszkańców jest istotne jest stosowanie odpowiednich materiałów budowalnych oraz zieleni miejskiej jako jednych z elementów poprawiających komfort życia w mieście. The problem of the overheating of twenty-first century cities (UHI) versus greenery The 21st century has contributed to the development of new, innovative technologies in many areas of life, including medicine, aviation, molecular engineering and construction. Modern technologies are developing very quickly, bringing various conveniences to modern man. However, the 21st century has brought us also the destructive effect of growing weather anomalies associated with deepening climate change. Living in the age of consumerism, we should think about how we are contributing to this state? Can we, living today, improve our existence? Can the solutions proposed nowadays protect us from many negative effects of climate change? Can we influence the increase in air pollution, temperature rise and the associated growing phenomena such as floods and fires? Citizens of modern cities are facing many of these inconveniences. We, as architects and urban planners, should react and implement solutions that will improve living conditions. The subject of the articles is to present selected examples of solutions for the use of greenery, which will help to eliminate unfavorable climate conditions in cities. Properly designed greenery, both on the urban and architectural scale of the city, contributes to the leveling of the Urban Heat Island, improves the comfort of living, and is a stabilizer of temperature and humidity. Research with a thermal imaging camera shows how the use of greenery contributes to lowering the temperature in downtown buildings. The results of the research are a supplement to the analyses carried out in connection with the observation of thermal behavior of urban development. The possibility of referencing the results will influence the residents’ awareness. It is important to use appropriate building materials and greenery as one of the elements improving the comfort of living in the city.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyamli Singh ◽  
Ovamani Olive Kagweza

Climate Change has become a threat worldwide. Vulnerable communities are at foremost risk of repercussions of climate change. The present study aimed at highlighting a case study of climate change impacts on Lwengo District of Uganda. Out of the total geographical area of the district, 85% hectares are under cultivation and most of its population depends majorly on the rain- fed agriculture sector to meet the food requirement and as a major income source. With the changing climatic conditions, agriculture is the major sector which is being impacted. The region has experienced disasters from some time, usually the second seasons rains used to result in such disasters but since 2016 both seasons have occurred disasters, which majorly include hailstorm, strong wind, long dry spells, pests and diseases. The situation became more severe due to shortage of availability of skilled human resources, quality equipment for disaster management, limited financial resources and weak institutional capacity, which resulted in increasing vulnerability of small farm holders. Some of the adaptation strategies are being taken up by the government but there is a need to understand prospects of decision-making that are site specific and more sustainable for smallholder communities. Climatic changes possess many obstacles to farming communities which require sustainable adaptation to enhance the adaptive capacities of the communities through continued production systems, which are more resilient to the vagaries of weather. Farmers are practising such options which are location specific, governed by policy framework and dependent on dynamism of farmers. This study investigated how these drivers influence farmers’ decision- making in relation to climate change adaptations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasios Loukas

<p>It is common today to consider that climate is expected to change or even climate change is present and evident.  A changing climate leads to changes in the frequency, intensity, spatial extent, duration, and timing of climate extremes, and may result in unprecedented events. Changes in extremes of a climate variable are not always related in a simple way to changes in the mean of the same variable or a hydrological variable, and in some cases may be of opposite sign to a change in the mean of the variable.  Also, the changes vary from one geographical region to another.   In this review paper, examples of climate change impact studies on hydro-meteorological extremes, i.e. extreme precipitation, floods and droughts, in the Mediterranean region, are presented and discussed.  In this geographical area, agriculture is the main consumer of water, demanding 60-90% of the total water use. The impacts of the climate change induced modifications of hydro-meteorological extremes and water management practices on the availability of surface water and groundwater resources are also discussed.</p>


Author(s):  
Indalecio Mendoza Uribe

The impacts of Climate Change are not homogeneous globally or for a country or region as a whole. Consequently, it is essential to carry out studies to identify its effects in particular areas. Due to its geographical and topographic characteristics, Chihuahua's state is vulnerable to the adverse effects of Climate Change. The scarce availability of water resources leads to problems of social pressure and economic impact. This paper analyzes the alteration of the rainfall regime in Chihuahua's state and its association with Climate Change. For this, historical characterization is used; trend analysis using the Mann Kendall test; and calculation of 10 indices of climatic extremes proposed by the Group of Experts for Detection and Climate Change Indices for the precipitation variable. The results showed that the precipitation patterns in the south and southeast of Chihuahua's state have been gradually modifying, with a downward trend in annual accumulated and reduction of wet days. Still, in counterpart, there is a slight intensification of extreme rainfall. This fact added to the growing demand for water resources in the entity, requests for public policies for sustainable management and responsible use by users. Otherwise, there is a risk of experiencing negative effects associated with the over-exploitation of water, not only for the resource users but also for the environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
S Anandakumar ◽  
G Ramakrishnan

India has one of the largest concentrations of tribal population in the world after Africa. The Tribal areas of India are mostly sheltered and remote, as a result of it a very little is known about their conditions and problems. The tribes are more compared not only in relation to the general population, but also compared with scheduled caste, the other acknowledged backward social group with constitutional protection. Tamil Nadu is one of the major states of the southern zone in India, consists of important tribal groups. The tribal areas of Tamil Nadu can be broadly divided into two major geographical dimensions such as the eastern coastal line and the mountainous regions of the north and west. The average elevation of the Eastern Ghats is 2000 feet and the highest peak is 6000 feet. This range is not continuous in Tamil Nadu. The Indian Sub-continent, in the Indian geographical area of Tamil Nadu covers about 1, 30,000 sq kms, representing nearly four percent of the total geographical area. There are more than 40 different tribes in Tamil Nadu. Scholars believe that most languages are closely related to Tamil and belong to the Dravidian language family. 


2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-34
Author(s):  
M. Pásztorová ◽  
J. Skalová ◽  
J. Vitková ◽  
M. Juráková

Development of groundwater levels as a consequense of climate changeClimate change poses a significant threat to many wetland ecosystems. Wetlands exist in a transition zone between aquatic and terrestrial environments and can be affected by slight alterations in regional hydrology, which can influence climate change through air temperature changes, regional changes in a rainfall regime, surface run-off, snow, duration of the winter season, groundwater resources and evapotranspiration.Climate change in wetland areas is most significantly reflected in water levels and adjacent groundwater levels, and it can significantly change the hydroecological proportions of wetland ecosystems and endanger rare wetland fauna and flora communities. The focus of this paper is the impact of climate change on the groundwater level in the Záhorie Protected Landscape area in the Zelienka national nature reservation. The impact of the climate change was solved through the meteorological characteristic changes adapted by the GISS98 and CCCM2000 climatic scenarios. The groundwater level was determined by the HYDRUS-ET model for the time frames 2010, 2030 and 2075 in 20-year time intervals and consequently compared to the reference period of 1971-1990.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross Gittell ◽  
Josh Stillwagon

<p>This paper explores the influence of US state-level policies meant to address climate change on clean technology industry development. The largest influence of climate change policies is identified as being on energy research employment. Only some policies seem to contribute positively to clean tech employment while other policies appear to discourage employment growth. The magnitudes of the short term effects, even when statistically significant, are modest. Negative impacts on employment are identified for several mandate-oriented, so called command and control, policies including vehicle greenhouse gas standards, energy efficiency resource standards, and renewable portfolio standards with the former two having increasing negative effects over time. The findings suggest that climate change policy advocates should be careful to not assume that there will be positive clean tech employment benefits from state-level energy and environmental policies. Instead, the benefits from these policies may derive primarily from other considerations beyond the scope of this paper, including health and environmental benefits and reduction of dependence on foreign energy sources.</p>


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