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Global patterns and dynamics of climate–groundwater interactions

Author

Listed:
  • M. O. Cuthbert

    (Cardiff University
    Water Research Institute, Cardiff University
    Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre, UNSW Sydney)

  • T. Gleeson

    (University of Victoria
    University of Victoria)

  • N. Moosdorf

    (Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT))

  • K. M. Befus

    (University of Wyoming)

  • A. Schneider

    (Sorbonne Université, Milieux environnementaux, transferts et interactions dans les hydrosystèmes et les sols, METIS)

  • J. Hartmann

    (Institute for Geology, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), Universität Hamburg)

  • B. Lehner

    (McGill University)

Abstract

Groundwater, the largest available store of global freshwater1, is relied upon by more than two billion people2. It is therefore important to quantify the spatiotemporal interactions between groundwater and climate. However, current understanding of the global-scale sensitivity of groundwater systems to climate change3,4—as well as the resulting variation in feedbacks from groundwater to the climate system5,6—is limited. Here, using groundwater model results in combination with hydrologic data sets, we examine the dynamic timescales of groundwater system responses to climate change. We show that nearly half of global groundwater fluxes could equilibrate with recharge variations due to climate change on human (~100 year) timescales, and that areas where water tables are most sensitive to changes in recharge are also those that have the longest groundwater response times. In particular, groundwater fluxes in arid regions are shown to be less responsive to climate variability than in humid regions. Adaptation strategies must therefore account for the hydraulic memory of groundwater systems, which can buffer climate change impacts on water resources in many regions, but may also lead to a long, but initially hidden, legacy of anthropogenic and climatic impacts on river flows and groundwater-dependent ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • M. O. Cuthbert & T. Gleeson & N. Moosdorf & K. M. Befus & A. Schneider & J. Hartmann & B. Lehner, 2019. "Global patterns and dynamics of climate–groundwater interactions," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(2), pages 137-141, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:9:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1038_s41558-018-0386-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0386-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiufen Gu & HongGuang Sun & Yong Zhang & Shujun Zhang & Chengpeng Lu, 2022. "Partial Wavelet Coherence to Evaluate Scale-dependent Relationships Between Precipitation/Surface Water and Groundwater Levels in a Groundwater System," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(7), pages 2509-2522, May.
    2. Leonardo V. Noto & Giuseppe Cipolla & Antonio Francipane & Dario Pumo, 2023. "Climate Change in the Mediterranean Basin (Part I): Induced Alterations on Climate Forcings and Hydrological Processes," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2287-2305, May.
    3. Badir S. Alsaeed & Dexter V. L. Hunt & Soroosh Sharifi, 2022. "Sustainable Water Resources Management Assessment Frameworks (SWRM-AF) for Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-31, November.

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