Research

17 pages, 19300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Groundwater Recharge Potential in High Latitude Landscapes Using Public Data, Remote Sensing, and Analytic Hierarchy Process

by Edgar J. Guerrón-Orejuela, Kai C. Rains, Tyelyn M. Brigino, William J. Kleindl, Shawn M. Landry, Patricia Spellman, Coowe M. Walker and Mark C. Rains

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(10), 2630; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102630 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1483

Abstract

Understanding where groundwater recharge occurs is essential for managing groundwater resources, especially source-water protection. This can be especially difficult in remote mountainous landscapes where access and data availability are limited. We developed a groundwater recharge potential (GWRP) map across such a landscape based [...] Read more.

Understanding where groundwater recharge occurs is essential for managing groundwater resources, especially source-water protection. This can be especially difficult in remote mountainous landscapes where access and data availability are limited. We developed a groundwater recharge potential (GWRP) map across such a landscape based on six readily available datasets selected through the literature review: precipitation, geology, soil texture, slope, drainage density, and land cover. We used field observations, community knowledge, and the Analytical Hierarchy Process to rank and weight the spatial datasets within the GWRP model. We found that GWRP is the highest where precipitation is relatively high, geologic deposits are coarse-grained and unconsolidated, soils are variants of sands and gravels, the terrain is flat, drainage density is low, and land cover is undeveloped. We used GIS to create a map of GWRP, determining that over 83% of this region has a moderate or greater capacity for groundwater recharge. We used two methods to validate this map and assessed it as approximately 87% accurate. This study provides an important tool to support informed groundwater management decisions in this and other similar remote mountainous landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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24 pages, 13772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Aquifer Recharge Potential Zones (ARPZ) Using Integrated Geospatial and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in an Arid Region of Saudi Arabia

by Mohd Yawar Ali Khan, Mohamed ElKashouty, Faisal K. Zaidi and Johnbosco C. Egbueri

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(10), 2567; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102567 - 14 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1494

Abstract

There is an urgent need to explore and analyze new aquifer recharge potential zones (ARPZ) in arid regions exposed mainlyto hard rock local aquifers, whether fractured or non-fractured, for investment and fulfillment of the Saudi Vision 2030. Over-pumping, seawater intrusion, climatological changes, population [...] Read more.

There is an urgent need to explore and analyze new aquifer recharge potential zones (ARPZ) in arid regions exposed mainlyto hard rock local aquifers, whether fractured or non-fractured, for investment and fulfillment of the Saudi Vision 2030. Over-pumping, seawater intrusion, climatological changes, population growth, lack of traditional water supplies, expensive desalinized water, and excessive evaporation have characterized the Duba region of Tabuk province of Saudi Arabia (SA). Aquifer productivity and potentiality are affected by surface geology, rainfall, lineament density, drainage density, slope, elevation, soil, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). This study aims to demarcate the ARPZ using integrated remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) and (RS) approaches. The relative importance of each parameter was determined based on its impact on the aquifer’s potential through the analytical hierarchical process (AHP). The ARPZ zones are categorized into five classes starting from very low to very high potentiality. Southern, western, and northern areas have high to very high aquifer potentiality and recharge. They made up roughly 43% of the area that was examined. About 41.8% of the research area is comprised of low to very low groundwater potentiality, and this potentiality is dispersed over the western and central regions of the region. The medium aquifer potentiality level reflects about 15.2%. The high to very high aquifer potentiality areas coincide with low concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and nitrate (NO₃). The outcomes emphasized the decisiveness of the entire study and its applicability to any place with similar groundwater aspirations and management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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18 pages, 43637 KiB

Open AccessArticle

InSAR-Based Early Warning Monitoring Framework to Assess Aquifer Deterioration

by Felipe Orellana, Daniela Rivera, Gonzalo Montalva and José Luis Arumi

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(7), 1786; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071786 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2384

Abstract

Aquifer surveillance is key to understanding the dynamics of groundwater reservoirs. Attention should be focused on developing strategies to monitor and mitigate the adverse consequences of overexploitation. In this context, ground surface deformation monitoring allows us to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution [...] Read more.

Aquifer surveillance is key to understanding the dynamics of groundwater reservoirs. Attention should be focused on developing strategies to monitor and mitigate the adverse consequences of overexploitation. In this context, ground surface deformation monitoring allows us to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution of groundwater levels, determine the recharge times of the aquifers, and calibrate the hydrological models. This study proposes a methodology for implementing advanced multitemporal differential interferometry (InSAR) techniques for water withdrawal surveillance and early warning assessment. For this, large open-access images were used, a total of 145 SAR images from the Sentinel 1 C-band satellite provided by the Copernicus mission of the European Space Agency. InSAR processing was carried out with an algorithm based on parallel computing technology implemented in cloud infrastructure, optimizing complex workflows and processing times. The surveillance period records 6-years of satellite observation from September 2016 to December 2021 over the city of Chillan (Chile), an area exposed to urban development and intensive agriculture, where ~80 wells are located. The groundwater flow path spans from the Andes Mountain range to the Pacific Ocean, crossing the Itata river basin in the Chilean central valley. InSAR validation measurements were carried out by comparing the results with the values of continuous GNSS stations available in the area of interest. The performance analysis is based on spatial analysis, time series, meteorological stations data, and static level measurements, as well as hydrogeological structure. The results indicate seasonal variations in winter and summer, which corresponds to the recovery and drawdown periods with velocities > −10 mm/year, and an aquifer deterioration trend of up to 60 mm registered in the satellite SAR observation period. Our results show an efficient tool to monitor aquifer conditions, including irreversible consolidation and storage capacity loss, allowing timely decision making to avoid harmful exploitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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18 pages, 4805 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Water Resources Management on Land Water Storage in the Lower Lancang River Basin: Insights from Multi-Mission Earth Observations

by Xingxing Zhang

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(7), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071747 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1396

Abstract

Climate change and heavy reservoir regulation in the lower Lancang River basin (LLRB) have caused significant impacts on terrestrial water storage (TWS) in several ways, including changes in surface water storage (SWS), soil moisture storage (SMS), and groundwater storage (GWS). Understanding these impacts [...] Read more.

Climate change and heavy reservoir regulation in the lower Lancang River basin (LLRB) have caused significant impacts on terrestrial water storage (TWS) in several ways, including changes in surface water storage (SWS), soil moisture storage (SMS), and groundwater storage (GWS). Understanding these impacts is crucial for promoting comprehensive cooperation in managing and utilizing water resources within the basin. This study utilized multi-mission Earth observation (EO) datasets, i.e., gravimetry (GRACE/-FO), altimetry (Jason-2, Sentinel-3, and Cryosat-2), imagery (Sentinel-1/2), and microwave sensors (IMERG), as well as gauged meteorological, hydrological data and reanalysis products, to investigate the spatial-temporal variation of water resources in the LLRB. The study shows that the fluctuations in precipitation and the construction of reservoirs are the primary drivers of changes in the TWS anomaly (TWSA) in the region. Precipitation decreased significantly from 2010 to 2019 (−34.68 cm/yr), but the TWSA showed a significant increase (8.96 cm/yr) due to enhanced water storage capacity in the Xiaowan and Nuozhadu reservoirs. SWS and GWS were also analyzed, with SWS showing a decrease (−5.48 cm/yr) from 2010 to 2019 due to declining precipitation and increasing evaporation. GWS exhibited a steady rise (9.73 cm/yr) due to the maintenance of groundwater levels by the reservoirs. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of EO data for monitoring water resources at a regional scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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17 pages, 9781 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inverted Algorithm of Groundwater Storage Anomalies by Combining the GNSS, GRACE/GRACE-FO, and GLDAS: A Case Study in the North China Plain

by Yifan Shen, Wei Zheng, Huizhong Zhu, Wenjie Yin, Aigong Xu, Fei Pan, Qiang Wang and Yelong Zhao

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(22), 5683; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225683 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1847

Abstract

As the largest groundwater drainage region in China, the per capita water resources in the North China Plain (NCP) account for only one-seventh of the country’s available water resources. Currently, the NCP is experiencing a serious water shortage due to the overexploitation of [...] Read more.

As the largest groundwater drainage region in China, the per capita water resources in the North China Plain (NCP) account for only one-seventh of the country’s available water resources. Currently, the NCP is experiencing a serious water shortage due to the overexploitation of groundwater resources and a subsequent series of natural disasters. Thus, accurate regional assessments and effective water resource management policies are of critical importance. To accomplish this phenomenon, the daily terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) over the NCP is calculated from the combination of the GNSS vertical deformation sequences (seasonal items) and GRACE (trend items). The groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) in the NCP is obtained by subtracting the canopy water, soil water, and snow water equivalent components from the TWSA. The inversion results of this study are verified by comparisons with the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data products. The elevated annual amplitude areas are located in Beijing and Tianjin, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), root mean square error (RMSE), and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) between the two GWSA results are 0.67, 4.01 cm, and 0.61, respectively. This indicates that the methods proposed in this study are reliable. Finally, the groundwater drought index was calculated for the period from 2011 to 2021, and the results showed that 2019 was the driest year, with a drought severity index value of −0.12, indicative of slightly moderate drought conditions. By calculating and analyzing the annual GWSA, this work shows that the South–North Water Transfer Project does provide some regional drought mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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13 pages, 1734 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drivers of Groundwater Change in China and Future Projections

by Kai Liu, Jianxin Zhang and Ming Wang

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(19), 4825; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14194825 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1575

Abstract

Observations worldwide have shown that in recent decades, groundwater depletion intensified notably in many regions. Understanding the interacting drivers of groundwater change enables better human adaptations to climate change and socioeconomic development. Here we use a structural equation model to quantify the contribution [...] Read more.

Observations worldwide have shown that in recent decades, groundwater depletion intensified notably in many regions. Understanding the interacting drivers of groundwater change enables better human adaptations to climate change and socioeconomic development. Here we use a structural equation model to quantify the contribution of natural and human-induced processes on the groundwater of China by using terrestrial water storage observed by GRACE in combination with climate and socioecological related data at a provincial scale. The results reveal that the influence of climate on groundwater change through indirect impact on the agriculture water consumption is larger than that through direct replenishment. Socioeconomic development contributes in the same order of magnitude as the direct replenishment by climate variabilities to groundwater. In general, forest plays an important role in reserving groundwater at a provincial scale. Based on future climate projections and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, it is projected that most regions in China will experience a greater groundwater depletion in the future and the variance among regions will become larger. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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18 pages, 4809 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Understanding of Groundwater Storage Changes under the Influence of River Basin Governance Using GRACE Data and Downscaling Model

by Jianchong Sun, Litang Hu, Xin Liu and Kangning Sun

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(19), 4719; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14194719 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1566

Abstract

The low spatial resolution of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data limits their application in practical groundwater resource management. To overcome this limitation, this study developed a dynamic downscaling method based on a model using groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) data to study [...] Read more.

The low spatial resolution of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data limits their application in practical groundwater resource management. To overcome this limitation, this study developed a dynamic downscaling method based on a model using groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) data to study groundwater storage changes in an inland arid region. The groundwater storage model was calibrated using publicly accessible data at a spatial resolution of 1°. The constructed model had a satisfactory fitting effect in both the calibration and validation periods, with correlation coefficients over 0.60, in general, and a root mean square error of less than 1.00 cm equivalent water height (EWH). It was found that the hydraulic gradient coefficient was the most sensitive parameter, whereas the boundary condition had an obvious influence on the simulated GWSA compared to the different forcing data. The model was then refined at a higher resolution (0.05°) using driving data to obtain downscaled GWSA data. The downscaled results had a similar pattern to the GRACE-derived GWSA and reflected the spatial heterogeneity across the basin scale and subregion scales. The downscaled GWSA shows that the groundwater storage had an overall downward trend during the period from 2003 to 2019 and the annual decline rates ranged from 0.22 to 0.32 cm/year in four subregions. A four-month time lag between the field-observed and downscaled GWSA was observed downstream of the study area. This study provides an applicable method for assessing groundwater storage changes for groundwater management at the local scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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21 pages, 12209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Space-Time Evolutions of Land Subsidence in the Choushui River Alluvial Fan (Taiwan) from Multiple-Sensor Observations

by Yi-An Chen, Chung-Pai Chang, Wei-Chia Hung, Jiun-Yee Yen, Chih-Heng Lu and Cheinway Hwang

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(12), 2281; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13122281 - 10 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2993

Abstract

Land subsidence is a significant problem around the world that can increase the risk of flooding, damage to infrastructure, and economic loss. Hence, the continual monitoring of subsidence is important for early detection, mechanism understanding, countermeasure implementation, and deformation prediction. In this study, [...] Read more.

Land subsidence is a significant problem around the world that can increase the risk of flooding, damage to infrastructure, and economic loss. Hence, the continual monitoring of subsidence is important for early detection, mechanism understanding, countermeasure implementation, and deformation prediction. In this study, we used multiple-sensor observations from the Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS), the small baseline subset (SBAS) algorithm, interferometric synthetic-aperture radar (InSAR), precise leveling, multi-layer compaction monitoring wells (MLCWs), and groundwater observation wells (GWs) to show the spatial and temporal details of land subsidence in the Choushui River alluvial fan (CRAF), Taiwan, from 1993 to 2019. The results showed that significant land subsidence has occurred along the coastal areas in the CRAF, and most of the inland subsidence areas have also experienced higher subsidence rates (>30 mm/yr). The analysis of subsidence along the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) revealed a newly formed subsidence center between Tuku and Yuanchang Townships in Yunlin, with high subsidence rates ranging from 30 to 70 mm/yr. We propose a map showing, for the first time, the distribution of deep compactions occurring below 300 m depth in the CRAF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Approaches to Groundwater Management and Mapping)

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