Divergent effects of climate change on future groundwater availability in key mid-latitude aquifers.

ABSTRACT: Groundwater provides critical freshwater supply, particularly in dry regions where surface water availability is limited. Climate change impacts on GWS (groundwater storage) could affect the sustainability of freshwater resources. Here, we used a fully-coupled climate model to investigate GWS changes over seven critical aquifers identified as significantly distressed by satellite observations. We assessed the potential climate-driven impacts on GWS changes throughout the 21^st century under the business-as-usual scenario (RCP8.5). Results show that the climate-driven impacts on GWS changes do not necessarily reflect the long-term trend in precipitation; instead, the trend may result from enhancement of evapotranspiration, and reduction in snowmelt, which collectively lead to dive

SUBMITTER: Wu WY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7382464 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature