Chronic groundwater decline: a multi-decadal analysis of groundwater trends under extreme climate cycles
Article
Article Title | Chronic groundwater decline: a multi-decadal analysis of groundwater trends under extreme climate cycles |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 1949 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Le Brocque, Andrew F. (Author), Kath, Jarrod (Author) and Reardon-Smith, Kathryn (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Hydrology |
Journal Citation | 561, pp. 976-986 |
Number of Pages | 11 |
Year | 2018 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0022-1694 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.04.059 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169418303123 |
Abstract | Chronic groundwater decline is a concern in many of the world’s major agricultural areas. However, a general lack of accurate long-term in situ measurement of groundwater depth and analysis of trends prevents understanding of the dynamics of these systems at landscape scales. This is particularly worrying in the context of future climate uncertainties. This study examines long‐term groundwater responses to climate variability in a major agricultural production landscape in southern Queensland, Australia. Based on records for 381 groundwater bores, we used a modified Mann-Kendall non-parametric test and Sen’s slope estimator to determine groundwater trends across a 26-year period (1989–2015) and in distinct wet and dry climatic phases. Comparison of trends between climatic phases showed groundwater level recovery during wet phases was insufficient to offset the decline in groundwater level from the previous dry phase. Across the entire 26-year sampling period, groundwater bore levels (all bores) showed an overall significant declining trend (p<0.05) of an average 0.06 metres year-1. Fifty-one bores (20%) exhibited significant declining groundwater levels (p<0.05), 25 bores (10%) exhibited significant rising groundwater levels (p<0.05), and 175 bores (70%) exhibited no significant change in groundwater levels (p>0.05). Spatially, both declining and rising bores were highly clustered. We conclude that over 1989–2015 there is a significant net decline in groundwater levels driven by a smaller subset of highly responsive bores in high irrigation areas within the catchment. Despite a number of targeted policy interventions, chronic groundwater decline remains evident in the catchment. We argue that this is likely to continue and to occur more widely under potential climate change and that policy makers, groundwater users and managers need to engage in planning to ensure the sustainability of this vital resource. |
Keywords | groundwater decline; groundwater extraction; temporal trend; drought; aquifer recharge/depletion; climate extremes |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300299. Agriculture, land and farm management not elsewhere classified |
410499. Environmental management not elsewhere classified | |
Byline Affiliations | International Centre for Applied Climate Science |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4q9w/chronic-groundwater-decline-a-multi-decadal-analysis-of-groundwater-trends-under-extreme-climate-cycles
Download files
554
total views241
total downloads5
views this month2
downloads this month
Export as
Related outputs
Spatial modelling of agro-ecologically significant grassland species using the INLA-SPDE approach
Fichera, Andrew, King, Rachel, Kath, Jarrod, Cobon, David and Reardon-Smith, Kathryn. 2023. "Spatial modelling of agro-ecologically significant grassland species using the INLA-SPDE approach." Scientific Reports. 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32077-7Early flowering changes robusta coffee yield responses to climate stress and managementv
Kath, Jarrod, Byrareddy, Vivekananda Mittahalli, Reardon-Smith, Kathryn and Mushtaq, Shahbaz. 2023. "Early flowering changes robusta coffee yield responses to climate stress and managementv." Science of the Total Environment. 856 (Part 1), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158836Effects of climate-smart agricultural practices on crop yields, soil carbon, and nitrogen pools in Africa: a meta-analysis
Kichamu-Wachira, Edith, Xu, Zhihong, Reardon-Smith, Kathryn, Biggs, Duan, Wachira, Geoffrey and Omidvar, Negar. 2021. "Effects of climate-smart agricultural practices on crop yields, soil carbon, and nitrogen pools in Africa: a meta-analysis." Journal of Soils and Sediments: protection, risk assessment and remediation. 21 (4), pp. 1587-1597. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-02885-3Innovations for a climate resilient sustainable agricultural sector
Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Kath, Jarrod and Reardon-Smith, Kathryn. 2022. "Innovations for a climate resilient sustainable agricultural sector." The Australian Farmer: A Digital Publication and Knowledge Tool for the Forward-Thinking Farmer. II, pp. 237-238.Fast estimation and choice of confidence interval methods for step regression
Hua, Shuangcheng, Fong, Youyi and Kath, Jarrod. 2022. "Fast estimation and choice of confidence interval methods for step regression." Environmental and Ecological Statistics. 29 (4), pp. 779-799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10651-022-00547-2Vapour pressure deficit determines critical thresholds for global coffee production under climate change
Kath, Jarrod, Craparo, Alessandro, Fong, Youyi, Byrareddy, Vivekananda, Davis, Aaron P., King, Rachel, Nguyen-Huy, Thong, van Asten, Piet J. A., Marcussen, Torben, Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Stone, Roger and Power, Scott. 2022. "Vapour pressure deficit determines critical thresholds for global coffee production under climate change." Nature Food. 3, pp. 871-880. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00614-8Efficient water management and irrigation on farms
Reardon-Smith, K., Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Scobie, M., Eberhard, J. and Maraseni, T. N.. 2022. "Efficient water management and irrigation on farms." Sims, Ralph E. H. (ed.) Energy-smart farming: efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability. United Kingdom. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited. pp. 102-134A satellite-based Standardized Antecedent Precipitation Index (SAPI) for mapping extreme rainfall risk in Myanmar
Nguyen-Huy, Thong, Kath, Jarrod, Nagler, Thomas, Khaung, Ye, Aung, Thee Su Su, Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Marcussen, Torben and Stone, Roger. 2022. "A satellite-based Standardized Antecedent Precipitation Index (SAPI) for mapping extreme rainfall risk in Myanmar." Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. 26, pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2022.100733Drought Outlook Products Review
Cobon, David, Nguyen-Huy, Thong and Reardon-Smith, Kate. 2019. Drought Outlook Products Review. Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland.A framework for assessing the value of seasonal climate forecasting in key agricultural decisions
An-Vo, Duc-Anh, Radanielson, Ando Mariot, Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Reardon-Smith, Kate and Hewitt, Chris. 2021. "A framework for assessing the value of seasonal climate forecasting in key agricultural decisions." Climate Services. 22, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2021.100234Coping with drought: Lessons learned from robusta coffee growers in Vietnam
Byrareddy, Vivekananda, Kouadio, Louis, Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Kath, Jarrod and Stone, Roger. 2021. "Coping with drought: Lessons learned from robusta coffee growers in Vietnam." Climate Services. 22, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2021.100229