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Impact of anticipated climate change on direct groundwater recharge in a humid tropical basin based on a simple conceptual model
Author(s) -
Thampi Santosh G.,
Raneesh K. Y.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.8285
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , climate change , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , groundwater , precipitation , water table , drainage basin , hydrological modelling , hydrogeology , climate model , water balance , climatology , aquifer , geology , geography , meteorology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering , cartography
Abstract A simple conceptual semi‐distributed modelling approach for assessing the impacts of climate change on direct groundwater recharge in a humid tropical river basin is investigated. The study area is the Chaliyar river basin in the state of Kerala, India. Many factors affecting future groundwater recharge include decrease or increase in precipitation and temperature regimes, coastal flooding, urbanization and changes in land use. The model is based on the water‐balance concept and links the atmospheric and hydrogeologic parameters to different hydrologic processes. It estimates daily water‐table fluctuation and is calibrated and validated using 10 years of data. Data for the first 6 years (2000 to 2005) is used for model calibration, and data for the remaining four years (2006 to 2009) is used for validation. For assessing the impact of predicted climate change on groundwater recharge during the period 2071–2100, temperature and precipitation data in two post climate change scenarios, A2 and B2, were predicted using the Regional Climate Model (RCM), PRECIS (Providing Regional Climates for Impact Studies). These data were then corrected for biases and used in a hydrologic model to predict groundwater recharge in the post climate change scenario. Due to lack of reliable data and proper knowledge as to the magnitude and extent of future climatic changes, it may not be possible to include all the possible effects quantitatively in groundwater recharge modelling. However, the study presents a scientific method to assess the impact of predicted climate change on groundwater recharge and would help engineers, hydrologists, administrators and planners to devise strategies for the efficient use as well as conservation of freshwater resources. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.