A review on implementing managed aquifer recharge in the Middle East and North Africa region: methods, progress and challenges

Ajjur, Salah Basem; Baalousha, Husam Musa

doi:10.1080/02508060.2021.1889192

Cited by 27 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…To ensure the sustainable development of Qatar aquifers, maximum abstraction should not exceed long‐term recharge. Considering the projected decrease in GR, abstraction works should be minimized, and decision‐makers should create and apply managed aquifer recharge projects (Ajjur & Baalousha, 2021). Additionally, the predicted decline in GR rates may imply larger runoffs under same AET losses (i.e., urban flash floods) because, in shallow aquifers, precipitation is partitioned between AET, runoff, and GR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the uncertainty in future groundwater recharge simulations from regional climate models

Ajjur

Al‐Ghamdi

2022

Hydrological Processes

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This study aims to show how future groundwater recharge (GR) simulations in arid areas respond to uncertainty in climatic parameters—a question, if explored, that bridges a gap in water resources management plans. To this aim, eight regional climate models (RCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) projected four climatic parameters [surface air temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and potential evapotranspiration (PET)] over Qatar during the period of 2071–2100. Using topographic and groundwater data, a physically based water balance model was built to simulate future GR under these 16 scenarios. Results show high uncertainty in climatic parameters. Relative to the reference period (1976–2005), values varied under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) from +1.8 to +3.4 (+3.8 to +5.6)°C for average temperature, −48% to +15% (−60% to +6%) for annual precipitation, −0.23 to +0.1 (−0.27 to +0.04) m/hour for wind speed, and from −5.7 to +12.8 (+4.3 to +17) mm for annual PET. Uncertainty in climatic parameters caused great uncertainty in future GR estimations. During the late 21st century, GR simulations varied from −67% to +64% with an average value of −20% under RCP4.5, and from −81% to +8% with an average value of −36% under RCP8.5. The greatest uncertainty resulted from the driving model, whereas the choice of emission scenario had a secondary impact. Since GR is a critical component of feeding arid aquifers, the study's findings emphasize the importance of both considering the uncertainty associated with climatic parameters and the regional climatic information chosen.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the uncertainty in future groundwater recharge simulations from regional climate models

Ajjur

Al‐Ghamdi

2022

Hydrological Processes

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“…Finally, the response of evapotranspiration and water availability to climatic changes during the mid-twenty-first century was defined as the difference between evapotranspiration and water availability projections for 2021-2050 and 1981-2010. Similarly, the variations during the end-twentyfirst century were defined as the difference between evapotranspiration and water availability projections for 2071-2100 and 1981-2010. No temporal downscaling was applied in CMIP6 model projections, primarily because the projection period, 30 years, is short (Dezsi et al 2018). The analyses mentioned above were performed using the Python and ArcGIS software.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increase in PET amplified AET but declined water availability significantly during the twentyfirst century. This implies substantial changes in components of the hydrological cycle, which increased the imbalance between water supply and demand across the MENA region (Ajjur and Baalousha 2021). The study's outcomes are valuable, especially when ground data are unavailable.…”

Section: Aridity Index and Water Availability Variationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evapotranspiration and water availability response to climate change in the Middle East and North Africa

Ajjur

Al-Ghamdi

2021

Climatic Change

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Quantifying the impact of climate change on evapotranspiration is necessary for devising accurate water and energy budgets in light of global warming. Nevertheless, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), little has been done to bridge this gap. This study, then, implements Penman and Budyko approaches to climatic data retrieved from the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) to assess evapotranspiration and water availability evolutions through the twenty-first century. Outcomes reveal that the MENA region is indeed vulnerable to a surge in temperature, which can increase evapotranspiration losses and decrease water availability. Under the shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP2-4.5), the potential evapotranspiration (PET) has been projected to increase throughout the MENA region by up to 0.37 mm per year during the middle of the twenty-first century (2021–2050) and by up to 0.51 mm per year during the end of the twenty-first century (2071–2100). Meanwhile, the actual evapotranspiration (AET) has been projected to increase by up to 0.3 (~0.2) mm per year before 2050 (2100). The trends in both projections (PET and AET) are exaggerated under SSP5-8.5. The analysis predicted a shortage of water availability (precipitation—AET), which is alarming for most MENA regions. Relative to the reference period (1981–2010), the decline in annual water availability would reach 26 (62) mm by 2100 under SSP2-4.5 (SSP5-8.5). The rise in temperatures appears to be the principal reason for MENA and water availability responses. This study’s outcomes can facilitate accurate and realistic predictions related to evapotranspiration and water availability, which are key elements in not only managing water resources but also in devising effective climate change mitigation and adaptation plans.

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“…Here, implementing principle 11 is needful, which may be preceded by multi-stakeholder policy dialogue as provided in [principle 8] to protect the ecosystem and maximize the groundwater towards positive change in storage (þΔS) by means of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) through the policy framework like Integrated Water Planning (IWP) among the governments. The benefits of MAR were correlated to potable water qualities and ecological safety by Water Policy Vol 00 No 0, 13 Ajjur & Baalousha (2021). Ecological wellbeing is the end 'outcome indicator' that water governance aims to secure.…”

Section: Bridging the Gapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water policy reform in the Nigeria water governance system: assessment of water resources management based on OECD Principles on Water Governance

Ukpai

2022

Water Policy

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Conflicts of interest due to cultural, political, and social oversights have threatened effective and efficient corporate water governance in Nigeria. This has affected the inclusive participation of stakeholders, policy makers and the relevant agencies of the water resources management, thus hampering good water governance. Assessing the water governance impacts based on frameworks proposed for effective, efficient and inclusive governance was aimed. Information contributing to the governance input was highlighted by analyzing hydrological units that characterized Nigerian watersheds. Toxicological index (Ti) values were presented as a practical guideline to assessing water policy outcomes. The (Ti) ≥ 1.0 dominated; signifying the water resources exposed to toxic environments. High pollutant loads associated with public health deterioration across Nigeria are considered as impacts indicating lagged water governance. While the lagged governance output manifested in some diseases relating to deficient access to potable water supply/poor sanitation services like Blue baby syndrome, Renal/liver/lung diseases and blood cancer, the outcome showed an absence of health and social wellbeing. These indicators demonstrate the need for incorporating Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles on Water Governance in the Nigerian water governance system. Notably, flexibility across all governance levels can enable shared responsibility to balance economic activities with the ecological wellbeing.

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A review on implementing managed aquifer recharge in the Middle East and North Africa region: methods, progress and challenges

Cited by 27 publications

References 72 publications

Quantifying the uncertainty in future groundwater recharge simulations from regional climate models

Quantifying the uncertainty in future groundwater recharge simulations from regional climate models

Evapotranspiration and water availability response to climate change in the Middle East and North Africa

Water policy reform in the Nigeria water governance system: assessment of water resources management based on OECD Principles on Water Governance

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