Ground referencing GRACE satellite estimates of groundwater storage changes in the California Central Valley, USA

Scanlon, Bridget R.; Longuevergne, Laurent; Long, Di

doi:10.1029/2011wr011312

Cited by 341 publications

(253 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, GRACE measurements have indeed captured some interesting long-term regional groundwater changes over the world that can be verified by either in situ groundwater level data or analysis of precipitation data. GRACE-observed long-term regional groundwater changes include significant groundwater depletion in northwest and northern India (Rodell et al 2009;Tiwari et al 2009;Chen et al 2014), the Middle East Joodaki et al 2014), California's Central Valley Scanlon et al 2012a), and the southern MDB in Australia (Leblanc et al 2009Chen et al 2015a), and lower groundwater depletions in the NCP in China ) and HPA in the USA (Strassberg et al 2009;Scanlon et al 2012b;Famiglietti and Rodell 2013). (Geruo et al 2013).…”

Section: Groundwater Depletion From Gracementioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Storage Changes: Present Status from GRACE Observations

et al. 2015

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Satellite gravity measurements from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) provide quantitative measurement of terrestrial water storage (TWS) changes with unprecedented accuracy. Combining GRACE-observed TWS changes and independent estimates of water change in soil and snow and surface reservoirs offers a means for estimating groundwater storage change. Since its launch in March 2002, GRACE time-variable gravity data have been successfully used to quantify long-term groundwater storage changes in different regions over the world, including northwest India, the High Plains Aquifer and the Central Valley in the USA, the North China Plain, Middle East, and southern Murray-Darling Basin in Australia, where groundwater storage has been significantly depleted in recent years (or decades). It is difficult to rely on in situ groundwater measurements for accurate quantification of large, regional-scale groundwater storage changes, especially at long timescales due to inadequate spatial and temporal coverage of in situ data and uncertainties in storage coefficients. The now nearly 13 years of GRACE gravity data provide a successful and unique complementary tool for monitoring and measuring groundwater changes on a global and regional basis. Despite the successful applications of GRACE in studying global groundwater storage change, there are still some major challenges limiting the application and interpretation of GRACE data. In this paper, we present an overview of GRACE applications in groundwater studies and discuss if and how the main challenges to using GRACE data can be addressed.

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Section: Groundwater Depletion From Gracementioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Storage Changes: Present Status from GRACE Observations

et al. 2015

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“…In the CV, GWS depletion during the late 2000s drought calculated from GRACE data (6-8 km 3 /y totaling 24-34 km 3 from April 2006 to March 2010) is similar or lower than depletions estimated from groundwater modeling for previous droughts (1976-1977; 12 km 3 /y; 1987-1992; 8 km 3 /y) (11,13,14). Therefore, GRACE data can monitor basin-scale changes in GWS, which complement much higher spatial-resolution GWS changes from ground-based monitoring and modeling analyses.…”

Section: Comparison Of General Attributes Of the Hp-and Cvirrigated Rmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Groundwater depletion in the CV was examined using the newly developed CV hydrologic model (11). The GRACE satellites have also been used to monitor groundwater depletion in both aquifers (12,13,14). The impact of climate variability on water resources is addressed; however, effects of climate change projections are outside the scope of the study.…”

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confidence: 99%

Groundwater depletion and sustainability of irrigation in the US High Plains and Central Valley

Scanlon

Faunt

Longuevergne

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,010

747

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International audienceAquifer overexploitation could significantly impact crop production in the United States because 60% of irrigation relies on groundwater. Groundwater depletion in the irrigated High Plains and California Central Valley accounts for ∼50% of groundwater depletion in the United States since 1900. A newly developed High Plains recharge map shows that high recharge in the northern High Plains results in sustainable pumpage, whereas lower recharge in the central and southern High Plains has resulted in focused depletion of 330 km3 of fossil groundwater, mostly recharged during the past 13,000 y. Depletion is highly localized with about a third of depletion occurring in 4% of the High Plains land area. Extrapolation of the current depletion rate suggests that 35% of the southern High Plains will be unable to support irrigation within the next 30 y. Reducing irrigation withdrawals could extend the lifespan of the aquifer but would not result in sustainable management of this fossil groundwater. The Central Valley is a more dynamic, engineered system, with north/south diversions of surface water since the 1950s contributing to ∼7× higher recharge. However, these diversions are regulated because of impacts on endangered species. A newly developed Central Valley Hydrologic Model shows that groundwater depletion since the 1960s, totaling 80 km3, occurs mostly in the south (Tulare Basin) and primarily during droughts. Increasing water storage through artificial recharge of excess surface water in aquifers by up to 3 km3 shows promise for coping with droughts and improving sustainability of groundwater resources in the Central Valley

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“…Many studies have compared changes in groundwater storage obtained from GRACE data with in situ data for validating the accuracy of GRACE data at either regional or continental scales (Henry et al, 2011;Leblanc et al, 2009;Rodell et al, 2009Rodell et al, , 2007Scanlon et al, 2012a, b;Syed et al, 2009).…”

Section: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiments (Grace) For Detectinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater-dependent ecosystems: recent insights from satellite and field-based studies

Eamus

Zolfaghar

Villalobos‐Vega

et al. 2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

121

112

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Abstract. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are at risk globally due to unsustainable levels of groundwater extraction, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In this review, we examine recent developments in the ecohydrology of GDEs with a focus on three knowledge gaps: (1) how do we locate GDEs, (2) how much water is transpired from shallow aquifers by GDEs and (3) what are the responses of GDEs to excessive groundwater extraction? The answers to these questions will determine water allocations that are required to sustain functioning of GDEs and to guide regulations on groundwater extraction to avoid negative impacts on GDEs.We discuss three methods for identifying GDEs: (1) techniques relying on remotely sensed information; (2) fluctuations in depth-to-groundwater that are associated with diurnal variations in transpiration; and (3) stable isotope analysis of water sources in the transpiration stream.We then discuss several methods for estimating rates of GW use, including direct measurement using sapflux or eddy covariance technologies, estimation of a climate wetness index within a Budyko framework, spatial distribution of evapotranspiration (ET) using remote sensing, groundwater modelling and stable isotopes. Remote sensing methods often rely on direct measurements to calibrate the relationship between vegetation indices and ET. ET from GDEs is also determined using hydrologic models of varying complexity, from the White method to fully coupled, variable saturation models. Combinations of methods are typically employed to obtain clearer insight into the components of groundwater discharge in GDEs, such as the proportional importance of transpiration versus evaporation (e.g. using stable isotopes) or from groundwater versus rainwater sources.Groundwater extraction can have severe consequences for the structure and function of GDEs. In the most extreme cases, phreatophytes experience crown dieback and death following groundwater drawdown. We provide a brief review of two case studies of the impacts of GW extraction and then provide an ecosystem-scale, multiple trait, integrated metric of the impact of differences in groundwater depth on the structure and function of eucalypt forests growing along a natural gradient in depth-to-groundwater. We conclude with a discussion of a depth-to-groundwater threshold in this mesic GDE. Beyond this threshold, significant changes occur in ecosystem structure and function.

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Ground referencing GRACE satellite estimates of groundwater storage changes in the California Central Valley, USA

Cited by 341 publications

References 24 publications

Groundwater Storage Changes: Present Status from GRACE Observations

Groundwater Storage Changes: Present Status from GRACE Observations

Groundwater depletion and sustainability of irrigation in the US High Plains and Central Valley

Groundwater-dependent ecosystems: recent insights from satellite and field-based studies

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