The Ecosystem Resilience Concept Applied to Hydrogeological Systems: A General Approach

Abstract

We have witnessed the great changes that hydrogeological systems are facing in the last decades: rivers that have dried up; wetlands that have disappeared, leaving their buckets converted into farmland; and aquifers that have been intensively exploited for years, among others. Humans have caused the most part of these results that can be worsened by climate change, with delayed effects on groundwater quantity and quality. The consequences are negatively impacting ecosystems and dependent societies. The concept of resilience has not been extensively used in the hydrogeological research, and it can be a very useful concept that can improve the understanding and management of these systems. The aim of this work is to briefly discuss the role of resilience in the context of freshwater systems affected by either climate or anthropic actions as a way to increase our understanding of how anticipating negative changes (transitions) may contribute to improving the management of the system and preserving the services that it provides. First, the article presents the basic concepts applied to hydrogeological systems from the ecosystem’s resilience approach. Second, the factors controlling for hydrogeological systems’ responses to different impacts are commented upon. Third, a case study is analyzed and discussed. Finally, the useful implications of the concept are discussed.

Resilience Viewed through the Lens of Climate Change and Water Management

“…For instance, water tables may not return to pre-drought levels (steady state 1) even if rainfall is the same as before (Figure 5). This could be due to a host of factors including greater reliance on groundwater during the drought; associated changes in land cover/use; impacts of wildfire on infiltration; vegetation dieback; irreversible loss of glacier/snowpack; permanent disconnection of hillslope-surface drainage networks, or alteration of hydrogeological pathways [66]. This kind of change in state has been observed in the Colorado River Basin where, after nine years of drought and groundwater depletion, "this strategic reserve is considered largely unrecoverable by natural means" [67] (p. 5910).…”

Impacts of Climate on Renewable Groundwater Resources and/or Stream–Aquifer Interactions

“…Since the call for papers was announced in March 2019, and after a rigorous peer-review process, six papers have been accepted for publication [1][2][3][4][5][6]. To gain a better insight into the essence of the Special Issue, we offer brief highlights of the published papers below.…”

“…The paper "The Ecosystem Resilience Concept Applied to Hydrogeological Systems: A General Approach" [4] discusses the role of resilience of hydrogeological systems affected by either climate and/or anthropic actions in order to understand how anticipating negative changes (transitions) and preserving its services. The paper reports typical human actions modifying groundwater dynamics of hydrogeological systems in recent decades, which can be increased by climate change with delayed effects on groundwater quantity and quality as rivers that have dried up, wetlands that have disappeared, leaving their buckets converted into farmland, and aquifers that have been intensively exploited for years.…”

Are geochemical regime shifts identifiable in river waters? Exploring the compositional dynamics of the Tiber River (Italy)

“…water-table variations and ground-surface water interactions (e.g. H. Fuchsa et al, 2018;de la Hera-Portillo et al, 2020). The basic ingredient for a regime shift is the presence of positive feedback which drives the system toward an alternative state (Angeli et al, 2004).…”