Protracted groundwater depletion after drought in the Central Valley of California
Class
Article
Department
Plants, Soils, and Climate
Faculty Mentor
Shih-Yu Wang
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Ongoing (2014) severe drought in the Central Valley of California has triggered a groundwater-drilling boom that has accelerated the reduction in aquifer storage. In general, drought and groundwater depletion occurs within the same year but this correlation has changed over the last decade in the Central Valley. Data derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and 450 wells have revealed both a continual and enhanced depletion in groundwater storage after drought. Possible causes include (a) a considerable amplification in the 4-6-year drought frequency after year 2000 indicated by wavelet analysis, and (b) increased pumping. Altogether, the implication is that groundwater resources in the Central Valley will likely continue to diminish even further in 2015, regardless of the drought status.
Start Date
4-9-2015 3:00 PM
Protracted groundwater depletion after drought in the Central Valley of California
Ongoing (2014) severe drought in the Central Valley of California has triggered a groundwater-drilling boom that has accelerated the reduction in aquifer storage. In general, drought and groundwater depletion occurs within the same year but this correlation has changed over the last decade in the Central Valley. Data derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and 450 wells have revealed both a continual and enhanced depletion in groundwater storage after drought. Possible causes include (a) a considerable amplification in the 4-6-year drought frequency after year 2000 indicated by wavelet analysis, and (b) increased pumping. Altogether, the implication is that groundwater resources in the Central Valley will likely continue to diminish even further in 2015, regardless of the drought status.