Abstract
Understanding groundwater storage dynamic changes and quantifying the trends of groundwater fluctuations in the Helmand River Basin (HRB) aquifers, where the groundwater is the main source for drinking and irrigation applications, is significantly important in order to effectively manage groundwater resources. This case study quantifies the changes in groundwater storage over 18 years (i.e., from 2003 to 2021) in the HRB by employing the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) observations and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data due to sparse groundwater monitoring networks and lack of ground-based information. The data of observation wells was applied to validate the results of the GRACE and GLDAS outputs. The results indicate that changes in groundwater storage on average from 2003 to 2021 are equal to (-98.6 ± 226.84 mm or -1.9 ± 4.38 km3/year). On average, during 2003 to 2021 groundwater table decline was -2.6 m in the HRB. The study indicates relatively strong correlation (0.75) between the GRACE derived data and direct in-situ measurements. This study highlights the effectiveness of the GRACE-derived data for the reliable estimation of groundwater storage changes in the HRB and may contribute to sustainable groundwater resources management in the region.
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Data availability
The data supporting the findings of this research are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Notes
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
GRACE Follow-On.
terrestrial water storage.
Global Land Data Assimilation System.
Corporate social responsibility.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Land Data Assimilation System.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Ministry of Energy and Water of Afghanistan and DACAAR organization for the data provided on observation wells of the study area. The authors are also grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and constructive suggestions.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design, material preparation, data collection and data analysis were performed by Aref Nazari, Abdulhalim Zaryab and Abdullah Ahmadi. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Aref Nazari. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Communicated by: H. Babaie
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Nazari, A., Zaryab, A. & Ahmadi, A. Estimation of groundwater storage change in the Helmand River Basin (Afghanistan) using GRACE satellite data. Earth Sci Inform 16, 579–589 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-022-00899-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-022-00899-0