Tags:GRACE, Groundwater, Remote Sensing, Total Water Storage and Transboundary Aquifer
Abstract:
Groundwater is the primary source of freshwater for domestic and industrial usage in the Arabian Peninsula countries. Besides, it is becoming a limited resource due to human activities leading to contamination; therefore, it is essential to ensure the groundwater is properly managed. The majority of groundwater in the Arabian Peninsula countries are transboundary systems (TBS) such as the Wajid, Umm er Radhuma, and Wasia Aquifers shared between Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates. These systems have no groundwater sharing agreements, which leads to lack of sharing data, unsustainable and uncoordinated development, increased water depletion, water quality deterioration, and subsidence. This study focuses on quantifying the spatiotemporal variations of water resources, evolving water demand and withdrawal practices in the above- mentioned TBS by combining climate, ground and earth observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), Follow on (GRACE-FO). and other remote sensing missions. We compare the depletion rates and associated water demand and usage practices during the last thirty years for both the study area and the TBS in North Africa that have groundwater- sharing agreements such as the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), and North- Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS). Results emphasize the need for remote sensing-based geospatial monitoring of groundwater depletion patterns and sharing them with the decision-makers in aquifer riparian countries to reduce depletion rates and allow sustainable development and management of the groundwater resources.
Understanding Groundwater Depletion and Water Security Challenges in the Transboundary Aquifer Systems of the Arabian Peninsula