Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United States
Episodic recharge as a result of infrequent, high intensity precipitation events comprises the bulk of groundwater recharge in arid environments. Climate change and shifts in precipitation intensity will affect groundwater continuity, thus altering groundwater recharge. This study aims to identify c...
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doaj-11f9447a5009425e931b31b791545f602020-11-24T21:59:03ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412016-03-01839010.3390/w8030090w8030090Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United StatesBrian F. Thomas0Ali Behrangi1James S. Famiglietti2Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAEpisodic recharge as a result of infrequent, high intensity precipitation events comprises the bulk of groundwater recharge in arid environments. Climate change and shifts in precipitation intensity will affect groundwater continuity, thus altering groundwater recharge. This study aims to identify changes in the ratio of groundwater recharge and precipitation, the R:P ratio, in the arid southwestern United States to characterize observed changes in groundwater recharge attributed to variations in precipitation intensity. Our precipitation metric, precipitation intensity magnification, was used to investigate the relationship between the R:P ratio and precipitation intensity. Our analysis identified significant changes in the R:P ratio concurrent with decreases in precipitation intensity. The results illustrate the importance of precipitation intensity in relation to groundwater recharge in arid regions and provide further insights for groundwater management in nonrenewable groundwater systems and in a changing climate.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/3/90groundwater rechargeprecipitation intensityclimate changesustainable groundwater management |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Brian F. Thomas Ali Behrangi James S. Famiglietti |
spellingShingle |
Brian F. Thomas Ali Behrangi James S. Famiglietti Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United States Water groundwater recharge precipitation intensity climate change sustainable groundwater management |
author_facet |
Brian F. Thomas Ali Behrangi James S. Famiglietti |
author_sort |
Brian F. Thomas |
title |
Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United States |
title_short |
Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United States |
title_full |
Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United States |
title_fullStr |
Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United States |
title_full_unstemmed |
Precipitation Intensity Effects on Groundwater Recharge in the Southwestern United States |
title_sort |
precipitation intensity effects on groundwater recharge in the southwestern united states |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Water |
issn |
2073-4441 |
publishDate |
2016-03-01 |
description |
Episodic recharge as a result of infrequent, high intensity precipitation events comprises the bulk of groundwater recharge in arid environments. Climate change and shifts in precipitation intensity will affect groundwater continuity, thus altering groundwater recharge. This study aims to identify changes in the ratio of groundwater recharge and precipitation, the R:P ratio, in the arid southwestern United States to characterize observed changes in groundwater recharge attributed to variations in precipitation intensity. Our precipitation metric, precipitation intensity magnification, was used to investigate the relationship between the R:P ratio and precipitation intensity. Our analysis identified significant changes in the R:P ratio concurrent with decreases in precipitation intensity. The results illustrate the importance of precipitation intensity in relation to groundwater recharge in arid regions and provide further insights for groundwater management in nonrenewable groundwater systems and in a changing climate. |
topic |
groundwater recharge precipitation intensity climate change sustainable groundwater management |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/3/90 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT brianfthomas precipitationintensityeffectsongroundwaterrechargeinthesouthwesternunitedstates AT alibehrangi precipitationintensityeffectsongroundwaterrechargeinthesouthwesternunitedstates AT jamessfamiglietti precipitationintensityeffectsongroundwaterrechargeinthesouthwesternunitedstates |
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