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Decline in Iran’s groundwater recharge

Author

Listed:
  • Roohollah Noori

    (University of Tehran
    University of Tehran)

  • Mohsen Maghrebi

    (University of Tehran)

  • Søren Jessen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Sayed M. Bateni

    (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

  • Essam Heggy

    (University of Southern California
    California Institute of Technology)

  • Saman Javadi

    (University of Tehran)

  • Mojtaba Noury

    (Ministry of Energy)

  • Severin Pistre

    (University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD)

  • Soroush Abolfathi

    (University of Warwick)

  • Amir AghaKouchak

    (University of California
    University of California
    United Nations University)

Abstract

Groundwater recharge feeds aquifers supplying fresh-water to a population over 80 million in Iran—a global hotspot for groundwater depletion. Using an extended database comprising abstractions from over one million groundwater wells, springs, and qanats, from 2002 to 2017, here we show a significant decline of around −3.8 mm/yr in the nationwide groundwater recharge. This decline is primarily attributed to unsustainable water and environmental resources management, exacerbated by decadal changes in climatic conditions. However, it is important to note that the former’s contribution outweighs the latter. Our results show the average annual amount of nationwide groundwater recharge (i.e., ~40 mm/yr) is more than the reported average annual runoff in Iran (i.e., ~32 mm/yr), suggesting the surface water is the main contributor to groundwater recharge. Such a decline in groundwater recharge could further exacerbate the already dire aquifer depletion situation in Iran, with devastating consequences for the country’s natural environment and socio-economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Roohollah Noori & Mohsen Maghrebi & Søren Jessen & Sayed M. Bateni & Essam Heggy & Saman Javadi & Mojtaba Noury & Severin Pistre & Soroush Abolfathi & Amir AghaKouchak, 2023. "Decline in Iran’s groundwater recharge," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42411-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42411-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tom Gleeson & Yoshihide Wada & Marc F. P. Bierkens & Ludovicus P. H. van Beek, 2012. "Water balance of global aquifers revealed by groundwater footprint," Nature, Nature, vol. 488(7410), pages 197-200, August.
    2. Wen-Ying Wu & Min-Hui Lo & Yoshihide Wada & James S. Famiglietti & John T. Reager & Pat J.-F. Yeh & Agnès Ducharne & Zong-Liang Yang, 2020. "Divergent effects of climate change on future groundwater availability in key mid-latitude aquifers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Stephanie M. Olen, 2021. "Water bankruptcy in Iran," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(11), pages 924-924, November.
    4. Mohsen Maghrebi & Roohollah Noori & Amir AghaKouchak, 2023. "Iran: renovated irrigation network deepens water crisis," Nature, Nature, vol. 618(7964), pages 238-238, June.
    5. Carole Dalin & Yoshihide Wada & Thomas Kastner & Michael J. Puma, 2017. "Groundwater depletion embedded in international food trade," Nature, Nature, vol. 543(7647), pages 700-704, March.
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