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Decline in groundwater due to warming Indian Ocean, says study
Posted on: 13/Jan/2017 5:44:42 PM
A new study conducted by IIT Gandhinagar has said that changes in precipitation, which are linked to the warming of the Indian Ocean, is the main reason for recent decline in groundwater storage in India. The study was published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Say the researchers, Satellite measurements have shown major declines in groundwater storage in some parts of the country, particularly in northern India. Groundwater plays a vital role in food and water security in India. Sustainable use of groundwater resources for irrigation is the key for future food grain production. With a fast-growing population, managing groundwater sustainably is going become even more important. The linkage between monsoon rainfall and groundwater can suggest ways to enhance groundwater recharge in India and especially in the regions where rainfall has been declining, such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Experts feel that this study adds another dimension to the existing water management framework. We need to consider not just the withdrawals, but also the deposits in the system, they say.
The issue of groundwater depletion has been a topic of much discussion in India, but most planning has focused on pumping or the demand side, rather than the deposit side.
The researchers found that the monsoon precipitation is correlated with Indian Ocean temperature, a finding which could potentially help to improve precipitation forecasts and aid in water resource planning. They say, Weather is uncertain by nature and the impacts of climate change are extremely difficult to predict at a regional level.
