The return of groundwater quantity: a mega-scale and interdisciplinary “future of hydrogeology”?

Excerpt

A series of recent papers suggest groundwater quantity may be returning to prominence in hydrogeology research. The unsustainable depletion of groundwater has been documented on both regional (Rodell et al. 2009; Tiwari et al. 2009; Famiglietti et al. 2011) and global scales (Wada et al. 2010; Konikow 2011; Wada et al. 2012) using data synthesis and the GRACE satellite data. Additionally, how groundwater resources will be impacted by global change remains important but uncertain and difficult to predict (Green et al. 2011; Taylor et al. 2013). Recent discussions on groundwater sustainability have suggested applying cutting-edge sustainability concepts such as multi-generational goal setting and adaptive management to groundwater quantity problems (Gleeson et al. 2010, 2012). …