Groundwater for Sustainable Development最新文献

{"title":"Evaluating the productivity of basement rock aquifers for sustainable groundwater development in sub-Sahara Africa using borehole pumping experiments and geophysical data","authors":"Wasiu Olanrewaju Raji ,&nbsp;Taiye Emmanuel Asaoye","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring all-year-round groundwater availability in the basement complex regions of sub-Sahara Africa requires careful combinations of strategies for exploration, development, and management of groundwater resources. The productivity of the basement aquifer of sub-Sahara Africa, SSA, was evaluated in terms of the volume of water produced per unit time, the aquifer transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, specific capacity, and the thickness of the water-bearing zones using a suit of data from borehole pumping experiments, geophysical surveys, and lithologic logs from Opaque Field in sub-Sahara Africa. Findings from the study have been used to classify the basement complex aquifers of sub-Sahara Africa into three categories: marginally productive, low productive, and moderately productive. Weathered and fractured zones were found to be bright spots for groundwater storage, and aquifer productivity correlates with topography and the thickness of the weather zones. Most of the boreholes located on the low topographic heights were found to have the highest groundwater discharge, transmissivity, and hydraulic conductivity. Further, the study showed that the popular models used for estimating aquifer properties are unsuitable for basement complex aquifers. The results of the models are exaggerated when compared to the pumping test results. Cases of dry holes or poorly performing wells in the basement complex terrain may be attributed to the exaggeration. Consequently, two new and novel quantitative models were proposed and tested for evaluating the productivity parameters of basement aquifers of SSA for optimal selection of sites for groundwater development. The aquifer productivity maps computed with the new quantitative models show striking similarities to those computed from the pumping tests results and confirmed the appropriateness of the new quantitative models. The appropriate pumping device, pump operation time, and installation depth were recommended for the boreholes producing groundwater from the three categories of aquifers identified in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101364"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the role of groundwater in ecosystem water use efficiency in India considering irrigation, climate and land use","authors":"Akriti Singh,&nbsp;Vijaykumar Bejagam,&nbsp;Ashutosh Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Terrestrial ecosystems (TEs) play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation. While interactions between surface water and ecosystems are well-studied, groundwater-ecosystem relationships remain poorly understood, particularly in groundwater-dependent regions like India. This study investigates the relationship between water table depth (WTD) and ecosystem productivity across India, considering the variation in irrigation practices, land use and climate types, from 2000 to 2021. We employ Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency (WUE_e), the rate of carbon uptake per unit of water consumed, to examine these interactions at different spatial scales. Our findings reveal a strong link between WUE_e and WTD. Shallower WTD regions, such as the lower Himalayas and Northeast India with forests and dominated by a wet/humid subtropical climate, exhibit higher WUE_e (1.5–3.5 g C/kg H₂O). Whereas deeper WTD regions like northwest India, characterized by shrublands and an arid climate, display lower WUE_e (&lt;1 g C/kg H₂O). This suggests vegetation in arid/semi-arid regions shows higher sensitivity to water availability compared to wetter areas. This is also evident by a declining WUE_e trend and increasing elasticity of WUE_e (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>ε</mi><mrow><mi>W</mi><mi>U</mi><mi>E</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>) to interannual climatic variability with increasing WTD in these regions. Furthermore, the study identifies potential unsustainable groundwater use for irrigation in areas like the Trans Gangetic plains. Irrigation has a strong correlation with evapotranspiration (ET) (r = 0.4–0.6) in deep WTD zones, but no correlation with WUE_e. This implies that intense and unsustainable irrigation might disrupt the natural water use strategies of vegetation. This research, by improving understanding of these interactions, aims to contribute to the sustainable management of India's groundwater resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101363"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review on the mechanisms and emerging prospects of biocatalytic dye degradation: Reactor systems and optimization strategies","authors":"A. Saravanan ,&nbsp;Y.P. Ragini ,&nbsp;S. Karishma ,&nbsp;R. Kamalesh ,&nbsp;A.S. Vickram","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of dyes has resulted in a concerning rise in the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment. The allergenic and carcinogenic properties of dyes pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. Various approaches are being used to address the mounting ecological issues associated with dye pollution. The process of degradation is tedious due to the persistent, recalcitrant, and non-degradable nature of dyes. Biocatalytic degradation represents a promising approach in addressing the environmental impacts caused by synthetic dyes. Biocatalytic techniques use enzymes and microorganisms to break down complex dye compounds. Certain processes, such as redox reactions aided by laccases, azo-reductases, and peroxidases, are involved in the degradation process. The performance and applicability of several bioreactor designs, including batch, continuous, and bed bioreactors, for dye degradation is reviewed. The effectiveness of the bio-catalytic degradation process has been addressed in relation to enhancement techniques including immobilization and genetic modification. The incorporation of cutting-edge technology holds considerable potential for the sustainable treatment of wastewater tainted with dyes, despite obstacles related to the economy and ecology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101376"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring groundwater vulnerability for sustainable water resource management: A DRASTIC-based comparative assessment in a newly township area of Bangladesh","authors":"Muhammad Anwar Iqbal ,&nbsp;Mohammed Abdus Salam ,&nbsp;Md Nur-E-Alam ,&nbsp;Nusrat Jahan Rubaida ,&nbsp;Hafizur Rahman ,&nbsp;Mohammed Faruque Uddin","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater is a vital source of freshwater in our daily lives. Global and local groundwater quality are degrading due to rapid urbanization, human interference, and policy variations, which is prominent in developing nations like Bangladesh. The major purpose of this research is to analyze aquifer vulnerability in Bangladesh's north-central area (Mymensingh) using conventional and modified DRASTIC modeling. Seven influencing hydrogeological factors were employed to develop and integrate conventional DRASTIC modeling: soil media, net recharge, aquifer depth, aquifer media, topography, hydraulic conductivity, and influence of vadose zone, while land use and lineament density were used with them for modified DRASTIC modeling. The findings from four vulnerability analysis detected 29.56% (93.35 sq.km), 22.24% (83.12 sq. km), 28.52 (106.93 sq. km), and 37.6% (140.55 sq.km) of the study area as high to very high vulnerable zones for groundwater pollution. Lower groundwater depth, higher hydraulic conductivity, moderate to high groundwater recharge, dense lineaments, dense settlement, agricultural land, and inland waterbodies together might indicate a high vulnerability in the research area. The validation results based on EC and nitrate levels show that conventional (r = 0.884, p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.951, p ≤ 0.01) and modified DRASTIC models (r = 0.868, p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.840, p ≤ 0.01) have a stronger association with unconfined aquifers, than confined aquifers. Modification with both additional parameters showed more accuracy compared to the conventional one. Frequent monitoring of groundwater quality in high and moderately vulnerable zones is recommended for earlier detection and prevention of potential aquifer degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101373"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatio-temporal variation of meteorological, hydrological and agricultural drought vulnerability: Insights from statistical, machine learning and wavelet analysis","authors":"Asish Saha,&nbsp;Subodh Chandra Pal","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study of how agricultural drought (AD) is responsible for meteorological drought (MD) and hydrological drought (HD) is crucial for drought prevention and the socio-economic development of a nation. This is due to AD constitutes a significant threat to the nation's food productivity and security. In depth comprehension and mitigation of drought incidents depend on understanding their frequency and propagation patterns. In this study, spatio-temporal variation of three types of droughts have been assessed in the sub-tropical environment of eastern India. In this perspective, seasonal i.e., pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter MD, HD, and AD were assessed considering Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Water Level Index (SWI), and Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSMI) statistical tool respectively in sub-tropical agro-climatic zone of eastern India. In addition to this, spatial drought vulnerability of MD, HD and AD was assessed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) considering suitable factors for each drought type, and overall drought vulnerability was assessed using “Random Forest (RF)” and “Artificial Neural Network (ANN)” methods. Furthermore, drought periodicity has been measured using a wavelet power spectrum analysis. The result of seasonal drought revealed that pre-monsoon season has more frequent drought occurrences than other seasons among the applied three types of droughts. The outcomes of overall drought vulnerability revealed that RF gives the optimum result followed by ANN i.e., 0.841 and 0.828, respectively, for validation purposes. The periodicity of drought ranges from 0.25 to 4 as obtained from wavelet analysis. In general, this research on how AD spreads from MD and HD is crucial for drought resilience, drought management, and food security among the stakeholders and policymakers for achieving the SDGs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101380"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groundwater potential mapping using machine learning approach in West Java, Indonesia","authors":"Jalu Tejo Nugroho ,&nbsp;Anugrah Indah Lestari ,&nbsp;Budhi Gustiandi ,&nbsp;Parwati Sofan ,&nbsp;Suwarsono ,&nbsp;Indah Prasasti ,&nbsp;Khalifah Insan Nur Rahmi ,&nbsp;Heru Noviar ,&nbsp;Nurwita Mustika Sari ,&nbsp;R. Johannes Manalu ,&nbsp;Samsul Arifin ,&nbsp;Ahmad Taufiq","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater availability is a challenge as it is utilized for vital sectors such as agricultural sector, human consumption, and industrial sector. Therefore, water resource mapping is needed to be performed to maintain water resource sustainability. This research aims to investigate groundwater potential in West Java, Indonesia using supervised machine learning (ML) methods namely Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Several groundwater conditioning factors were used in this research such as Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), lithology, geomorphology, land use land cover (LULC), soil type, and land system. The groundwater potential prediction model was validated using the groundwater potential map and well locations obtained from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of Republic of Indonesia, respectively. The results show that the highest overall accuracy was achieved using RF method (0.8). We found that the land system was the highest contributor to groundwater potential mapping (25%), followed by lithology (16%), NDVI (15%), geomorphology and TWI (14% each), and LULC and soil type (8% each). More than 50% of the West Java Province region exhibited groundwater potential in very low and low classes, while the high and very high classes of groundwater potential were only less than 16%. Ground geoelectric measurements were conducted in sample areas in Bandung City and Sukabumi District, representing very high and very low groundwater potentials, respectively. This study emphasizes the critical need to implement measures that ensure the sustainability of water resources and prevent mismanagement of groundwater extraction, particularly in West Java.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101382"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and temporal variations of dug well water quality in Korba basin, Chhattisgarh, India: Insights into hydrogeological characteristics","authors":"Khageshwar Singh Patel ,&nbsp;Piyush Kant Pandey ,&nbsp;Sanjay Kumar Sharma ,&nbsp;Bharat Lal Sahu ,&nbsp;Shobhana Ramteke ,&nbsp;Irena Wysocka ,&nbsp;Sema Yurdakul ,&nbsp;Simge Varol ,&nbsp;Pablo Martín-Ramos ,&nbsp;Dalchand Jhariya ,&nbsp;Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman ,&nbsp;Prosun Bhattacharya","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101359","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101359","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Comprehensive assessment of groundwater quality in mining-affected regions is crucial to sustainably manage water resources and protect public health and ecosystems. This study investigated the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of 18 dug wells in the Korba basin, Chhattisgarh, India, an area heavily impacted by coal mining activities. Water samples were collected over three seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon) and analyzed to determine physicochemical parameters, major ions, trace elements, and carbon content. Results revealed very high total dissolved solids concentrations ranging from 315 to 19,738 mg L⁻¹. Nitrate levels surpassed the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) limit of 45 mg L⁻¹ in over 50% of samples, reaching a maximum of 200 mg L⁻¹. Fluoride concentrations in all samples exceeded the BIS limit (1.5 mg L⁻¹), ranging from 1.5 to 15.2 mg L⁻¹. The predominant water type was Ca-Mg-HCO₃, primarily influenced by rock-water interactions. Factor analysis indicated that both geogenic and anthropogenic processes influence pollution levels. Pollutant concentrations exhibited seasonal variations, generally peaking during the monsoon period. Temporal analysis from over six years revealed increasing trends for most parameters, indicating deteriorating water quality. Based on Water Quality Index values, all samples were classified as unsuitable for drinking, while assessments of irrigation water quality using various indices indicated that 61.11% of samples were suitable for agricultural use. The findings provide data to inform decision-making and public health protection in this heavily industrialized region and emphasize the urgent need for sustainable water resource management and pollution prevention strategies in the Korba basin to align with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 6 (clean water and sanitation).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101359"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance study of the bioreactor for the biodegradation of methyl orange dye by luffa immobilized Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and kinetic studies: A sustainable approach","authors":"Anshuman Mishra ,&nbsp;Dhananjay Singh ,&nbsp;Ram Sharan Singh ,&nbsp;Vinay Mishra ,&nbsp;Manish Kumar ,&nbsp;Balendu Shekher Giri","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The biodegradation of methyl orange dye was examined in a biofilm reactor with luffa immobilized <em>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</em> ((HE963840.1), low-cost packing material. The bacteria were isolated from the sludge collected from a common effluent treatment plant at IOCL refinery Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The bacteria were characterized using 16rRNA. The reactor performance was studied at 30 ± 5 °C temperatures over a period of thirty days. The reactor was operated with the flow rates of 60 mL/h, 90 mL/h, 240 mL/h, 360 mL/h and 432 mL/h. The pollutant load ranges from 151.6 mg/(L-day) to 1091 mg/(L-day) and the pH of the dye solution was maintained at 7.0 ± 0.4 during the study. The maximum removal efficiency (RE) and elimination capacity (EC) at steady state were determined as 90.2 % and 658.1 mg/(L-day) respectively. The rate of utilization of the methyl orange dye is described by modified stover-kincannon model with kinetic parameters-maximum utilization rate (U_max) and saturation constant (K_B) to be 2.70 g/(L-day) and 2.34 g/(L-day) respectively. The toxicity studies confirm the non-toxic nature of the biodegraded products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101378"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying the origin, recharge, and salinity sources of the Romqan saline spring, causing intense salinization of the Shirinrud River in southern Iran","authors":"Jahanshir Mohammadzadeh-Habili ,&nbsp;Davar Khalili","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salinization of originally freshwater rivers by saline springs is a growing threat to availability of water resources in the semiarid region of southern Iran. The problem is further complicated by persistent drought of recent years, which has resulted in prolonged periods of reduced streamflow. This issue has prompted research on possibility of finding practical techniques for flow stoppage of saline springs by investigating their recharge and salinization mechanisms as well as emergence time. To this end, the Shirinrud river in southern Iran is selected as a case study. While this river contains freshwater flow, it is intensively salinized due to annual discharge of ∼110000 tons salt from the Romqan saline spring. Study area streamflow gauges, water sampling, plus field observations and measurements have been used to provide the required data and information. Data analyses included evaluation of temperature variations of study area groundwaters, long-term salinity of the Shirinrud River, and isotopic and hydrochemical compositions of water samples. Results of thermal, isotopic, and hydrochemical tracing methods together with hydrogeological evidences in the Romqan spring site indicated that although the Romqan saline spring is recharging from a fresh groundwater flow, it becomes intensely salinized due to passage of ∼1.7 km of its recharging water pass inside the Romqan salt diapir. Furthermore, sudden drying of a freshwater spring at border of Romqan salt diapir just after the 1999 earthquake in spring site area, resulted in redirection of the fresh groundwater flow of the dried spring into the Romqan salt diapir, followed by emergence of the Romqan saline spring in the Shirinrud River bed. For flow stoppage of the Romqan saline spring, an interceptor drainage system is suggested, which would divert the spring fresh recharging groundwater flow at border of Romqan salt diapir and finally desalinize the Shirinrud River from Romqan saline spring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101370"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal changes in subsurface characteristics in the Lower Bengal Basin: Potential impacts on groundwater","authors":"Piya Mohasin ,&nbsp;G. Sumanth Kumar ,&nbsp;Tanvi Arora ,&nbsp;Sujata Ray","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The risk of groundwater depletion is most significant if anthropogenic withdrawals are high in regions where the subsurface characteristics do not favor surface water infiltration and natural recharge. However, such regions have not been identified systematically in the Indo-Gangetic basin, one of the most fertile alluvial aquifers in the world. This identification may be enabled by a study of how seasonal changes in subsurface characteristics affect groundwater levels. We conducted a resistivity survey in Nanoor block of the Lower Ganges Basin, where groundwater levels have declined steeply in recent decades, to determine how subsurface characteristics controlling infiltration and groundwater quality may change seasonally. Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) using the Schlumberger electrode array were conducted over an 8 km² area with an electrode spacing of 180-200 meters during the pre-monsoon (April 2018) and post-monsoon (October 2018) seasons. Seasonal variations in the Dar- Zarrouk parameters: longitudinal conductance, transverse resistance, and the coefficient of anisotropy were evaluated. While the average longitudinal conductance remained unchanged across seasons, it increased in certain locations in post-monsoon, indicating potential risks of contamination from the surface. The transverse resistance significantly increased in the post-monsoon, suggesting reduced groundwater potential. Additionally, in some areas, the coefficient of anisotropy indicated increased compaction of overburden layers in the post-monsoon, suggesting decreased natural recharge potential. Finally, the thickness of the unsaturated zone increased significantly from pre-monsoon to post-monsoon, which may be attributed to groundwater withdrawal for irrigation during the Kharif cropping season. These results indicate that this region, heavily reliant on groundwater for irrigation, is characterized by subsurface properties that allow limited natural recharge potential. This study may provide a framework for managing groundwater resources in developing countries where anthropogenic withdrawals are likely to have a more significant impact on groundwater levels than reduced natural recharge due to changing rainfall characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101368"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}