Assessing Terrestrial Water Storage Variations in Southern Spain Using Rainfall Estimates and GRACE Data

Information on groundwater depletion (caused by periods of low rainfall or droughts) and groundwater recovery is very important for the management of water resources in southern Spain in the current context of climate change. However, the spatial distribution of groundwater bodies in southern Spain is complex and current in situ groundwater monitoring methods are deficient, particularly in terms of obtaining representative samples and in implementing and maintaining groundwater monitoring networks. The alternative approach investigated here is to consider the relationship between precipitation time series and changes in the terrestrial water storage estimated from GRACE observations. It is concluded how groundwater storage and terrestrial water storage show very similar trends but with a delay in the groundwater trend.

Pardo-Igúzquiza, E.; Montillet, J.-P.; Sánchez-Morales, J.; Dowd, P.A.; Luque-Espinar, J.A.; Darbeheshti, N.; Rodríguez-Tovar, F.J. Assessing Terrestrial Water Storage Variations in Southern Spain Using Rainfall Estimates and GRACE Data. Hydrology 2023, 10, 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10090187