Understanding satellite-derived groundwater dynamics and its association with hydrological processes over India during excess and deficit monsoon years

Abstract

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite provides valuable data to monitor groundwater variation. This study investigates groundwater dynamics in India during deficit and excess monsoon years. It finds possible interactions by exploring how groundwater levels respond to meteorological and hydrological conditions. Groundwater anomalies (GWA) are estimated using Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies (TWSA) from GRACE and hydrological parameters from the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS). The statistical analysis reveals that the standard deviation is higher for hydrological parameters in summer (June to September), whereas it is higher in fall (October to November) for GWA in many parts of India. The modulation in hydrological parameters subsequently impacts GWA during the following seasons. The study reports increased groundwater across many parts of India during fall. However, groundwater decline is closely linked to unsaturated soil moisture from fall to winter (December to February). Groundwater storage is at its lowest levels during the following spring (March to May) over India. Four deficit and three excess summer monsoons occurred from 2002 to 2022. Composite analysis of GWA reveals that there is replenishment (depletion) of groundwater during the following fall and winter in excess (deficit). The analysis based on extreme deficit monsoon years (2002, 2009) and excess monsoon year (2019) reveals that during the deficit years, groundwater recharge is less, and excess monsoon year it is more; and is vice versa for GWA. The study reports decline in GWA during the summer 2019, which is attributed to the hydrological conditions of the preceding year and modulation of the hydrological processes. As climate variability and water scarcity become increasingly pressing issues, understanding the relationships between hydrological factors and groundwater dynamics is essential for ensuring sustainable water use and resilience to extremely varying climate conditions.