to region, however, depending on both water composition and underground lithology. Moreover, the effect of climate change on this zone depends on its depth and
thickness. The diurnal temperature fluctuation is effective to 1 m in this zone
whereas the efficacy of seasonal fluctuation is noticeable to a depth of 10 m or
more (Taylor and Stefan 2009; Panwar and Chakrapani 2013).
Because of the large storage capacity of water and its occurrence in greater depth,
the zone of saturation in many aquifers is relatively less sensitive to changes in the
climate than surface water bodies (Aizebeokhai et al. 2017). Depth of the water table
is more strongly associated with the precipitation pattern, but the effect of temperature is important in shallow aquifers (Kundzewicz et al. 2007). The response of the
saturated zone to climate change is thus dependent on the depth of the water table in
the aquifer; shallow aquifers are more affected by climate change than deep aquifers
(Panwar and Chakrapani 2013). Some scholars have opined that overall climateinduced changes have less effect on groundwater regimes in comparison to the
nonclimatic factors such as contamination, reduction in stream flow, recharge and
lowering of the water table, and the loss of storage because of the huge withdrawals
for human use (Hanson et al. 2006; Gurdak et al. 2007; Aribisala et al. 2015;
Aizebeokhai et al. 2017; Panwar and Chakrapani 2013). IPCC has stated that
‘there is no evidence for ubiquitous climate related trends in groundwater’ (IPCC
2007; Green 2016).
Changes in climatic variables have long-term effects on recharge rate and mechanisms (Kundzewicz et al. 2007; Aguilera and Murillo 2009; Green 2016). The
response of the groundwater recharge process to climate change depends on the
combination of precipitation and temperature. Rise in temperature and evapotranspiration rate may lead to longer persistence of soil moisture deficiency, equalizing
the effect of increasing rainfall to replenish groundwater (Singh and Kumar 2010).
Overall recharge is predicted to increase in most of the subtropical region (Eckhardt
and Ulbrich 2003; Holman 2006; Aizebeokhai et al. 2017). However, in a dry
climate, temperature and precipitation are inversely related as rise in temperature
will cause failure of moisture supply to the atmosphere because little or no moisture
content is available in the soil for evapotranspiration, resulting in decreased rainfall
(Vita et al. 2012; Panwar and Chakrapani 2013; Singh and Kumar 2010). Hence, the
effect of climate change in arid and semiarid climates is considered to be worse as the
amount of groundwater recharge will be reduced (Dettinger and Earman 2007;
Aguilera and Murillo 2009; Barthel et al. 2009; Novicky et al. 2010; Panwar and
Chakrapani 2013; Green 2016).
Under the climate change scenario, spatiotemporal variations in precipitation,
evapotranspiration, recharge, and runoff will directly influence groundwater discharge (Panwar and Chakrapani 2013). Increasing temperature as well as rate of
evapotranspiration is responsible for decreasing both groundwater recharge and
discharge in all seasons, causing decline in depth of the groundwater table
(Woldeamlak et al. 2007). It will adversely influence aquatic life in wetlands and
riverine ecosystems that rely on groundwater discharge to support base flow
(Woldeamlak et al. 2007; Aizebeokhai et al. 2017).
6 Impact of Climate Change on Groundwater Resource of India: A Geographical. . .
147
thickness. The diurnal temperature fluctuation is effective to 1 m in this zone
whereas the efficacy of seasonal fluctuation is noticeable to a depth of 10 m or
more (Taylor and Stefan 2009; Panwar and Chakrapani 2013).
Because of the large storage capacity of water and its occurrence in greater depth,
the zone of saturation in many aquifers is relatively less sensitive to changes in the
climate than surface water bodies (Aizebeokhai et al. 2017). Depth of the water table
is more strongly associated with the precipitation pattern, but the effect of temperature is important in shallow aquifers (Kundzewicz et al. 2007). The response of the
saturated zone to climate change is thus dependent on the depth of the water table in
the aquifer; shallow aquifers are more affected by climate change than deep aquifers
(Panwar and Chakrapani 2013). Some scholars have opined that overall climateinduced changes have less effect on groundwater regimes in comparison to the
nonclimatic factors such as contamination, reduction in stream flow, recharge and
lowering of the water table, and the loss of storage because of the huge withdrawals
for human use (Hanson et al. 2006; Gurdak et al. 2007; Aribisala et al. 2015;
Aizebeokhai et al. 2017; Panwar and Chakrapani 2013). IPCC has stated that
‘there is no evidence for ubiquitous climate related trends in groundwater’ (IPCC
2007; Green 2016).
Changes in climatic variables have long-term effects on recharge rate and mechanisms (Kundzewicz et al. 2007; Aguilera and Murillo 2009; Green 2016). The
response of the groundwater recharge process to climate change depends on the
combination of precipitation and temperature. Rise in temperature and evapotranspiration rate may lead to longer persistence of soil moisture deficiency, equalizing
the effect of increasing rainfall to replenish groundwater (Singh and Kumar 2010).
Overall recharge is predicted to increase in most of the subtropical region (Eckhardt
and Ulbrich 2003; Holman 2006; Aizebeokhai et al. 2017). However, in a dry
climate, temperature and precipitation are inversely related as rise in temperature
will cause failure of moisture supply to the atmosphere because little or no moisture
content is available in the soil for evapotranspiration, resulting in decreased rainfall
(Vita et al. 2012; Panwar and Chakrapani 2013; Singh and Kumar 2010). Hence, the
effect of climate change in arid and semiarid climates is considered to be worse as the
amount of groundwater recharge will be reduced (Dettinger and Earman 2007;
Aguilera and Murillo 2009; Barthel et al. 2009; Novicky et al. 2010; Panwar and
Chakrapani 2013; Green 2016).
Under the climate change scenario, spatiotemporal variations in precipitation,
evapotranspiration, recharge, and runoff will directly influence groundwater discharge (Panwar and Chakrapani 2013). Increasing temperature as well as rate of
evapotranspiration is responsible for decreasing both groundwater recharge and
discharge in all seasons, causing decline in depth of the groundwater table
(Woldeamlak et al. 2007). It will adversely influence aquatic life in wetlands and
riverine ecosystems that rely on groundwater discharge to support base flow
(Woldeamlak et al. 2007; Aizebeokhai et al. 2017).
6 Impact of Climate Change on Groundwater Resource of India: A Geographical. . .
147