- Groundwater reserves in southwestern Europe are more stable overall than previously thought
- Three PRIMA projects collaborated on a recently published paper in Communications Earth & Environment
- Read the press release: https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=36336&webc_pm=29/2024
- Download the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01554-w
[PROJECTS press release] PRIMA is proud to share a significant scientific publication resulting from a joint initiative of three PRIMA-funded projects: Sustain-COAST, InTheMED, and OurMED.
Published in Communications Earth & Environment, the study challenges prevailing assumptions about groundwater depletion in southwestern Europe. Led by researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Germany, the team analyzed data from over 12,000 groundwater wells across Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy, spanning six decades of observations. Their findings reveal that groundwater levels are more stable than previously thought.
As stated in the press release published by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ):
“The surprising finding: Groundwater levels are not declining everywhere as widely believed, but primarily in semi-arid regions with intensive agriculture and frequent droughts. Declines are also observed in temperate regions associated with large urban areas.”
Contrary to the common perception that groundwater levels are falling everywhere in this region, the research found that 68% of the wells examined remained stable over the last three decades, while 20% even showed an increase. Declines, observed in only 12% of the wells, were primarily located in semi-arid regions with intensive agriculture and in urban areas with high water demand.
The study provides valuable insights for sustainable groundwater management, not only in the Mediterranean but potentially for other regions facing similar challenges due to climate change and anthropogenic pressures.
PRIMA continues to support innovative research that addresses critical water-related issues in the Mediterranean, fostering cooperation between European and non-European countries to develop sustainable solutions for the region’s pressing environmental challenges.
“This study amplifies a collaborative effort between two PRIMA projects funded in different calls, highlighting the cumulative efforts and long-lasting knowledge production, one of PRIMA’s key objectives,” says Marco Orlando, PRIMA project officer.
For a more detailed overview of this research, please refer to the full press release and paper:
- Read the press release: https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=36336&webc_pm=29/2024
- Download the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01554-w
Publication
Rafael Chávez García Silva, Robert Reinecke, Nadim K. Copty, David A. Barry, Essam Heggy, David Labat, Pier Paolo Roggero, Dietrich Borchardt, Michael Rode, J. Jaime Gómez-Hernández, Seifeddine Jomaa: Multi-decadal groundwater observations reveal surprisingly stable levels in southwestern Europe, Communications Earth & Environment, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01554-w
