Groundwater is a crucial freshwater source, especially in dry mid-latitude regions. This study uses a fully coupled climate model (CESM-LE) to project 21st-century changes in groundwater storage (GWS) within seven significantly stressed aquifers under the RCP8.5 scenario. Results show that GWS changes aren't solely determined by precipitation trends but are also significantly influenced by altered evapotranspiration and snowmelt. The combined effects of over-pumping and climate change lead to GWS reduction, with pumping often exceeding natural replenishment.

Wen-Ying Wu, Min-Hui Lo, Yoshihide Wada, James S. Famiglietti, John T. Reager, Pat J.-F. Yeh, Agnès Ducharne, Zong-Liang Yang