Unpublished conference/Abstract (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Drought-related vulnerability and risk assessment of groundwater resources under temperate conditions
Verbeiren, Boud; Huysmans, Marijke; Tychon, Bernard et al.
201313th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology
 

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Keywords :
groundwater drought; temperate conditions; influencing factors; impacts; vulnerability; risk
Abstract :
[en] Drought hazards are usually associated with (semi-)arid regions. Due to the assumed insignificance of drought hazards under temperate conditions this field remains poorly studied. This study aims at filling this gap by: (1) Increasing understanding of influencing factors determining drought in a temperate context; (2) Developing a methodology and quantitative tools aimed at planning and decision support with respect to groundwater management. In the first place drought is a phenomenon caused by deficient precipitation for a large area and significant duration and as such it is mainly a meteorological-related hazard. In case the temporary water deficiency affects groundwater bodies, the term groundwater drought is used. Groundwater droughts develop slowly but can have considerable socio-economic and environmental consequences. Groundwater drought is a complex phenomenon. Three main variables are important: groundwater recharge, groundwater level and groundwater discharge. Groundwater recharge is important as it is the source (inflow) of all groundwater. The groundwater table gives an indication of the storage, while groundwater discharge represents the outflow from the groundwater system. Next to natural meteorological variations also human induced factors play a role. In the Belgian context the main influencing factors determining the inflow and potentially resulting in a recharge deficit and an overall deterioration of groundwater resources are climate and land use/land cover. Groundwater demand for human activities has a direct effect on groundwater storage (level). The combined effect of these factors makes that some groundwater bodies are under pressure. In these groundwater bodies the outflow exceeds the inflow generating a reduction in storage and hence an unsustainable situation. A thorough knowledge of all three influencing factors and their interaction or combined effect is essential for a reliable estimate of the groundwater budget and a sustainable management. Hence, there is a need for an improved understanding of groundwater drought and the human-induced factors influencing the groundwater balance. This should form the basis for an integrated approach which allows tackling these negative effects and safeguarding sustainability of groundwater resources.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Verbeiren, Boud;  Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB
Huysmans, Marijke;  Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB
Tychon, Bernard ;  Université de Liège > DER Sc. et gest. de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environ.) > Eau, Environnement, Développement
Jacquemin, Ingrid ;  Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Modélisation du climat et des cycles biogéochimiques
Canters, Frank;  Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB
Vanderhaegen, Sven;  Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB
Engelen, Guy;  Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek - VITO
Poelmans, Lien;  Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek - VITO
De Becker, Piet;  Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek
Tsakiris, Georges;  National Technical University of Athens - NTUA
Vangelis, Harris;  National Technical University of Athens - NTUA
Batelaan, Okke;  Flinders University
Language :
English
Title :
Drought-related vulnerability and risk assessment of groundwater resources under temperate conditions
Publication date :
September 2013
Event name :
13th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology
Event place :
Athènes, Greece
Event date :
du 5 au 7 septembre 2013
Audience :
International
Name of the research project :
GroWaDRISK
Funders :
BELSPO - SPP Politique scientifique - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique
Available on ORBi :
since 06 February 2016

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