An Overview of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Groundwater Resources
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Climate change has been consistently observed over the past decades to be associated
with changes and/or modifications of components of the hydrological systems. Observational records
and global and regional climate projections indicate that both surface-water and groundwater
resources are vulnerable to climate change and variability. Thus, understanding the impacts of
climate change and variability on groundwater systems is integral to better planning and efficient
management of groundwater resources. However, assessing and predicting the effects of climate
change on groundwater systems is relatively difficult due to the uncertainties associated with the
spatial and temporal prediction of future climates. This review provides an overview of the key
components of groundwater hydrology in relation to climate change. The effects of changes in climate
on groundwater in soil, deep vadose and saturated zones are assessed. The responses of groundwater
recharge, discharge, quality and changes in storage to climate change are assessed on inter-annual to
multi-decadal or longer geologic time scales
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QC Physics