Characterization and propagation from meteorological to groundwater drought in different aquifers with multiple timescales

• Published in: Journal of hydrology. Regional studies Vol. 45; p. 101317
• Main Authors: Gong, Rouyan, Chen, Jianyao, Liang, Zuobing, Wu, Chunling, Tian, Di, Wu, Jiefeng, Li, Shaoheng, Zeng, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Drought propagation; Groundwater drought; Meteorological drought; Natural and human-influenced condition; Standardized drought index; Groundwater drought; Standardized drought index; Drought propagation; Meteorological drought; Natural and human-influenced condition
• ISSN: 2214-5818; 2214-5818
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101317

Zhanjiang City District, southwest of Guangdong Province, China, was selected as the case study area owing to its relatively frequent occurrence of droughts and groundwater overexploitation. This study presents a useful framework to characterize the propagation from meteorological drought (MD) to groundwater drought (GD) in different aquifers from the perspective of multiple timescales. Two standardized drought indices, i.e., standardized groundwater index and standardized precipitation index with different timescales (1–48 months), were used to examine the propagation time from MD to GD in different aquifers. Three clusters, i.e., natural(P)-, natural+human(P + H)-, and human(H)-induced drought, were considered for revealing the potential driving mechanism of propagation. Four characteristic mechanisms of lag, pooling, lengthening, and attenuation were used to analyze the propagation process from MD to GD, among which the lag characteristic, showing the propagation time, was discussed corresponding to varied clusters. Results indicate the following: (1) The propagation time in different aquifers varied; that is, in the shallow aquifer, the average propagation time showed 1 month for the P cluster and 3 months for the P + H cluster, while the propagation time in the middle and deep aquifers were found to be longer than that in the shallow layer though much uncertainty remained for the former. (2) The influences from MD obtained the decreasing order of P > P + H>H. The propagation time of the P + H cluster was longer than that of the P cluster, suggesting the negative influence of human activities. This study can provide additional information for policymakers involved in groundwater management during a drought. [Display omitted] •A framework for revealing propagation time from meteorological drought to groundwater drought was proposed.•Three typical drought clusters, i.e., natural (P), natural+human (P + H), and human (H) induced, were considered.•Four characteristic mechanisms were summarized to analyze the drought propagation process.•Influences from meteorological drought obtained the decreasing order of P > P + H>H.