Development of Groundwater Levels Dataset for Chile since 1970

• Published in: Scientific data Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 170 - 8
• Main Authors: Venegas-Quiñones, Héctor Leopoldo, Valdés-Pineda, Rodrigo, García-Chevesich, Pablo, Valdés, Juan B., Gupta, Hoshin V., Whitaker, Martha P. L., Ferré, Ty P. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 05.02.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 704/106/242; 704/242; Algorithms; Aquifers; Classification schemes; Collaboration; Data collection; Data Descriptor; Data processing; Datasets; Decision making; Groundwater; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrology; multidisciplinary; Python; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sea level; Trends; Water management; Water quality; Water resources
• ISSN: 2052-4463; 2052-4463
• DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02895-5

Access to accurate spatio-temporal groundwater level data is crucial for sustainable water management in Chile. Despite this importance, a lack of unified, quality-controlled datasets have hindered large-scale groundwater studies. Our objective was to establish a comprehensive, reliable nationwide groundwater dataset. We curated over 120,000 records from 640 wells, spanning 1970-2021, provided by the General Water Resources Directorate. One notable enhancement to our dataset is the incorporation of elevation data. This addition allows for a more comprehensive estimation of groundwater elevation. Rigorous data quality analysis was executed through a classification scheme applied to raw groundwater level records. This resource is invaluable for researchers, decision-makers, and stakeholders, offering insights into groundwater trends to support informed, sustainable water management. Our study bridges a crucial gap by providing a dependable dataset for expansive studies, aiding water management strategies in Chile.