Drought propagation and its impact on groundwater hydrology of wetlands: a case study on the Doode Bemde nature reserve (Belgium)
2021
Abstract. Drought can be described as a temporary decrease in water availability over
a significant period that affects both surface and groundwater resources.
Droughts propagate through the hydrological cycle and may impact vulnerable
ecosystems. This paper investigates drought propagation in the hydrological
cycle, focusing on assessing its impact on a groundwater-fed wetland
ecosystem. Meteorological drought indices were used to analyze
meteorological drought severity. Moreover, a method for assessing groundwater
drought and its propagation in the aquifer was developed and applied.
Groundwater drought was analyzed using the variable threshold method.
Furthermore, meteorological drought and groundwater drought on recharge were
compared to investigate drought propagation in the hydrological cycle. This
research is carried out in the Doode Bemde wetland in central Belgium. The results of this research show that droughts are attenuated in the
groundwater system. The number and severity of drought events on groundwater
discharge were smaller than for groundwater recharge. However, the onset of
both drought events occurred at the same time, indicating a quick response
of the groundwater system to hydrological stresses. In addition, drought
propagation in the hydrological cycle indicated that not all meteorological
droughts result in groundwater drought. Furthermore, this drought
propagation effect was observed in the wetland.
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