Evaluating the effects of climate change on groundwater level in the Varamin plain

Abstract

Abstract In this research, a number of paired three-dimensional Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCM) from CMIP (Climate Model Inter Comparison Project) 5 group with the base period of 1989–2005 have been evaluated and the output of these models was micro-scaled and calibrated by LARS-WG software. The appropriate model was selected to simulate temperature and rainfall data under the emission scenarios of RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) 2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for the future period of 2020–2050, and then to model the groundwater level of the region, GMS software for both stable and transient states for one water year was calibrated and then was validated by observation data. The results in the future periods showed an increase of 1–1.5 degrees in temperature and an increase in rainfall in the early months of the year to late spring season and a decrease in rainfall in autumn season. Generally, the RCP4.5 scenario showed slightly more annual rainfall increase over the next 30 years compared to the base period than the other two scenarios. The time series investigation of the average of groundwater level shows that the implementation of RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios respectively leads to an average monthly increase of 4.2, 4.3 and 4.6 cm of the groundwater level.