Effects of climate change and agricultural expansion on groundwater storage in the Amur River Basin

Abstract

Since the 1990s, the climate in the Amur River Basin (ARB) has changed, and large-scale wetlands in the region have been reclaimed for paddy fields. The study of the influence of climate change and agricultural expansion on groundwater storage is of great significance to the evaluation of regional water resource balance and the promotion of ecological protection and agricultural development. In this work, the groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) in the ARB and its drivers were analyzed for the period 2003–2016 using Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data, a Global Land Data Assimilation System model, and in situ observations of groundwater levels. Results indicated that 1) the GWSA in the ARB increased at a rate of 2.0–2.4 mm/yr from 2003 to 2016; the GWSA in the upper reaches of the ARB increased, whereas the GWSA in the middle and lower reaches decreased during the study period. 2) The GWSA in the middle and lower reaches of the ARB was greatly influenced by temperature (Tmp) and evapotranspiration (ET). Tmp was positively correlated with GWSA, whereas ET was negatively correlated with GWSA (p < 0.05). 3) Extreme rainfall had a delayed effect on groundwater recharge. Wetland degradation and agricultural development were the main factors causing the decrease of the GWSA in the middle and lower reaches of the ARB. In summary, temperature and evapotranspiration affect groundwater storage by regulating the water–heat balance, wetland reclamation reduces the regional storage capacity, and the irrigation required for reclaimed farmland is the main source of groundwater loss.