Investigating the impact of climate change on groundwater resources
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Objective: |
To improve the understanding and management of groundwater systems that may be sensitive to climate change by assisting states and territories to improve their knowledge of the potential effects of climate change on these resources. |
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Funding: |
Up to $1,644,987.33 plus applicable GST |
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Jurisdiction: |
National |
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Commenced: |
February 2009 |
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Project status: |
Finalised |
| Outputs: |
Project details
Over the past 80 years Australian climatic trends have indicated warming over most of Australia (except in the inland north-west), increasing rainfall over northern, central and north-west Australia, and decreasing rainfall in eastern, south-east and south-west Australia. Current knowledge of groundwater systems (both monitoring data and conceptualisation) is inadequate to allow informed climate change adaptation and management decisions in most of Australia.
This project built on work already carried out by CSIRO in the Murray-Darling Basin, Northern Australia, South West Western Australia and Tasmania. It specifically examined how climate change may affect the volume and timing of rainfall intensity and the associated changes in groundwater recharge and discharge in terms of different aquifer types and climate zones.
Project outcomes
Projected future climates were inferred from 16 global climate models of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 4th Assessment Report. An aquifer characterisation tool was subsequently developed to assess which groundwater systems are likely to be sensitive to climate change. The project developed a high priority list of 20 groundwater aquifer systems considered both sensitive to climate change and important (using economic, social and environmental criteria).
The project outcomes will assist water managers and planners to understand the expected impacts of climate change in their region.