Decline in Iran’s groundwater recharge

Roohollah Noori (), Mohsen Maghrebi, Søren Jessen, Sayed M. Bateni, Essam Heggy, Saman Javadi, Mojtaba Noury, Severin Pistre, Soroush Abolfathi and Amir AghaKouchak
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Roohollah Noori: University of Tehran
Mohsen Maghrebi: University of Tehran
Søren Jessen: University of Copenhagen
Sayed M. Bateni: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Essam Heggy: University of Southern California
Saman Javadi: University of Tehran
Mojtaba Noury: Ministry of Energy
Severin Pistre: University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD
Soroush Abolfathi: University of Warwick
Amir AghaKouchak: University of California

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Groundwater recharge feeds aquifers supplying fresh-water to a population over 80 million in Iran—a global hotspot for groundwater depletion. Using an extended database comprising abstractions from over one million groundwater wells, springs, and qanats, from 2002 to 2017, here we show a significant decline of around −3.8 mm/yr in the nationwide groundwater recharge. This decline is primarily attributed to unsustainable water and environmental resources management, exacerbated by decadal changes in climatic conditions. However, it is important to note that the former’s contribution outweighs the latter. Our results show the average annual amount of nationwide groundwater recharge (i.e., ~40 mm/yr) is more than the reported average annual runoff in Iran (i.e., ~32 mm/yr), suggesting the surface water is the main contributor to groundwater recharge. Such a decline in groundwater recharge could further exacerbate the already dire aquifer depletion situation in Iran, with devastating consequences for the country’s natural environment and socio-economic development.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42411-2

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