How groundwater temperature is affected by climate change: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Hydrology
• Climate Change Research

Background:

• Groundwater (GW) is increasingly recognized as sensitive to climate change (CC) impacts.
• While GW quantity has been widely studied, qualitative impacts, specifically on GW temperature (GWT), are gaining attention.
• Understanding GWT changes is crucial due to potential consequences for ecosystems and water quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review recent scientific literature on the relationship between CC and GWT.
• To identify and analyze the impacts of CC on GWT variations.
• To highlight the potential consequences and applications of altered GWT.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of papers from Scopus and Web of Science databases.
• Screening of 144 initial papers, followed by full-text analysis of 44 selected studies.
• Analysis of literature published globally between 1995 and 2023.

Main Results:

• A notable global increase in GWT attributed to CC, especially pronounced in urban environments.
• Analysis of GWT increase impacts on groundwater contaminants and dependent ecosystems.
• Evaluation of potential applications of elevated GWT, such as geothermal energy.

Conclusions:

• Groundwater temperature is demonstrably vulnerable to climate change.
• The observed GWT variations have significant environmental and ecological implications.
• Further investigation into the consequences of rising GWT is warranted.