Anthropogenic coal mining reducing groundwater storage in the Yellow River Basin

Area of Science:

• Hydrology
• Environmental Science
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Anthropogenic coal mining and water consumption significantly impact groundwater storage (GWS).
• Understanding the mechanisms of GWS response to human activities and climate change is crucial for water resource management.
• The Yellow River Basin (YRB) faces substantial pressure on its water resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the impacts of coal mining, water consumption, vegetation restoration, and climate change on GWS in the YRB.
• To identify the primary drivers of GWS changes in different regions of the YRB.
• To provide scientific insights for water resource management policies in the YRB.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data.
• Employed land surface model simulations and a Random Forest (RF) model.
• Integrated normalized vegetation index data, statistical yearbooks, and in situ observations.

Main Results:

• Observed a significant decline in GWS at a rate of -7.52 mm/year from 2003 to 2020.
• Identified water consumption by coal mining as the main driver of GWS changes in eastern and northern coal mining areas (importance scores 50-53).
• Found that significant vegetation restoration exacerbated groundwater drought, particularly during the growing season.

Conclusions:

• Coal mining and water consumption are primary factors driving groundwater depletion in the YRB.
• Vegetation restoration efforts can have unintended consequences on groundwater resources.
• The findings are vital for developing effective water resource management strategies in the YRB.