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The future of groundwater in sub-Saharan Africa

An analysis of aquifer replenishment in sub-Saharan Africa shows that reduced precipitation does not always deplete groundwater reserves, challenging the idea that these reserves will decrease in response to global warming.
  1. Richard W. Healy

    1. Richard W. Healy is at the US Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, USA.

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The population of sub-Saharan Africa is currently about 1 billion, and is predicted to double by 2050 (go.nature.com/2zj9kca), whereas the region’s climate is predicted to become drier during the same period1. Clearly, the demand for fresh water will increase. Whether groundwater can satisfy this demand is a looming question. Little is known about the rates at which water is replenished to groundwater aquifers2,3 in that region, and thus the rate of sustainable withdrawal. Writing in Nature, Cuthbert et al.4 identify the processes involved, and examine the long-term trends of aquifer replenishment in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors conclude that future drying climatic trends could affect surface-water supplies, but might not decrease groundwater supplies.

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Nature 572, 185-187 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-02337-6

References

  1. Jiménez Cisneros, B. E. et al. in Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (eds Field, C. B. et al.) 229–269 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2014).

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  2. MacDonald, A. M., Bonsor, H. C., Dochartaigh, B. É. Ó. & Taylor, R. G. Environ. Res. Lett. 7, 024009 (2012).

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  3. Chung, I.-M., Sophocleous, M. A., Mitiku, D. B. & Kim, N. W. Geosci. J. 20, 731–744 (2016).

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  4. Cuthbert, M. O. et al. Nature 572, 230–234 (2019).

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  5. Taylor, R. G. et al. Nature Clim. Change 3, 374–378 (2013).

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  6. Cavé, L., Beekman, H. E. & Weaver, J. in Groundwater Recharge Estimation in Southern Africa (eds Xu, Y. & Beekman, H. E.) 189–197 (UNESCO, 2003).

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  7. Robins, N., Davies, J. & Farr, J. Hydrogeol. J. 21, 905–917 (2013).

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  8. Taylor, C. J. & Alley, W. M. US Geol. Surv. Circ. 1217 (2001).

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