Quantum mechanics

Climatology

Ecology

Biology

Geotechnical engineering

Coastal plain

Precipitation

China

Archaeology

Physical geography

Geology

Oceanography

Paleontology

Physics

Groundwater

Climate change

Geography

Hydrology (agriculture)

Data assimilation

Environmental science

Seasonality

Meteorology

Term (time)

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation

The over exploitation of groundwater has seriously restricted the healthy development of social economy in North China Plain (NCP). The study of the change in the groundwater storage at different time scales is helpful to understand the characteristics of groundwater dynamic changes and real-time groundwater management. Based on Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite products and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data, this paper analyses the seasonal and long-term trend changes of NCP groundwater storage from June 2003 to June 2017 by using adaptive Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) algorithm. Moreover, their relationships with precipitation and the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project (SWDP) are analysed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The change of groundwater storage in NCP mainly shows a long-term downward trend and the downward trend gradually increases from northeast to southwest, and the maximum decline rate appears in Handan, reaching 26.44 mm/yr; (2) The main spatial pattern in the seasonal variation of groundwater storage in the NCP has a good consistency and the response of seasonal groundwater variation to seasonal precipitation variation lags by 3–4 months; and (3) After implementing the SWDP, the long-term decline rate of groundwater storage is reduced and the average contribution rate of seasonal variation characteristics of groundwater storage increases from 20% to 28%. The research results of this paper are helpful to understand the dynamic change process of groundwater storage and lay a foundation for further exploring the reasons for the change of groundwater storage.

Long-term and seasonal variation in groundwater storage in the North China Plain based on GRACE