Groundwater abstraction for irrigation and its impacts on low flows in a watershed in Northwest Germany
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In: Resources, Vol. 4, No. 3, 01.09.2015, p. 566-576.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Groundwater abstraction for irrigation and its impacts on low flows in a watershed in Northwest Germany
AU - Wittenberg, Hartmut
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Low flows of the Ilmenau River (1434 km2) in northwest Germany have decreased by about 25% over the last 50 years. In the same period, moderate climate changes have taken place and annual groundwater abstractions for sprinkler irrigation have increased by up to 50 hm3 (million m3), with a strong variation due to the respective prevailing weather conditions. Time-series analyses with multiple regression analysis allow detecting and quantifying different influences on low flows. It is also shown that farmers allocate irrigation water volumes carefully according to seasonal precipitation and temperatures. Decline of groundwater levels in summer and the low flow situation are aggravated by the cumulative effect of higher irrigation in drier years. Groundwater recharge and recovery of the water table have been observed subsequently during the winter season.
AB - Low flows of the Ilmenau River (1434 km2) in northwest Germany have decreased by about 25% over the last 50 years. In the same period, moderate climate changes have taken place and annual groundwater abstractions for sprinkler irrigation have increased by up to 50 hm3 (million m3), with a strong variation due to the respective prevailing weather conditions. Time-series analyses with multiple regression analysis allow detecting and quantifying different influences on low flows. It is also shown that farmers allocate irrigation water volumes carefully according to seasonal precipitation and temperatures. Decline of groundwater levels in summer and the low flow situation are aggravated by the cumulative effect of higher irrigation in drier years. Groundwater recharge and recovery of the water table have been observed subsequently during the winter season.
KW - Germany
KW - Groundwater
KW - Irrigation
KW - Low flows
KW - Multiple regressions
KW - Ecosystems Research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84979254613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/resources4030566
DO - 10.3390/resources4030566
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:84979254613
VL - 4
SP - 566
EP - 576
JO - Resources
JF - Resources
SN - 2079-9276
IS - 3
ER -