Web based water resources information system and monitoring variations of groundwater storage from satellite gravimetry in the Balochistan province of Pakistan
Student name: Ms Saloni Ranka
Guide: Dr Neeti
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Kavinda Gunasekara
Abstract: Monitoring water in terms of its location, quantity and movement from one place to another is an important aspect in understanding the global hydrological cycle and the changes related to climate and anthropogenic forcing. Accurate information of a country's water resources both surface and groundwater; its condition and trends, quantity and quality is required for economic and social development and for the maintenance of environmental quality.
Sustainable management of water resources requires advanced information system, capable of providing water information as well as monitoring the water resources throughout the landscape. Web based Water Resources Information System (WRIS) an advanced spatial information system platform, helps in faster and easier access to water data for water assessment and water forecasting. For designing and developing a Water Resources Information System, a systematic and detailed study of water related data and information systems is crucial.
One of the emerging field in hydrological studies is the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite system, which helps in monitoring the water resources beneath the land surface. GRACE remote sensing platform provides information about the changing water storage on the earth’s surface. The GRACE modelling approach was applied to the Balochistan Province of Pakistan, which lies in an arid zone with an annual rainfall of about 45 mm (USGS)
The GRACE analysis of groundwater storage change (ΔGWS) in the Balochistan Province from 2002 to 2016 observes many increasing and decreasing trends. From 2009 onwards, the overall groundwater storage is continuously declining in the whole province, except for 2011 which showed an increasing trend because of the severe flood conditions in many parts of the province. Further the GWS change is very severe in 2016 in the whole province. The Zonal distribution also provides important information about the GWS change in the province. All the six zones - North East, Central & South East, East, South West, Central East and North West observes an increase or decrease of GWS from 2002 to 2016, with the maximum variation observed in the North Eastern Region. The North Eastern Region records the highest negative trend as compared to all other zones in the province.
Keywords: WRIS, GRACE, groundwater, Balochistan, GWS change.
