Simulation of national-scale groundwater dynamics in geologically complex aquifer systems: an example from Great Britain

Bianchi, Marco ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9023-5385; Scheidegger, Johanna; Hughes, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9940-1813; Jackson, Christopher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2373-2098; Lee, Jonathan; Lewis, Melinda; Mansour, Majdi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3058-8864; Newell, Andrew; O’Dochartaigh, Brighid; Patton, Ashley; Dadson, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6144-4639. 2024 Simulation of national-scale groundwater dynamics in geologically complex aquifer systems: an example from Great Britain. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 69 (5). 572-591. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2024.2320847

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Abstract/Summary

The national-scale British Groundwater Model (BGWM) is implemented to simulate groundwater dynamics and budgets in Great Britain. Notwithstanding the challenges of integrating a very large amount of data, finding a trade-off between computational efficiency and realism, performing automatic calibration, and addressing multiple sources of structural and parameter uncertainty, a quantitative–qualitive evaluation approach showed that the BGWM provides a reasonably accurate digital representation of groundwater systems and processes at a national scale. In this work, the model was applied to understand the variability of budget components across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Comparisons showed regional differences linked to lithological and climatic factors, which in turn can be associated with more or less groundwater resilience to extreme climatic events. There is confidence that the current and future versions of the BGWM can become valuable tools for effective water resources management and adaptation strategies under future climatic and population changes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2024.2320847
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0262-6667
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	groundwater modelling, water budgets, British aquifers, GroundwaterBGS
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology Data and Information
Date made live:	18 Apr 2024 08:10 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537253

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