ESSIC Research Scientist Dorothy Hall is first author on a new paper in Geophysical Research Letters titled “Snowfall Replenishes Groundwater Loss in the Great Basin of the Western United States, but Cannot Compensate for Increasing Aridification”.
The Great Basin of the western U.S., which includes portions of Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Mexico, has been affected by the 21st Century megadrought in the southwestern U.S. This megadrought has caused a dramatic acceleration of groundwater loss, which is visible through changes in the Earth’s gravity measured by the GRACE satellites. Despite annual replenishment by snowfall, even in notable snow years like 2010–2011, 2016–2017, 2018–2019, and 2022– 2023, the downward trend of groundwater depletion persists. The researchers believe this is likely due to declining snow mass, upstream water diversions, and increased evaporation/sublimation due to increasing temperatures. Groundwater depletion is associated with dire consequences for humans and wildlife.
Dorothy Hall is an ESSIC research scientist and a senior scientist in the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. There, she conducts research on the remote sensing of snow and ice.
To access the paper, click here: “Snowfall Replenishes Groundwater Loss in the Great Basin of the Western United States, but Cannot Compensate for Increasing Aridification”.
