Ferreira et al. (2026) Towards global groundwater recharge estimation from GRACE-constrained GLDAS-CLSM data

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Identification

• Journal: Hydrogeology Journal
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-21
• Authors: Vagner Gonçalves Ferreira, Christopher E. Ndehedehe
• DOI: 10.1007/s10040-026-03169-1

Research Groups

Not specified

Short Summary

This study introduces the groundwater storage fluctuation (GSF) method to estimate global groundwater recharge and discharge using GRACE-constrained GLDAS-2.2 CLSM data.

Objective

• To derive gross recharge, total discharge, and net recharge at regional to global scales using a method that does not require seasonal templates or specific recharge-event identification.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global (with specific regional validations in the Murray-Darling, São Francisco, and Colorado basins).
• Temporal Scale: 2004–2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Groundwater storage fluctuation (GSF) method, GLDAS-2.2 CLSM.
• Data sources: GRACE satellite-constrained groundwater storage (GWS) anomalies, Australian chloride mass balance (CMB) dataset, and borehole observations.

Main Results

• Global Recharge: The mean annual recharge is estimated at $16,081.5\text{ km}^3/\text{year}$, with a non-significant global trend of $0.34\text{ mm/year}$.
• Spatial Distribution: Recharge varies from $<100\text{ mm/year}$ in arid zones to $>300\text{ mm/year}$ in humid tropical regions.
• Interannual Variability: Arid basins exhibit high coefficients of variation: Murray-Darling Basin (48%), São Francisco (40%), and Colorado (36%).
• Validation: Strong spatial correlation with Australian CMB data ($\rho = 0.82$) and specific validation in the Murray-Darling Basin ($\rho = 0.83$, $\text{STD} = 32.1\text{ mm/year}$). GWS correlates at $0.47$ with borehole data ($\text{STD} = 33.9\text{ mm}$).

Contributions

• Proposes a simplified GSF method for estimating groundwater recharge that eliminates the need for seasonal templates or the identification of individual recharge events.
• Provides a global recharge estimate consistent with existing hydrological models and multi-study averages.

Funding

Not specified

Citation

@article{Ferreira2026Towards,
  author = {Ferreira, Vagner Gonçalves and Ndehedehe, Christopher E.},
  title = {Towards global groundwater recharge estimation from GRACE-constrained GLDAS-CLSM data},
  journal = {Hydrogeology Journal},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1007/s10040-026-03169-1},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-026-03169-1}
}