In a significant development for India's water security, scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have been awarded a major research grant by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The three-year project, secured under ISRO's RESPOND programme, is set to comprehensively study the impact of climate change on the nation's groundwater resources.
Project Aims: Mapping Vulnerabilities Nationwide
The core mission of this competitive project is to monitor groundwater levels across India and pinpoint regions most susceptible to risks. Dr. Samanpreet Kaur, Principal Scientist and the project's lead investigator from PAU's Department of Soil and Water Engineering, explained that the team will determine not only which areas are vulnerable but also the specific time periods when they face the highest threat.
The research will hinge on an extensive analysis of data from NASA's GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) twin satellites to track changes in groundwater storage. "India has several kinds of aquifers and all of them behave differently," Dr. Kaur noted. She highlighted the diversity, from Punjab's alluvial aquifers to hard-rock and coastal aquifers elsewhere, each with unique challenges like seawater intrusion, waterlogging, or severe depletion.
From Punjab's Crisis to a National Blueprint
The project gains urgency from existing data in states like Punjab. Dr. Kaur revealed that observed data suggests an average long-term depletion of nearly 50cm of groundwater per year in Punjab. However, she emphasized that this preliminary data requires detailed validation, which the new project will undertake on a national scale.
By correlating data from various aquifer systems, the scientists aim to provide a clear picture of present and future risks. A critical output will be scientifically backed recommendations on sustainable groundwater extraction, specifying if and how much water can be safely withdrawn from a region without endangering its long-term water security.
Innovating Monitoring with Satellite Tech
Another pioneering aspect of the project is to evaluate whether satellite-based observations, like those from GRACE, can complement or even partially replace traditional ground-based piezometers used for measuring groundwater levels. This could revolutionize monitoring practices.
The multidisciplinary team includes Dr. Prabhjyot Kaur Sidhu (Climate Change and Agro-meteorology) and Dr. Surbhi Gupta (Electrical Engineering and IT). They will collaborate closely with Rajarshi Saha from ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), blending expertise in agriculture, climate science, engineering, and space technology.
The scientists underscored the project's crucial timing, as Punjab and other Indian regions grapple with increasing water stress due to over-extraction, erratic rainfall, and climate variability. By integrating satellite data, climate models, and ground observations, this initiative is poised to shape future national policies for sustainable groundwater management and long-term water security.
