Groundwater recharge and surface runoff
Assessing the impacts of climate change on the water balance and hydrology is important due to the flow on effects of changes to the water cycle. These flow on effects could include impacts to salinity, erosion, water quality, and aquatic biodiversity. Climate change is projected to impact the hydrological system through changes in groundwater recharge and surface runoff.
We have used the projections from NARCliM to provide updated information on the projected impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge and surface runoff in the near future (2030) and far future (2070).
Research results
Far future change in annual average change in recharge (left) and runoff (right)
- Large changes are projected to occur in groundwater recharge and surface runoff by 2070.
- By 2070 more recharge is likely across most of the state with increased runoff in autumn due to projected increases in autumn rainfall.
- The alpine areas and southern NSW are expected to experience considerable declines in both recharge and runoff.
What is surface runoff and groundwater recharge?
Surface runoff is the water that flows over a land surface instead of being intercepted by vegetation or soaking into the soil. Factors that influence the relationship between rainfall and runoff include ground slope, soil moisture conditions, soil permeability, vegetation cover, dead litter cover and soil surface properties.
Groundwater recharge is the flow of water into a groundwater system from above. The infiltration of rainfall and downward percolation of water through the soil profile can move below plant roots and eventually reach the water table. Volumes of recharge are influenced by soil properties such as permeability and vegetation properties such as root depth and density.
Download information
This document provides a summary of the climate change impacts on groundwater recharge and surface runoff from the Hydrology Technical Report
PDF - 4.3 mb
The Groundwater Recharge and Surface Runoff Technical Report details the methods and results of the hydrology climate change impact research
PDF - 4.1 mb
This folder contains 10 maps of multi model mean changes in annual and seasonal groundwater recharge for 2030 and 2070
ZIP - 3.9 mb
This folder contains 10 maps of multimodel mean changes in annual and seasonal surface runoff for 2030 and 2070
ZIP - 3.7 mb
This folder contains 10 data files of multi model mean changes in annual and seasonal surface runoff for 2030 and 2070
ZIP - 2.8 mb
This folder contains 10 data files of multi model mean changes in annual and seasonal groundwater recharge for 2030 and 2070
ZIP - 2.8 mb
What is surface runoff and groundwater recharge?
Surface runoff is the water that flows over a land surface instead of being intercepted by vegetation or soaking into the soil. Factors that influence the relationship between rainfall and runoff include ground slope, soil moisture conditions, soil permeability, vegetation cover, dead litter cover and soil surface properties.
Groundwater recharge is the flow of water into a groundwater system from above. The infiltration of rainfall and downward percolation of water through the soil profile can move below plant roots and eventually reach the water table. Volumes of recharge are influenced by soil properties such as permeability and vegetation properties such as root depth and density.
