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Project title

Evaluating the vulnerability of aquifer recharge to changing climate across Ireland

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Met Eireann - Geological Survey Of Ireland (GSI)

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

Patrick Morrissey

Project Abstract

This proposal aims to develop and implement a methodology to evaluate the vulnerability of groundwater recharge to a changing climate in Ireland. Historically, research on the impact of climate change on groundwater resources has been relatively limited, as reflected in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report which identified a knowledge gap in this area (Kundzewicz et al., 2007). In Ireland, climate studies have primarily focussed on surface waters (Steele-Dunne et al., 2008; Bastola et al., 2012; Broderick et al., 2019; Gleeson et al, 2013; Murphy et al., 2023), while groundwater studies have tended to be small scale assessments rather than quantitative research applicable at the national scale (Cantoni, 2020; Morrissey et al., 2021). The proposed collaboration between Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and South Eastern Technical University (SETU) Carlow, with partners in the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC), Talamhireland and Geological Survey Ireland, will strengthen partnerships between the institutions and open new research opportunities in the fields of climate change adaptation, groundwater resource monitoring and management. The project remit is to establish a practical, repeatable methodology for the estimation of historic and future groundwater recharge rates to better understand the factors impacting on and the likely trends in future groundwater recharge. The research project, AQCLIMATE, will be completed over a tight 24-month timeframe. To achieve this there are four main objectives: 1) Review quantitative approaches for the spatial and temporal mapping of groundwater recharge and evaluate climate change impacts on groundwater recharge in Ireland 2) Develop a methodology to generate national groundwater recharge maps capable of producing: i. An average annual groundwater recharge map for WMO Period 1990-2020; ii. Seasonal and annual/hydrological year groundwater recharge maps for various climatological periods (e.g. 1990-2020 or 1960-1970 etc.) iii. Seasonal and annual groundwater recharge for future climate change scenarios 3) Validation of the methodology to ensure the efficacy of the approach (an iterative approach to model re-calibration may be required) Output of relevant GIS datasets/maps, Python scripts, input variables and detailed reporting which will allow Geological Survey Ireland (or others) to repeat or modify the process in the future as new data become available.

Grant Approved

�299,847.05

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

31/03/2024

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/03/2026