Background
ET plays a crucial role in the global hydrological cycle, significantly influencing the water balance within ecosystems, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In such areas, the annual actual evapotranspiration (AET) can even surpass annual precipitation (Morsy et al., 2022). However, the precise understanding of ET dynamics, particularly the contributions of groundwater and surface water to this process, remains a complex and critical challenge. Groundwater and surface water interact through complex physical processes, influenced by climate, topography, land use, soil properties, and geological characteristics unique to each geographic location (Barthel & Banzhaf, 2016).
In addition, numerous studies have addressed the effects of climate change on the spatiotemporal variability of the hydrologic cycle and water availability in semi-arid regions (Aliyari et al., 2021; Döll, 2009; Fan et al., 2016; Hu et al., 2017; Valipour et al., 2017; Yifru et al., 2021). Particularly, the mid-to-high latitude areas are considered sensitive to climate change (Barnett et al., 2005). In addition, recent studies projected an increase in global atmospheric water demand in mid-to-high latitude regions under future global warming scenarios, which demonstrated increasing ET over most land areas (Masson-Delmotte et al., 2021; O’Neill et al., 2016; Valentin et al., 2018) and changes in precipitation patterns under future global warming scenarios (Masson-Delmotte et al., 2021).
However, despite studies on the simulation of potential variations in overall ET under historical and global warming scenarios (Condon et al., 2020; Fan et al., 2016; Valipour et al., 2017), there is a lack of knowledge on the sources of contribution to total ET to develop effective water resource management and conservation plans to contribute to the development of effective strategies for sustainable water resource allocation.
In addition, numerous studies have addressed the effects of climate change on the spatiotemporal variability of the hydrologic cycle and water availability in semi-arid regions (Aliyari et al., 2021; Döll, 2009; Fan et al., 2016; Hu et al., 2017; Valipour et al., 2017; Yifru et al., 2021). Particularly, the mid-to-high latitude areas are considered sensitive to climate change (Barnett et al., 2005). In addition, recent studies projected an increase in global atmospheric water demand in mid-to-high latitude regions under future global warming scenarios, which demonstrated increasing ET over most land areas (Masson-Delmotte et al., 2021; O’Neill et al., 2016; Valentin et al., 2018) and changes in precipitation patterns under future global warming scenarios (Masson-Delmotte et al., 2021).
However, despite studies on the simulation of potential variations in overall ET under historical and global warming scenarios (Condon et al., 2020; Fan et al., 2016; Valipour et al., 2017), there is a lack of knowledge on the sources of contribution to total ET to develop effective water resource management and conservation plans to contribute to the development of effective strategies for sustainable water resource allocation.
Research Objectives
The objective of this study is to investigate the spatiotemporal variations in ET from both porous media and surface water within the North Saskatchewan River Basin. The central hypothesis is that the proportion of ET from porous media and surface water will undergo significant changes as a result of global warming.
Specific objectives include:
Specific objectives include:
- Evaluation of water losses via ET from porous media and surface water in response to Climate Change across the Mountain, Foothill, and Plain regions of the North Saskatchewan River Basin.
- Analysis of ET patterns within different land use types across these distinct regions.
North Saskatchewan River Basin Regions