Groundwater Depletion and its Drivers
Geography
- PYQs3
- Articles1
Background
Addresses a critical environmental challenge impacting water security, livelihoods, and the sustainability of fragile ecosystems. Understanding its drivers is essential for effective policy formulation and sustainable resource management, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like the Himalayas.
Groundwater depletion refers to the long-term decline in the water table due to unsustainable extraction or reduced recharge. In mountain regions, this often manifests as drying up of natural springs and traditional water sources, exacerbated by both natural and anthropogenic factors.
Facts & tables
- Definition
- Reduction in underground water reserves, leading to weakening and drying of natural springs (dharas) and aquifers.
- Natural Drivers
- Frequent forest fires (destroying vegetation, drying soil), climate change (irregular rains, reduced snowfall, rapid surface run-off).
- Anthropogenic Drivers
- Road construction, urbanisation, rising tourism damaging natural water channels and recharge zones.
- Impact
- Acute water shortages for communities, affecting traditional water systems like Naulas.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Climate Change & Conventions |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
- Causes of groundwater decline in Himalayas.
- Role of climate change (rainfall, snowfall).
- Impact of development (roads, urbanization).
- Consequences: water scarcity, spring drying.
- Need for integrated water resource management.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Factual recall |
| 2019 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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Climate Change & Conventions
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2019
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2024
Factual recall
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News in Frames | The drying naulas of Uttarakhand
Groundwater depletion in mountain regions, exemplified by drying springs in Uttarakhand, is driven by climate change, forest fires, and developmental activities like road construction and urbanization, leading to severe water scarcity and threatening traditional water systems.
See also
In the news
News in Frames | The drying naulas of Uttarakhand
Groundwater depletion in mountain regions, exemplified by drying springs in Uttarakhand, is driven by climate change, forest fires, and developmental activities like road construction and urbanization, leading to severe water scarcity and threatening traditional water systems.
Try these PYQs
With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagra from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct?
* Gomati: The Gomti River originates in the Central Himalayas and joins the Ganga near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. * Ghaghara: The Ghaghara River, also known as the Ghagra-Rapti River, is the largest tributary of the Ganga. It originates in the Nepal Himalayas and joins the Ganga near Chhapra, Bihar. * Gandak: The Gandak River originates in the Nepal Himalayas and joins the Ganga near Patna, Bihar. * Kosi: The Kosi River, also known as the Koshi River, is known for its erratic behaviour and floods. It originates in the Nepal Himalayas and joins the Ganga near Katihar, Bihar. Therefore, the correct sequence is Gomati - Ghaghara - Gandak - Kosi.
With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IOD phenomenon is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
2. An IOD phenomenon can influence El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between the tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Indian Ocean, not the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During a positive IOD, the western Indian Ocean is warmer than the eastern Indian Ocean, and vice versa for a negative IOD. Statement 2 is Correct: The IOD phenomenon can indeed influence El Nio's impact on the Indian monsoon. El Nio itself is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean, but it can interact with the IOD. Depending on the phases of both phenomena (positive/negative IOD and El Nino/La Nina), the overall impact on the Indian monsoon rainfall can be amplified or weakened. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following pairs :
| Glacier | River |
|---------------|------------|
| 1. Bandarpunch | Yamuna |
| 2. Bara Shigri | Chenab |
| 3. Milam | Mandakini |
| 4. Siachen | Nubra |
| 5. Zemu | Manas |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Bandarpunch : Yamuna - This is correct. Bandarpunch is a mountain massif of the Garhwal division of the Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is a source of the Yamuna River. Bara Shigri : Chenab - This is also correct. Bara Shigri is the second-longest glacier in the Himalayas and it feeds the Chenab River. Milam : Mandakini - This is incorrect. The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier, not the Milam Glacier. Siachen : Nubra - This is correct. The Siachen Glacier, one of the world's longest mountain glaciers, lies in the Karakoram Range system of Kashmir and is the source for the Nubra River. Zemu : Manas - This is incorrect. The Zemu Glacier is in Sikkim and it feeds the Teesta River, not the Manas River. So, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 4.