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Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Groundwater variability is strongly linked to soil temperature across global aquifers(Wiley, 2026-08-05); ; ; ; Groundwater plays a critical role in land-atmosphere interactions by regulating soil moisture and surface energy fluxes, yet its contribution to land-surface processes and heat extremes remains poorly quantified globally. Here, we combine observation-based aquifer records with gridded groundwater table depth (GWD) model outputs (2000–2015) to assess how GWD annual fluctuations covary with soil moisture, evaporation, soil temperature, and heatwave frequency across 1,658 aquifers worldwide. Soil temperature shows the most frequently dominant correlation with GWD among statistically significant, robust relationships (37% of aquifers), followed by evaporation (28%), heatwave frequency (22%), and soil moisture (13%). Aquifers with declining GWD suggest different coupling patterns compared to stable aquifers, with more negative relationships between GWD and evaporation and positive associations between GWD and soil temperature. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating groundwater dynamics into assessments of climate extremes and land-surface processes.Publicationtype: Journal Article15 28 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , How does groundwater level influence the occurrence and frequency of heatwaves?Climate extremes (e.g., 2023 European heatwave) have severe consequences on built and natural environments, posing a threat to human wellbeing and economic resilience. A changing climate is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of climate hazards but also their impacts might intensify due to increasing exposure and vulnerability. Land atmosphere interactions have been identified as key drivers for heatwaves, relying significantly on groundwater interactions through its effect on soil moisture, evaporation and thus surface heat fluxes (1, 2). Variation of rainfall patterns and the increase in water demands are expected to influence groundwater dynamics, soil moisture-air temperature feedback processes and subsequently the occurrence of preconditioned compound events, where climate-driven preconditions (rainfall-variability and increase of air temperature), worsen the effects of a hazard (heatwave). The current understanding of groundwater as driver for heatwaves are often limited to regional studies or specific land covers, with few endeavors seeking to characterize global- scale trends and responses. We aim to globally investigate the relation between groundwater levels and heatwave events considering different land cover types and environmental variables by conducting a wide-ranging statistical analysis. We combine a variety of datasets, making use of an existing high resolution groundwater model, climate reanalysis data and remote sensing data. This allows us to distinguish potential drivers of heatwave occurrence which contribute to the development of effective action plans to mitigate climate change's adverse effects.Publicationtype: Conference Poster32