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Assessment of recharge capacity potential of groundwater using comparative multi-criteria decision analysis approaches

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Abstract

Groundwater resources have always been some of the most valuable resources of human settlements. Climate changes and ever-increasing water demands registered in the last century have led to diminishing levels of groundwater reserves, as well as reduced recharging potential. Therefore, in order to use groundwater aquifers in a sustainable manner, it is required to identify areas with higher replenishing potential. The current study addresses the issue of generating a map for identifying differently ranked groundwater recharging potential values, in the aquifers of the Moldavian Plain region, Romania. For the purpose of conducting the analysis, maps were created through GIS based multi-criteria Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Catastrophe Theory (CT), with seven relevant, thematic, spatial layers: precipitation distribution, lithological strata, soil texture, declivity, drainage density, land use and the distribution of groundwater level tendencies. The results of the two methods of analysis are similar. Prediction differences are of maximum 3%, in the case of extreme classes (very bad and very good) and in the case of middle classes the deviation is not greater than 0.4%. Following the validation of the results generated by the two methods that were applied, it was observed that the predictions offered by CT are more accurate. This aspect can be based on the fact that the main factors that contribute to the prediction are different. This type of workflow emphasizes the necessity of implementing appropriate groundwater management plans for mitigating reservoir scarcity/depletion, and recommending sustainable solutions for future groundwater exploitation practices.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-0286, within PNCDI III, the Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology, from “Alexandra Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, and the infrastructure was provided through the POSCCE-O 2.2.1, SMIS-CSNR 13984-901, No.257/28.09.2010 Project, CERNESIM.

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  1. Author: All authors contributed equally to this research paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania

    Ionut Minea & Daniel Boicu

  2. The Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania

    Oana-Elena Chelariu

  3. Integrated Centre of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region - CERNESIM, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iaşi, Romania

    Marina Iosub & Andrei Enea

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  1. Ionut Minea
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  4. Marina Iosub
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Correspondence to Ionut Minea.

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Foundation: Romanian Ministry of Education and Research CNCS-UEFISCDI, No.PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-0286, POSCCE-O 2.2.1, SMIS-CSNR 13984-901, No.257/28.09.2010 Project, CERNESIM

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Minea, I., Boicu, D., Chelariu, OE. et al. Assessment of recharge capacity potential of groundwater using comparative multi-criteria decision analysis approaches. J. Geogr. Sci. 32, 735–756 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-022-1970-0

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