Improving groundwater storage change estimates using time-lapse
gravimetry with Gravi4GW
Abstract
Time-lapse gravimetry is a powerful tool for monitoring temporal mass
distribution variations, including seasonal and long-term groundwater
storage changes (GWSC). This geophysical method for measuring changes in
gravity (∆g) is applicable to any groundwater system, but is likely to
be of particular interest for studies of alpine catchments. These
important catchments are highly sensitive to climate variations and can
experience significant GWSC, while often lacking groundwater monitoring
infrastructure. Here, we present Gravi4GW, a python tool for the
calculation of β, the conversion factor between ∆g and GWSC, that are
site-adapted. To illustrate its usage, we investigate a detailed example
of an alpine catchment and examine spatial variations and the effects of
depth assumptions. This accessible tool is designed to be useful in both
the planning and data-processing stages of time-lapse gravimetric field
studies.