Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 339, Issue 6122, Pages 940-943Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.1229881
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Funding
- U.S. National Science Foundation [NSF-AGS-1045110, NSF-OCE-10409088]
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA-STAR-RD834190]
- European Commission FP7 (GLOWASIS)
- Rutgers University Board of Trustees [651201]
- Climate Simulation Laboratory at NCAR's Computational and Information Systems Laboratory
- National Science Foundation
- Directorate For Geosciences
- Div Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences [1045110] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Division Of Ocean Sciences
- Directorate For Geosciences [1049088] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Shallow groundwater affects terrestrial ecosystems by sustaining river base-flow and root-zone soil water in the absence of rain, but little is known about the global patterns of water table depth and where it provides vital support for land ecosystems. We present global observations of water table depth compiled from government archives and literature, and fill in data gaps and infer patterns and processes using a groundwater model forced by modern climate, terrain, and sea level. Patterns in water table depth explain patterns in wetlands at the global scale and vegetation gradients at regional and local scales. Overall, shallow groundwater influences 22 to 32% of global land area, including similar to 15% as groundwater-fed surface water features and 7 to 17% with the water table or its capillary fringe within plant rooting depths.
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