Assessing the impacts of drought on groundwater resources in Scotland using the Eden catchment in northeast Fife as a case study

Abstract

Groundwater resources play a crucial role in the economic and environmental development of Scotland’s well-being with it contributing the second greatest source of water supplies to the country after surface water. This research focuses on the impacts of drought caused by climate change on these resources at the Eden catchment in northeast Fife, Scotland, considered necessary because current literature and government interests regarding climate change are more currently directed towards flood management. This study investigates the relationship between precipitation (rainfall) and groundwater recharge to determine the frequency and severity of drought over a twenty-year period, it then focuses on the impacts this drought maybe having on groundwater quality. This research was carried out using precipitation data supplied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for five different rain gauges within the study catchment area. Interviews were also undertaken with both the British Geological Survey and National Farmers Union Scotland so that relevant historic and contemporary datasets could be obtained. Calculations for the most easternly of these rain gauges were carried out with the intension of determining soil moisture deficit and determine the severity of drought in 2022.

Key findings are that groundwater recharge is lowest to the east of the catchment with diffuse pollution from agriculture being more severe to the northwest occurring because of variations in land use and increased runoff. Another key finding is that current management practices in protecting groundwater resources at the Eden catchment are not suited to the long-term impacts of drought and that current management practices need to be updated. The implication is that there needs to be a change in current land use practices from agriculture towards a more environmentally friendly means of future crop production, there also needs to be significant changes in the regulation of groundwater resources within the catchment to best adapt to more frequent drier periods annually because of climate change. This research was considered important because it shows a need for improved knowledge in groundwater studies in Scotland in relation to drought.

Date of Award	1 Mar 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Abertay University
Supervisor	Joseph Akunna (Supervisor) & Daniel Gilmour (Supervisor)