Dataset for "A Multi-continental Synthesis of High-volume MAR Systems Effectiveness for Land Subsidence Mitigation"

Vertical land motion (VLM) for 12 High-volumne Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Systems.Abstract: Accelerating groundwater depletion driven by rising water demand and climate variability poses mounting challenges to global water security. As aquifers are overexploited and compacted, widespread land subsidence threatens communities, infrastructure stability, and ecosystem sustainability. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), by artificially replenishing groundwater storage and alleviating effective stress within aquifer systems, offers a promising pathway to restore balance and enhance long-term resilience. However, empirical evidence for MAR's effectiveness in mitigating subsidence across diverse geological and climatic settings remains limited. Here, we present a multi-continental synthesis of MAR performance for land subsidence mitigation at 12 high-volume sites across 10 countries using satellite radar. Average vertical land motion (VLM) rates varied across MAR sites, ranging from +4.0 mm/year uplift (Orange County, USA) to -2.4 mm/year subsidence (El Carracillo, Spain). Four sites exhibited net uplift, three showed mixed deformation responses, and five continued to experience net subsidence despite ongoing recharge operations. Spatio-temporal analysis reveals moderate to strong correlations (r = 0.5–0.9) between land elevation changes and variations in groundwater levels, drought severity, and regional terrestrial water storage. We distinguish aquifer compaction trends from elastic loading signals using independent component analysis, highlighting that both local aquifer pressurization and broader basin-scale hydrological processes influence MAR effectiveness. We show that MAR effectiveness is governed by a hierarchy of controls, where aquifer architecture constrains the potential for recovery, hydroclimatic forcing sets regional boundary conditions, and operational intensity modulates local response. Sites with responsive geological conditions achieved measurable uplift even under water stress, while unfavorable geology limited effectiveness regardless of recharge intensity. These findings provide empirical evidence for the strategic implementation of MAR and highlight the importance of integrated watershed-scale management under intensifying climate pressures.

12个高容量含水层人工补给（Managed Aquifer Recharge, MAR）系统垂直地表运动（Vertical Land Motion, VLM）数据集
摘要：水资源需求持续攀升叠加气候变异性影响，导致地下水超采加速，正对全球水安全构成日益严峻的挑战。含水层因过度开采发生压密后，大范围地面沉降将威胁社区安全、基础设施稳定性与生态系统可持续性。含水层人工补给（MAR）通过人工补充地下水储量、降低含水层系统内的有效应力，为恢复水文平衡、提升长期系统韧性提供了颇具前景的解决方案。然而，目前针对MAR在不同地质与气候场景下缓解地面沉降的效果，仍缺乏充足的实证依据。
本研究基于卫星雷达数据，对全球10个国家的12个高容量MAR站点开展跨大洲合成分析，以评估其缓解地面沉降的效果。各MAR站点的平均垂直地表运动速率存在显著差异，范围从美国奥兰治县的+4.0毫米/年抬升，到西班牙埃尔卡拉西约的-2.4毫米/年沉降。其中4个站点呈现净抬升，3个站点表现出混合形变响应，另有5个站点即便持续开展补给作业，仍出现净沉降。
时空分析结果显示，地表高程变化与地下水位波动、干旱烈度以及区域陆地水储量变化之间存在中等至极强的相关性（相关系数r=0.5~0.9）。本研究通过独立成分分析（Independent Component Analysis, ICA）区分了含水层压密趋势与弹性荷载信号，结果表明，局部含水层加压与更大尺度流域的水文过程共同影响MAR的实施效果。研究发现，MAR的有效性受多级控制因素制约：含水层结构限制了恢复潜力，水文气候强迫设定了区域边界条件，而补给作业强度则调节局部响应。即便在水资源胁迫条件下，地质条件适宜的站点仍可实现可观测的抬升；而地质条件不利的站点，无论补给强度如何，其MAR效果均受到限制。
本研究的发现为MAR的科学规划与实施提供了实证依据，同时凸显了在气候压力持续加剧的背景下，开展流域尺度综合水资源管理的重要性。