Assessing the impacts of climate variability and anthropogenic factors on groundwater resources in a semi-arid region of India

This thesis investigates the impacts of climate and agricultural pumping on groundwater in a semi-arid region. It separates the effects of rainfall from the impacts of pumping, a distinction often overlooked in past studies. Using rainfall records, groundwater data, field surveys, and both time series and numerical models, the study shows where climate still influences groundwater and where human use dominates. Importantly, it achieves this without relying on pumping data, which are often unavailable. As semi-arid regions depend heavily on groundwater and face increasing depletion, this study provides evidence-based solutions to support sustainable water management in vulnerable farming areas.