Articles | Volume 30, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-5685-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-5685-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
08 Sep 2026
Research article |
| 08 Sep 2026
| 08 Sep 2026
Spectral analysis of groundwater level time series for robust estimation of aquifer response times
Department of Computational Hydrosystems, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Christian Siebert
Department Catchment Hydrology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle, Germany
Thomas Kalbacher
Department of Environmental Informatics, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Mariaines Di Dato
Department of Computational Hydrosystems, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Thomas Fischer
Department of Environmental Informatics, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Sabine Attinger
Department of Computational Hydrosystems, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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Short summary
Groundwater is vital but increasingly stressed by climate change and rising water demand. This study estimates how quickly aquifers respond to changes in recharge using a signal-analysis method. Most aquifers reacted within one to ten months, while deeper responded more slowly and proved more resilient to short droughts. The method uses existing monitoring data, offering a practical way to identify vulnerable aquifers and guide groundwater management under climate change.
Groundwater is vital but increasingly stressed by climate change and rising water demand....
