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Application of a Soil-Water-Balance Model to Estimate Annual Groundwater Recharge for Long Island, New York, 1900–2019

Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5143
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215143

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Abstract

A soil-water-balance (SWB) model was developed for Long Island, New York, to estimate the potential amount of annual groundwater recharge to the Long Island aquifer system from 1900 to 2019. The SWB model program is a computer code based on a modified Thornthwaite-Mather SWB approach and uses spatially and temporally distributed meteorological, land-cover, and soil properties as input to compute potential daily groundwater recharge. Simulated outputs indicate that island-wide potential groundwater recharge trends, as a percentage of precipitation, have increased approximately 3 percent during the 120-year period. The simulated results account for both climatic and land-cover changes that have occurred during the period. A change from undeveloped (forested land cover) to low- and medium-density residential land cover or land use increased potential groundwater recharge because of a decrease in evapotranspiration. During the 30-year period from 1900 to 1930, the simulated potential average groundwater recharge rate on Long Island was estimated to be 18.50 inches per year (in/yr), or a total of 1,243 million gallons per day, during the 30-year period from 1985 to 2015, the simulated potential average groundwater recharge rate estimate increased to 20.73 in/yr (a total of around 1,393 million gallons per day).

During the 1900–2019 simulation period, the potential average annual groundwater recharge rate was about 19.24 in/yr. The data for that period included values for a 3-year meteorological drought from 1963 to 1965, where the mean precipitation was about 26.5 percent lower than the long-term average of 46.7 in/yr, and the potential groundwater recharge rate was about 12.3 in/yr. During a 3-year wet period from 1982 to 1984, where mean precipitation was about 19.6 percent higher than the long-term average, the estimated potential groundwater recharge rate was about 26.8 in/yr.

Suggested Citation

Finkelstein, J.S., Monti, J., Jr., Masterson, J.P., and Walter, D.A., 2022, Application of a soil-water-balance model to estimate annual groundwater recharge for Long Island, New York, 1900–2019: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2021–5143, 25 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215143.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Previous Studies
  • Model Description and Input Requirements
  • Recharge Analysis
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Application of a soil-water-balance model to estimate annual groundwater recharge for Long Island, New York, 1900–2019
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2021-5143
DOI 10.3133/sir20215143
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New York Water Science Center
Description Report: v, 25 p.; 2 Data Releases
Country United States
State New York
Other Geospatial Long Island
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details