Analysis of groundwater fluctuation using grace satellite data

Remote sensing has been proved to be a vital medium for natural resource management. In the present study, GRACE data was collected for Terai region of Kumaon division to study the temporal variation in ground water table from 2002 to 2016. GRACE is a twin satellite system developed by collaboration of NASA and German space agencies and DLR of US respectively. The spatial resolution of GRACE is 1° x 1°. For studying the changes in groundwater table, non-parametric trend analysis has been done using linear regression methods Mann Kendall test and Moving Average models. The results suggested that between 2002 to 2016, the average groundwater table fluctuation was 10.47 cm. Maximum positive groundwater fluctuation was 40.59 cm, in September 2003, while maximum negative groundwater fluctuation of 43.14 cm was in March 2016. The outcomes of the study suggested that groundwater fluctuations have sharply decreased during 2002 to 2016 and trend is negative for this study period in all months.