Effect of the climate change on groundwater recharging in Bangga watershed, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of the climate change to the level of groundwater recharging. This research was conducted on the watershed of Bangga by using the Soil Water Balance of MockWyn-UB model. Input data compose of evapotranspiration, monthly rainfall, watershed area, canopy interception, heavy rain factor and the influence of climate change factors (rainfall and temperature). The conclusion of this study indicates that there is a decreasing trend in annual groundwater recharge observed from 1995 to 2011. The amount of groundwater recharge varied linearly with monthly rainfall and between 3% to 25% of the rainfall. This result implies that rain contributed more than groundwater recharge to runoff and evaporation and the groundwater recharge and Bangga River discharge depends largely on the rainfall. In order to increase the groundwater recharge in the study area, reforestation programmes should be intensified.