Determinants of the spatial covariation of primary productivity and water table depth

Abstract:

This study explores when, where and how the spatial variations of gross primary productivity (GPP) and water table depth (WTD) are linked at the global scale. Latest observation-based global datasets, at a relatively high resolution of ~10 km (5 arc-minutes), are used to analyse spatial partial correlations between GPP and WTD. Results indicate that strength, direction, and spatial distribution of the partial correlation change with climate, vegetation cover, and seasonal availability of precipitation and radiation. Shallower water table depth is associated with larger GPP (negative correlation) in 14.3-23.9% of the global land area in different seasons. Such negative correlations between GPP and WTD seem to prevail in arid to temperate climatic regions with crop, shrub, or Savanna vegetation covers. These regions often have WTD shallower than 15-20 m. Positive correlations, on the other hand, mostly occur in relatively humid forested regions, suggesting that large water uptake by tree roots decreases groundwater recharge and thus draws the water table down. Gradients of primarily positive to primarily negative correlations are arranged along decreasing tree cover, and increasing coverage of plants with C4-photosynthesis. This possibly indicates that the water use efficiency of ecosystems may also play a critical role in determining productivity-groundwater relationships.