Quantifying lake–aquifer water exchange: the case of Lake Urmia, Iran

This study investigated the lake–aquifer hydraulic interactions in Lake Urmia (LU) as the second largest hypersaline lake in the world. Due to the scarcity of hydrogeological data required for modelling, a method based on Darcy’s Law and lake water budget was used to quantify the lake–aquifer interaction. Long-term ground- and satellite-based hydrological datasets over the time frame 2001–2019 were used. Results indicate that the groundwater flux between LU and the aquifers controls 18.74 ± 1.67% of the lake’s water storage. While 10 out of 14 adjacent aquifers recharge LU at a rate of less than 180 m³/m.month, one phreatic aquifer recharges the LU up to 1400 m³/m.month. Two aquifers are recharged from the seawater of LU at a rate of 110–640 m³/m.month. The results of this study lead to a holistic understanding of the hydraulic interaction of LU–aquifers, which is essential for the sustainable management of both settings.