Theory 58/Earth & climate/Groundwater depletion
Depletion Is Pumping Against Recharge
The claim
Aquifer depletion occurs when the ratio of abstraction to recharge exceeds one, and the decline rate scales with groundwater residence time.
01Mechanism
Storage falls when removal outpaces replenishment.
02Prediction
Decline should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Decline tracking pumping alone would remove recharge.