Overextraction, drought, and contamination are fueling global concern about groundwater stocks. Rapid depletion, particularly due to agriculture, exceeds natural recharge rates in many places, leading to dry wells, land subsidence, and saltwater intrusion (in coastal areas). In the United States, groundwater accounts for approximately 29% of total freshwater usage; about two-thirds of it is used for irrigation (National Groundwater Association).
NASA has several data products that are relevant to groundwater studies and monitoring. Datasets from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE, 2002–2017) and GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO, 2018–present) mission provide monthly estimates of changes in terrestrial water storage. In addition, the Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) provides surface displacement products (DISP) for North America that can indicate land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal. NASA's Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) assimilates GRACE/GRACE FO data into a land surface model -- along with other, higher resolution inputs -- producing daily outputs on a 0.25° (~25 km) grid.
NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training program (ARSET) is offering advanced, live online training on April 23, 28, and 30, 2026. Participants will receive hands-on experience with accessing and analyzing GRACE/GRACE-FO, OPERA-DISP, and GLDAS data.
The no-cost training is open to the public and recommended for water resource professionals, drought and flood managers, and irrigation managers, both domestically and internationally. Learn more and register: Monitoring Groundwater Changes for Water Resources Management.