GROUND SUBSIDENCE IN NJ DUE TO GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWAL

The New Jersey coastal plain contains most of the state’s farmland, and with increasing droughts, ground subsidence is becoming a larger concern along with the threat of saltwater intrusion. In order to understand ground deformation as a whole in the area, we used software to process Sentinel-1 InSAR data. Additionally, we are developing a tool to allow users to continually monitor and localize regions where this is a concern. Furthermore, we will be analyzing statewide GPS data. To calculate recharge rates of the aquifers and find potential causes of subsidence, we will also be taking into account precipitation and well data. The overall goal of the project is to measure how the ground above NJ aquifers is deforming in response to groundwater pumping, collaborating with colleagues at the USGS New Jersey Water Science Center and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).