Global Groundwater Vulnerability to Floods and Droughts

This map presents the intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater systems and the sensitivity or resistance of those systems to natural disasters. The concept of groundwater vulnerability takes into account that the geological characteristics of the aquifers and the physical environment provide different degrees of protection against natural or human activities related impacts. Aquifers in karst formations or in fluvial unconsolidated deposits of large rivers are highly vulnerable to floods and droughts, and coastal aquifers are particularly prone to tsunamis, while the groundwater resources in deep-seated aquifers are naturally less vulnerable and more resilient to external influences due to their protection from the earth surface by geological layers with low permeability. Some of these aquifers, if accurately managed, could supply drinking water in the post-disaster emergency phase, replacing damaged water supply systems.

Data and Resources

Field Value
access_constraints ["Unless otherwise specified, no restriction applies."]
bbox-east-long 180
bbox-north-lat 90
bbox-south-lat -90
bbox-west-long -180
contact-email t.carvalho-resende@unesco.org
coupled-resource []
dataset-reference-date [{"type": "publication", "value": "2017-01-29T23:00:00Z"}]
graphic-preview-description Thumbnail for 'Global Groundwater Vulnerability to Floods and Droughts'
graphic-preview-file http://ihp-wins.unesco.org/uploaded/thumbs/layer-3eecca96-e6db-11e6-8719-005056bf7531-thumb.png?v=9d7ae7c6
graphic-preview-type image/png
guid 3eecca96-e6db-11e6-8719-005056bf7531
licence []
metadata-date 2020-12-10T20:09:29Z
progress completed
resource-type dataset
responsible-party [{"name": "UNESCO-IHP", "roles": ["originator"]}]
spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
spatial-reference-system 4326
spatial_harvester true
Tags
  • amerigeo
  • amerigeoss
  • drought
  • flood
  • geo
  • geoss
  • global
  • groundwater
  • sdg
  • unesco
  • vulnerability
  • water
isopen False
metadata_created 2025-11-24T19:27:31.311272
metadata_modified 2025-11-24T19:27:31.311276
notes This map presents the intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater systems and the sensitivity or resistance of those systems to natural disasters. The concept of groundwater vulnerability takes into account that the geological characteristics of the aquifers and the physical environment provide different degrees of protection against natural or human activities related impacts. Aquifers in karst formations or in fluvial unconsolidated deposits of large rivers are highly vulnerable to floods and droughts, and coastal aquifers are particularly prone to tsunamis, while the groundwater resources in deep-seated aquifers are naturally less vulnerable and more resilient to external influences due to their protection from the earth surface by geological layers with low permeability. Some of these aquifers, if accurately managed, could supply drinking water in the post-disaster emergency phase, replacing damaged water supply systems.
num_resources 18
num_tags 12
title Global Groundwater Vulnerability to Floods and Droughts