Effects of drought on groundwater-fed lake areas in the Nebraska Sand Hills

The Nebraska Sand Hills (NSH) lies in the western part of Nebraska, United States. We chose north-eastern, central, and parts NSH with distinct climate, topography, hydrology. study assesses response hundreds shallow groundwater-fed lakes to drought. Total lake area (TLA), determined by classifying Landsat satellite images from 1984 2018, was juxtaposed published Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) detrended cumulative PDSI (DeCumPDSI) at monthly annual timescales. DeCumPDSI were time lagged incorporate preceding climatic effect (groundwater lag) evaluated against TLA using Bayesian regression analysis. respond seasonal as well long-term effects moderated surface, subsurface A higher determination coefficient R2 lower mean square error illustrate fluctuations groundwater influence: evaporative losses are modulated lake-groundwater exchange, but recharge has a longer provides simple method assessment climate impact that results data, gridded observation, statistics for sensitive landscape NSH.