DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17491495
title: Groundwater Drought and Water Balance Indicators in Tuscany (2005–2023)

description: # Groundwater Drought and Water Balance Indicators in Tuscany (2005–2023)

**Author:**  **Abedulla Elsaidy, Abedulla.M.A.Elsaidy@vub.be, Vrije Universiteit Brussel**

**Data Sources:**  1. **Groundwater data:** Regione Toscana – Servizio Idrogeologico Regionale (SIR), *Consistenza Rete*     [https://www.sir.toscana.it/consistenza-rete](https://www.sir.toscana.it/consistenza-rete)  2. **Water balance indicators:** Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) – *BIGBANG80* Model     [https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it](https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it)

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## 1. Overview

This dataset integrates **groundwater level observations** from the Tuscany regional groundwater monitoring network with **hydro-climatic indicators** derived from the BIGBANG80 water balance model for the period **January 2005 – December 2023**.

The dataset was developed to support **groundwater drought analysis**, hydrological trend studies, and the assessment of relationships between climatic conditions and groundwater variability.

Each file corresponds to a **single groundwater monitoring well**, named using the groundwater code and well name (e.g., `WellName.csv`).

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## 2. Spatial and Temporal Coverage

- **Region:** Tuscany, Italy  - **Coordinate reference system:** WGS84 (EPSG:4326)  - **Temporal coverage:** January 2005 – December 2023  - **Temporal resolution:** Monthly  

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## 3. Data Structure

Each file contains the following columns:

| Column Name | Description | Units / Notes ||--------------|-------------|----------------|| **Codice** | Unique groundwater well code | — || **Provincia** | Province where the well is located | — || **E** | Easting coordinate (local or UTM system) | m || **N** | Northing coordinate (local or UTM system) | m || **Lat** | Latitude | decimal degrees || **Lon** | Longitude | decimal degrees || **Quota [m]** | Ground elevation (well head elevation) | m a.s.l. || **Year** | Year of observation | YYYY || **Month** | Month of observation | 1–12 || **SPEI01**, **SPEI03**, **SPEI06**, **SPEI09**, **SPEI12** | Standardised Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index (1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-month) | dimensionless || **SPI01**, **SPI03**, **SPI06**, **SPI09**, **SPI12** | Standardised Precipitation Index (1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-month) | dimensionless || **ae** | Actual Evapotranspiration | mm || **gr** | Groundwater Recharge | mm || **if** | INTERNAL FLOW | mm || **pr** | Potential Evapotranspiration | mm || **rf** | Surface Runoff | mm || **td** | Mean Temperature | °C || **tp** | Total Precipitation | mm || **ws** | Soil Water Content at 1 m depth | mm || **Livello [m]** | Observed mean monthly groundwater level | m || **Monthly_Threshold** | Groundwater drought threshold (20th percentile, Q20) | m || **Drought** | Groundwater drought indicator (0 = no drought, 1 = drought, -999 = no data) | categorical |

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## 4. Data Processing and Integration

- Groundwater level data were downloaded from the **SIR Toscana** monitoring network.  - Hydro-climatic indicators (SPI, SPEI, AE, RF, WS, etc.) were derived from the **ISPRA BIGBANG80** model.  - Time series were harmonized to **monthly resolution**.  - The **groundwater drought threshold** was calculated as the 20th percentile (Q20) of groundwater levels for each well.  - The **drought indicator** (`Drought`) equals 1 when the groundwater level is below the threshold, 0 otherwise.  - Missing or unavailable groundwater data are coded as **-999**.

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## 5. Data Quality and Limitations

- Measurement and model uncertainties are inherited from the original SIR and ISPRA datasets.  - Occasional gaps may occur in groundwater level time series.  

Some wells have the same Coordinates or very close In this table the closest wells Codice1    Codice2    Distance_mTOS19000620    TOS19000672    0TOS19000627    TOS19000673    0TOS19000674    TOS19000650    0TOS20000003    TOS20000004    163.07TOS19000610    TOS19000698    342.2TOS19000607    TOS29000695    1074.61TOS29000042    TOS29000059    1078.58TOS19000644    TOS19000630    1264.59TOS29000042    TOS29000058    1476.27

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## 6. File Naming Convention

Each file name follows this pattern: Montecarlo.csv

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## 7. Licensing and Citation

- **License:** Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)  - **Citation:**

  > Elsaidy, A. (2025). *Groundwater Drought and Water Balance Indicators in Tuscany (2005–2023)*.    > Data sources: SIR Toscana & ISPRA BIGBANG80.    > [https://www.sir.toscana.it/consistenza-rete](https://www.sir.toscana.it/consistenza-rete),    > [https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it](https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it)

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## 8. Potential Applications

- Groundwater drought monitoring and assessment  - Hydro-climatic and temporal trend analysis  - Groundwater–climate interaction studies  - Hydrological model calibration and validation  - Water resources management and policy support

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## 9. Contact

For questions or collaboration inquiries, please contact:  **Abedulla Elsaidy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel**  Email: *[Abedulla.M.A.Elsaidy@vub.be]*