Goncalves J. auteur aut IRD Seraphin Pierre auteur aut IRD Stieglitz Thomas auteur aut IRD Chekireb A. auteur aut IRD Hamelin B. auteur aut IRD Deschamps Pierre auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access The Djeffara plain, extending over Tunisia and Libya (48,000 km(2)), experiences unsustainable exploitation of groundwater, the severity of which needs to be determined. Here, we used data from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) to assess the groundwater storage variation (Delta GWS) for the period 2002-2016. Delta GWS values, downscaled over a 0.5 degrees x 0.5 degrees grid using pumping wells spatial distribution and rates, were introduced in a discrete set of groundwater and salt budget equations to ascertain the recharge and the coastal fluxes. An average recharge of 4.3 +/- 2.7 mm.yr(-1) representing 2.2 +/- 1.4% of the domain-averaged annual rainfall was obtained. A saline intrusion of 147.3 x 10(6) and 46.9 x 10(6) m(3).yr(-1) was calculated for the Tripoli (Libya) and Djerba (Tunisia) areas, respectively. The overall Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) of freshwater along the 450 km long Djeffara coast represents about 339.6 x 10(6) m(3).yr(-1) for the 2002-2016 period. specialized Groundwater mass balance Satellite-derived gravity Recharge Submarine groundwater discharge Arid domain Groundwater sustainability LIBYE TUNISIE MEDITERRANEE ZONE ARIDE 062 064 032 126 353 1 297-318 2021 1631-0713 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010083969 10.5802/crgeos.74 1631-0713 [F B010083969] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010083969 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2022-02/010083969.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2022-02-04 2025-02-24 fdi:010083969 fre