‘The climate crisis is here’: New campaign highlights sinkholes in Konya Basin

Excessive groundwater use

Declining rainfall and rising temperatures are putting additional pressure on water resources. Excessive groundwater extraction, particularly for agricultural irrigation, is further increasing the risk.

İrem Daloğlu Çetinkaya, an assistant professor at Boğaziçi University, said the sinkholes were among the clearest visible signs of years of excessive groundwater use in the Konya Closed Basin, which is known as Turkey’s “bread basket.”

Much of the basin’s irrigation demand is met through groundwater drawn from unlicensed wells, she said, while reduced rainfall linked to climate change has also weakened the natural replenishment of aquifers:

“The gradual expansion in recent years of areas planted with water-intensive crops such as corn is another important factor increasing this pressure.

“In other words, excessive extraction and inappropriate crop choices on the demand side are occurring at the same time as climate-driven losses in groundwater recharge on the supply side.

“The sinkholes are a direct result of this two-sided crisis. As the aquifers beneath the ground are depleted, they become unable to support the surface above them.”