Global Distribution of Groundwater
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Academic
Dr. Tom Gleeson from the University of Victoria led a study of global groundwater supply through tritium measurements across Earth.
The largest and most extensive study to date on Earth’s groundwater has revealed surprising results regarding modern groundwater recharge rates. Ancient groundwater remains largely unknown and uncharacterized , limiting hydrologist’s understanding of recharge rates and cycle times.
Groundwater is a vital component of practically every system on Earth and has been used extensively in modern times for irrigation, potable water, and industrial activity. Further understanding of the recharge time, or the time that groundwater takes to be replenished, allows hydrologists to identify imbalances in the underground system.
Hydrologists have identified modern (less than 50 years old) and ancient groundwater and mapped the respective reserves throughout the world. Modern groundwater is most vulnerable to human activity and climate and must be understood to effectively manage fresh water supplies around the world.
Global Distribution of Groundwater
Dr. Tom Gleeson from the University of Victoria led a study of global groundwater supply through tritium measurements across Earth. Better understanding of how groundwater recharges will allow humans to effectively manage water use. Groundwater ages can range from months to millions of years, the latter providing clues to ancient climates and ice ages.
The study cleverly used a radioactive isotope of hydrogen called tritium (hydrogen-3) to determine groundwater recharge rates. Tritium concentrations artificially spiked approximately 50 years ago due to thermonuclear testing. On top of tritium analyses, the hydrologists used over 40,000 groundwater models to study groundwater migration and recharge.roundg
Source: Forbes
More about ground water studies : Here
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- Groundwater
- Groundwater Resource
1 Comment
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Graphic is a truncated log-scale shows most of earth's groundwater is affected in a 50 year window. I'd like to see data for sample depth and age in a topographic-type plot.