{"title":"Where has hydrogeologic science been, and where is it going? Research trends in hydrogeology publishing over the past 60 years","authors":"Catherine Christenson, Michael Cardiff","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02829-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02829-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Quantifying historical research trends in the field of hydrogeology is not only generally informative for hydrogeologists but is essential for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and assessing the relationship between academic study and societal interests in hydrogeologic issues. To address this, a topic model was applied to over 37,000 academic abstracts published in over 20 journals between 1963–2022 in the field of hydrogeology to study the evolution of topic trends through time. Model results were fed into the popular large-language model ChatGPT to assign topic names, representing an unsupervised method. The results indicate that, historically, popular topics related to methodological development and analytical and numerical models analytical and numerical methods in groundwater flow modeling and well hydraulics have given way to topics related to more increasingly complex models (groundwater monitoring and uncertainty estimation and groundwater modeling calibration and simulation) as data and computational capability becomes increasingly available. An insight into the period of boom-and-bust in contaminant hydrogeology is reflected by a shift in focus from topics related to assessment and characterization of contaminant sources toward topics related to degradation and remediation methods. Topics of emerging prevalence (sustainable groundwater resource management, catchment hydrology and runoff processes) in the current period reflect an increasing focus on treating the surface-water/groundwater system as a single system. In addition, results suggest that topic distribution within the field of hydrogeology has become more varied as time has progressed.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142263907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carolina Guardiola-Albert, Emilia Bocanegra, María del Carmen Cabrera, Lucila Candela, Jesús Carrera, Antonio Chambel, Stephen Foster, Jorge Jódar, Christian Herrera, Marisol Manzano, Jorge Molinero, Enric Vázquez-Suñé, Ester Vilanova
{"title":"Emilio Custodio: a pioneer in groundwater management and key reference for hydrogeologists worldwide","authors":"Carolina Guardiola-Albert, Emilia Bocanegra, María del Carmen Cabrera, Lucila Candela, Jesús Carrera, Antonio Chambel, Stephen Foster, Jorge Jódar, Christian Herrera, Marisol Manzano, Jorge Molinero, Enric Vázquez-Suñé, Ester Vilanova","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02826-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02826-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Etienne Buscarlet, Jean-François Desprats, Yamen Ouerghi, Pierre Séraphin
{"title":"Evaluation of the Saq aquifer groundwater resources in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia","authors":"Etienne Buscarlet, Jean-François Desprats, Yamen Ouerghi, Pierre Séraphin","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02817-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02817-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Regional sandstone aquifers in arid areas provide prolific water resources that can meet human water demands, but their sustainability is at risk where recharge is very low and significant withdrawals occur. The Saq sandstone aquifer in the Al Ula area (Saudi Arabia) has been investigated through a field survey that included groundwater level measurement, groundwater sampling and analysis, crop inventory mapping and irrigation practice enquiries to assess groundwater abstractions. A groundwater model has been built to assimilate the collected data and investigate the aquifer response under various abstractions scenarios to meet future agricultural and domestic water demand. Since the 1960’s, water levels have dropped by 5–20 m within the Al Ula Valley, with maximum water level drawdowns reaching 30–40 m in Al Ula City. Present water level drawdown rates range from 0.5 to 2 m year<sup>–1</sup> in the agricultural areas of the valley. Less than half of the sampled groundwater is in compliance with regulatory guidelines for drinking water purpose, and high groundwater nitrate concentrations are observed in agricultural areas. Predictive scenarios of decreasing abstractions suggest a reduction in the water level decline by 2050 but do not reverse the current decreasing trend. The estimated recharge is much lower than groundwater abstraction rates and current withdrawals are effectively mining the groundwater reserves. Further challenges arise from a water quality standpoint, due to the presence of radionuclide activities (mostly <sup>228</sup>Ra) in the aquifer above the WHO guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sediment size effects on non-Darcy flow: insights from Izbash equation and Forchheimer inertial coefficient analysis","authors":"Kuldeep Singh, Hanna Camulli, Jacob Bradley","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02823-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02823-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The transition from Darcy to non-Darcy flow regimes was investigated using column experiments. This revealed key relationships between sediment characteristics and critical thresholds for the onset of the non-Darcy flow regime, as well as inertial flow parameters. An exponential dependence of the critical Reynolds number (Re<sub>c</sub>) on hydraulic conductivity (<i>K</i>) and a linear dependence on sediment size (<i>d</i><sub>50</sub>) was found. The analysis revealed a potentially universal relationship between the critical hydraulic gradient (<i>I</i><sub>c</sub>) and <i>K</i>, with a power-law exponent of –3/2, consistent with previous investigations. Additionally, <i>I</i><sub>c</sub> was found to be inversely proportional to the power law of the square root of <i>d</i><sub>50</sub>. Novel relationships are derived for estimating the Izbash equation inertial exponent (<i>n</i>) and the Forchheimer inertial coefficient (<span>(beta)</span>) based on sediment characteristics. The exponent (<i>n</i>) was found to decrease with <i>d</i><sub>50</sub> and increase with <i>K</i>, following power-law relationships. A new equation is proposed, capable of predicting <span>(beta)</span> with slightly improved accuracy, outperforming numerous and previously proposed empirical equations. Additionally, these data validate the works of Ergun and Irmay as an alternative for <span>(beta)</span> estimation using porosity and sediment size. As the attainment of statistical significance in multiparameter curve fitting can be trivial, it has led to the proliferation of empirical equations for estimating <i>β</i>. This study highlights the limitations of existing empirical methods in determining <i>β</i> and emphasizes the necessity for a universal approach to predict this critical parameter, which will facilitate broader adoption of the Forchheimer equation.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hyun-Kwon Do, Ferdinando Manna, Beth L. Parker, Amanda A. Pierce, John A. Cherry, Jean E. Moran, Daniel C. Segal
{"title":"Using noble gases to understand recharge mechanisms in a fractured sandstone aquifer","authors":"Hyun-Kwon Do, Ferdinando Manna, Beth L. Parker, Amanda A. Pierce, John A. Cherry, Jean E. Moran, Daniel C. Segal","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02820-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02820-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Noble gas recharge temperature (NGRT) and excess air (EA) values, derived from the analysis of noble gases in groundwater, were used to improve the understanding of groundwater recharge mechanisms through the vadose zone of a sandstone aquifer in southern California (USA). The wide range of NGRT and EA values suggests that complex recharge mechanisms exist between two end members: matrix and fracture flow. In particular, combining NGRT and EA values, four groups of wells with different recharge mechanisms were identified: high EA combined with low NGRT suggests recharge is dominated by fast flow through an interconnected fracture network (group A), low EA with high NGRT suggests recharge is controlled by slow flow in the rock matrix (group B), low EA and intermediate NGRT suggests percolation through fractures followed by imbibition into the unsaturated matrix and subsequent matrix flow (group C), and high EA combined with high NGRT in group D suggests flow of water that originally resided in the matrix being pushed into the fracture network by a strong infiltration event (group D). These interpretations were corroborated with tritium groundwater dating and consideration of the potential influence of well completion characteristics on flow processes and measured noble gas concentrations due to mixing. This study demonstrates the contribution of noble gas analysis to identify recharge mechanisms in complex aquifers. This is crucial to inform three-dimensional numerical flow and transport models and to predict future hydrological scenarios in response to climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Use of groundwater level measurements to support hydrogeological studies in the Maputo aquifer, Mozambique","authors":"Xue Meng, Yangxiao Zhou, Jinguo Wang, Tibor Stigter, Fatima Mussa, Dinis Juizo, Yun Yang, Xiao Xu","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02813-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02813-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>High-frequency dataloggers for groundwater level monitoring were used in combination with other tools to analyze tidal effects on groundwater levels (GWLs) in the Maputo aquifer, Mozambique. Power spectral analysis was used to ascertain the dominant periodic components in the tide and GWLs, and cross-spectral analysis was used to determine the lag time between them. Wavelet analysis was applied to investigate changes in periodic components over the measured period in the time-frequency domain. The estimated amplitudes and lag times were then used to estimate aquifer diffusivity and the water-table fluctuation (WTF) method was used to compute groundwater recharge. The results identified a 12.42 h dominant periodic component both in the tide and GWLs in the coastal area. However, GWLs lag behind the tide by 2–4 h, depending on the distance of the observation wells to the coastline. The wavelet analysis results showed no changes in the dominant periodic components over time. The estimated specific storage values for four piezometers were estimated to be 3.19 × 10<sup>–5</sup>, 5.04 × 10<sup>–5</sup> and 1.02 × 10<sup>–4</sup> 1/m, respectively. Annual groundwater recharge for the young sand dune aquifer was estimated for one piezometer with a specific yield of 0.15–0.25 was within the range of 123–205, 185–309, 504–840 and 244–407 mm, for four hydrological years from 2018 to 2021. Estimated specific storage values and recharge rates are essential inputs to support the construction of transient groundwater models for the Maputo aquifer.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142227621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The hydrogeology of sacred wells: insights from Ireland","authors":"Bruce Misstear, Laurence Gill","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02814-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02814-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sacred wells and springs are important cultural features in many societies. A recent study in Ireland may be the first detailed countrywide investigation of the hydrogeology and water chemistry of sacred wells. Key findings are discussed in relation to case studies elsewhere. A wide range of hydrogeological settings are represented. There is evidence of anthropogenic impacts at many sacred springs and wells. Communication of potential health impacts is necessary but challenging, because of the sensitivities surrounding these sacred water sources.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"42 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141945242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jinliang Zhang, Zhong Lu, Chaoqun Li, Guoping Lei, Ziyang Yu, Kuo Li
{"title":"Estimation of groundwater-level changes based on GRACE satellite and GLDAS assimilation data in the Songnen Plain, China","authors":"Jinliang Zhang, Zhong Lu, Chaoqun Li, Guoping Lei, Ziyang Yu, Kuo Li","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02815-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02815-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As an important large-scale commercial grain production base in China, the Songnen Plain has a particular need for groundwater resources. Here, the groundwater-storage (GWS) changes estimated by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data are input to the MIKE SHE model to correct the errors of remote sensing data. Through this, the simulation of groundwater levels at the large and medium regional scales (Songnen Plain) from 2005 to 2018 was achieved. The analysis reveals that the groundwater data derived from the estimation of GRACE and GLDAS data have a strong correlation with the measured data, with a correlation coefficient of 0.82 between GRACE and measured groundwater data and a correlation coefficient of –0.76 between GLDAS and measured groundwater data. In addition, estimated groundwater data were added to the MIKE SHE model to simulate Songnen Plain groundwater levels between 2005 and 2018. The simulation results indicate that the correlation between simulated and observed groundwater level data is substantially greater than that between inverted and observed groundwater data. Over the past 15 years, the Songnen Plain’s groundwater levels have exhibited a general upward trend of ~0.028 m/year. The groundwater levels in the northeastern, central, and western portions of the Songnen Plain are falling at a rate of ~0.144 m/year, while the groundwater levels in the southern and northwestern portions of the Songnen Plain and areas near the river are rising at a rate of ~0.513 m/year.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141969257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julian Xanke, Zoran Stevanović, Tanja Liesch, Alexander Kaltenbrunn, Nataša Ravbar, Hervé Jourde, Bartolomé Andreo, Juan Antonio Barberá, Nico Goldscheider
{"title":"Flooding and flood water storage in karst systems of the Mediterranean region","authors":"Julian Xanke, Zoran Stevanović, Tanja Liesch, Alexander Kaltenbrunn, Nataša Ravbar, Hervé Jourde, Bartolomé Andreo, Juan Antonio Barberá, Nico Goldscheider","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02811-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02811-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Flooding is a recurring natural phenomenon that can have both life-giving and destructive aspects. In natural environments, floods are often an important element of the seasonal hydrologic cycle that provides water and nutrients to soil, supporting unique, rich and diverse ecosystems. However, flood events can also represent a destructive force that can endanger lives and cause significant damage in urban areas. Karst areas, in particular, are unique because of their special hydraulic characteristics in terms of flood occurrence, the dependence of ecosystems on such events, and attempts to actively store and manage floods. In this article, the hydraulic response of karst aquifers to heavy precipitation events, flood generation, and engineering interventions for flood control are discussed using several examples from karst areas in the Mediterranean region. Flooding mechanisms and regulatory structures in karst poljes are considered using several typical examples from the Dinaric mountain range. In addition, different variants of groundwater abstraction for increasing storage capacity and flood control are presented using examples from France and Montenegro. Managed aquifer recharge in karst areas and adjacent aquifers is demonstrated with examples from Jordan and Algeria. Finally, failed attempts at flood storage in karst reservoirs are presented with examples from Spain and Montenegro. These examples of flood retention in karst areas show the wide range of planning and technical measures and remind us of possible risks and failures in implementation as well as some positive and negative impacts on the environment and especially on ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141887112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julian Xanke, Nico Goldscheider, Michel Bakalowicz, Juan Antonio Barberá, Stefan Broda, Zhao Chen, Mohamed Ghanmi, Andreas Günther, Andreas Hartmann, Hervé Jourde, Tanja Liesch, Matías Mudarra, Marco Petitta, Nataša Ravbar, Zoran Stevanović
{"title":"Carbonate rocks and karst water resources in the Mediterranean region","authors":"Julian Xanke, Nico Goldscheider, Michel Bakalowicz, Juan Antonio Barberá, Stefan Broda, Zhao Chen, Mohamed Ghanmi, Andreas Günther, Andreas Hartmann, Hervé Jourde, Tanja Liesch, Matías Mudarra, Marco Petitta, Nataša Ravbar, Zoran Stevanović","doi":"10.1007/s10040-024-02810-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-024-02810-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Carbonate rocks in the Mediterranean region form karst landscapes with a variety of morphological and hydrological features, and are of particular interest from a water management perspective as they represent major karst aquifers. The Mediterranean Karst Aquifer Map and Database (MEDKAM) provides a 1:5,000,000 scale map showing the distribution of carbonate and evaporite rocks that can host karst groundwater resources, with additional information on other hydrogeological settings, selected terrestrial and submarine karst springs, caves and karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems. A statistical evaluation shows that carbonate rocks cover ~39.5% of the Mediterranean region within a 250-km focus area from the coastline. North Africa has the largest continuous area of carbonate rocks, while smaller countries in the Middle East and the Dinarides have the largest proportion of carbonate rocks in relation to their total area. Carbonate rocks are also widespread in coastal areas, occurring along ~33.6% (14,000 km) of the total Mediterranean coastline, including large islands such as Crete and Mallorca, and ~25.9% (6,400 km) of the continental coastline. Two additional maps display (1) groundwater recharge, showing a climatic gradient from north to south, and (2) groundwater storage trends, indicating a mean annual karst groundwater loss from 2003 to 2020 of 436 million m<sup>3</sup> in the 250-km area. This study quantifies the carbonate rocks in the Mediterranean region and shows their importance for groundwater resources. MEDKAM will serve as a basis for further research and improved international cooperation in karst groundwater management.</p>","PeriodicalId":13013,"journal":{"name":"Hydrogeology Journal","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141880541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}