Global groundwater systemsHow does groundwater interact with other parts of the Earth System and what are the global dimensions of groundwater resources? Water science and management is often local in scale, but our research goes big to highlight how groundwater is important across all scales. Globally, we proposed a new approach to the water planetary boundary and explored how groundwater interacts with climate and contributes to oceans. Environmental flows and streamflow depletionHow can we use groundwater to support food and water security while not compromising the health of aquatic and riparian ecosystems? We have developed a new approach for defining the role of groundwater in environmental flows and a new tool for predicting the impact of pumping on streamflow, all to protect sensitive groundwater-dependent ecosystems. |
Groundwater sustainabilityHow can groundwater sustainability be defined and applied in different hydrologic and political settings? Our interdisciplinary research on this grand challenge integrates groundwater science and cutting-edge sustainability concepts such as strong sustainability, backcasting, multi-generational goal setting and adaptive management. We've quantified groundwater footprints globally, as well as for nations and aquifers. Check out this recent review of groundwater sustainability, which is the foundation of the global groundwater sustainability statement. Fault-zone hydrogeologyHow does the complex geology of fault zones impact groundwater flow and discharge? Our interdisciplinary review and research at local sites in Canada and the United States has highlighted the importance of combining structural geology and hydrogeology to unravel how structures control subsurface flow and the distribution of hot springs. |