Trevor Nace reports that the largest and most extensive study to date on Earth groundwater has revealed surprising results regarding modern groundwater recharge rates. Ancient groundwater remains largely unknown and uncharacterized, limiting hydrogeologists 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.
Hydrogeologists have identified modern (less than 50 years old) and ancient groundwater and mapped the respective reserves throughout the world. Modern groundwater is vulnerable to human activity and climate and must be understood to effectively manage fresh water supplies around the world.
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 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 hydrogeologists used over 40,000 groundwater samples to study groundwater migration and recharge.
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