The dynamics of soil and water interactions are studied with particular emphasis on the problems of soil salinity, sodicity and acid sulphate soils. The quality and sustainability of groundwater resources is addressed through multidisciplinary studies in hydrogeology, using a combination of hydrogeology, hydrochemistry, geophysics, environmental isotopes and hydrogeochemical modelling. These techniques are also used in studies of dryland salinity, irrigation, the use of groundwater for agricultural purposes and groundwater contamination and contaminant transport. Field and image spectroscopy (Taylor), mineralogy (Ward), geochemistry (Cohen) and geophysics (Palmer) are used to characterise, map and investigate soil and soil degradation processes. The link between primary productivity and water dynamics is addressed through laboratory, field and modelling approaches (McMurtrie). Innovative models are used to quantify sustainable productivity in relation to water resources, climatic variability and management practices (including irrigation, fertilisation and land-use change). Crucially, remote sensing techniques are used to understand spatial patterns at the local, regional and continental scales.

 

Groundwater is an important resource and one of the fastest growing geological research areas in Australia and overseas. The School is working closely with other members of the UNSW Groundwater Centre, as well as different government and research organisations, on a range of exciting twenty-first century hydrogeological projects. These include the impacts of human activities on groundwater and land salination.