Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Giacomo Medici, Jeff B. Langman
Summary: Aquifer recharge is crucial for understanding groundwater volumes and sustainable use of natural water resources. This study evaluated various methods to determine recharge in a flood basalt terrain, revealing the influence of snowmelt on recharge. By combining groundwater modeling and hydrologic tracers, the appropriate recharge values were determined for different terrains.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhilin Guo, Graham E. Fogg, Kewei Chen, Rich Pauloo, Chunmiao Zheng
Summary: Growing demands on water supply have led to overexploitation of aquifers, resulting in a decline in groundwater quality. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) has been proposed as a solution, but its effectiveness on improving regional groundwater quality caused by non-point sources is uncertain. This study used geostatistical and numerical models to investigate the impacts of different MAR strategies on groundwater quality, and found that strategic, high-intensity recharge operations in geologically favorable subregions can significantly improve groundwater quality in terms of salinity. However, it would take decades to alleviate groundwater quality concerns in the studied region.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tirumalesh Keesari, Manish Kumar Goyal, Brij Gupta, Nikhil Kumar, Anndasankar Roy, Uday Kumar Sinha, Rao Y. Surampalli, Tian C. Zhang, Ravi Kumar Goyal
Summary: The use of isotopes in water resource management is crucial, providing valuable insights into the source, origin, and distribution of groundwater. By studying hydrological processes, isotopic techniques enhance the understanding of water resources and contribute to sustainable management practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Carina Eisfeld, Jack F. Schijven, Jan M. van der Wolf, Gertjan Medema, Emiel Kruisdijk, Boris M. van Breukelen
Summary: Irrigation with surface water carrying plant pathogens poses a risk for agriculture. Managed aquifer recharge enhances fresh water availability while simultaneously it may reduce the risk of plant diseases by removal of pathogens during aquifer passage.
Article
Agronomy
Sunil Kumar Jha, Vinay Kumar Mishra, Chhedi Lal Verma, Navneet Sharma, Alok Kumar Sikka, Paul Pavelic, Probodh Chandra Sharma, Laxmi Kant, Bharat R. Sharma
Summary: Researchers in India conducted a pilot-scale hydrogeochemical study in the Ramganga sub basin, using a modified version of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) to effectively utilize floodwaters for groundwater recharge and quality improvement. The project successfully demonstrated the benefits of the modified MAR approach in enhancing aquifer recharge and improving water quality.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yu Zhao, Han Cao, Chaolin Wang, Haiqing Yang
Summary: The majority of freshwater in the aquifers of the Ningbo Basin has been replaced or mixed with seawater due to tectonic activity. Only one freshwater lens remains in the central area of the basin. Research on the deep confined freshwater lens in the basin is lacking and evidence is insufficient. Data from monitoring wells indicate ongoing groundwater exploitation. Tectonic stress field evolution and fault analysis suggest that concealed faults likely act as conduits for water. Tests and analyses of hydrochemical ions and isotopes confirm the hypothesis that the deep confined aquifers are recharged with modern water from the bottom through concealed faults.
NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vadim Yapiyev, Pekka M. Rossi, Pertti Ala-Aho, Hannu Marttila
Summary: Groundwater in shallow aquifers used for community water supply in cold climates is vulnerable to contamination from land-use and surface water intrusion. This study used stable water isotopes data, precipitation data, Geographic Information System analysis, and multivariate statistics to assess surface water intrusion risks and recharge conditions in Northern Finland. The results showed that warm season precipitation contributes to about 60% of the annual precipitation, and the aquifers have a mixture of warm and cold season precipitation. The use of stable water isotopes with lc-excess is a useful approach for assessing recharge and contamination risks in water management.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Igor Karlovic, Tamara Markovic, Tatjana Vujnovic
Summary: This study explores the interaction between precipitation, surface water, and groundwater, and emphasizes the importance of proper management and preservation of groundwater quality. The results show that surface water is a key mechanism of groundwater recharge in the study area, with a contribution ratio ranging from 55% to 100% depending on the proximity of the observation well to surface water.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Zhilin Guo, Kewei Chen, Shuping Yi, Chunmiao Zheng
Summary: This study developed a flow and multi-component reactive transport model to evaluate the impact of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) on groundwater quality and geochemical processes. The results showed that groundwater geochemistry can be significantly altered during MAR, with nitrate dilution being the main process responsible for observed changes in groundwater quality. Regular monitoring and reactive transport modeling analysis are recommended to minimize the adverse impact of MAR operations on groundwater quality.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhengxian Zhang, Weiping Wang
Summary: Managed aquifer recharge is crucial for addressing water security issues, but choosing the right water sources is essential to prevent groundwater quality degradation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniele la Cecilia, Matthias Philipp, Ralf Kaegi, Mario Schirmer, Christian Moeck
Summary: This study investigates the fate of microplastics greater than 20 μm in a major water resource management system. The results show a significant decrease in microplastic concentration throughout the system, with minimal reduction from activated carbon filters. The study also highlights a higher proportion of fibers in river water compared to other locations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Siwar Kammoun, Rim Trabelsi, Viviana Re, Kamel Zouari
Summary: This study assessed the Grombalia coastal aquifer in Tunisia and found that groundwater quality is affected by factors such as water-rock interaction, evaporation, nitrate pollution, and reverse cation exchange process. The research also revealed the risk of saltwater intrusion due to groundwater mineralization, especially in the shallow aquifer.
Article
Environmental Sciences
N. P. Jesiya, Girish Gopinath, T. R. Resmi
Summary: This study found that monsoon rains play a significant role in groundwater recharge in urban and peri urban areas of Kozhikode District in southern India. Changes in land use patterns over the past decade have significantly impacted groundwater recharge.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohsen Sherif, Ahmed Sefelnasr, Abdel Azim Ebraheem, Mohamed Al Mulla, Mohamed Alzaabi, Khaled Alghafli
Summary: The study analyzed the temporal and spatial variations of groundwater in the Quaternary aquifer in UAE, revealing a significant decrease in freshwater resources and increase in brackish water. Continuing the current groundwater exploitation could deplete freshwater resources in agricultural areas, necessitating more focus on the management of brackish water resources.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Benoit Dewandel, Sandra Lanini, Vivien Hakoun, Yvan Caballero, Jean-Christophe Marechal
Summary: Studies have shown that applying mathematical integration to line-sink solutions, like the one developed by Hantush in the 1960s, can be directly used to derive analytical solutions for a variety of hydrogeological settings. This approach allows for the consideration of different factors such as the presence of pumping wells, aquifer boundaries, and recharge areas, providing a unique solution that can be applied to managed aquifer recharge designs.
HYDROGEOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christian Toetzke, Sascha E. Oswald, Andre Hilger, Nikolay Kardjilov
Summary: Microplastics have become a widespread pollutant in marine, terrestrial, and freshwater systems, impacting aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Traditional methods for analyzing microplastic abundance in soil or sediments involve destructive sampling, leading to loss of local distribution information. A new bimodal 3D imaging approach has been developed in this study to non-destructively detect microplastics in soil or sediment cores, providing detailed information on their size, shape, and surroundings. This approach can help identify microplastic particles with diameters of around 1 mm and characterize their shape and depositional background, offering insights into distribution, deposition, deterioration, and translocation processes in environmental samples.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
M. Schroen, S. E. Oswald, S. Zacharias, M. Kasner, P. Dietrich, S. Attinger
Summary: The study investigates the feasibility of estimating water content in soils and snow using neutron detectors on moving trains. Theoretical considerations quantify measurement uncertainty, while numerical experiments show that the sensitivity of measured water content is not affected by train materials. Real-world experiments on short and long-range tracks provide proof of concept for transregional observational soil moisture products in the future.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
L. Stevanato, G. Baroni, S. E. Oswald, M. Lunardon, V Mares, F. Marinello, S. Moretto, M. Polo, P. Sartori, P. Schattan, W. Ruehm
Summary: Measuring the variability of incoming neutrons locally is important for the CRNS method. Muons, created from the same primary cosmic-ray fluxes as neutrons, can be a suitable alternative for measuring high energy neutrons. The reported measurements demonstrated that muon detection system can detect incoming cosmic-ray variations locally, with adequate precision for many CRNS applications.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Luis Romero A. Barbosa, Victor Hugo R. Coelho, Ana Claudia V. L. F. Gusmao, Lucila A. E. Fernandes, Bernardo B. da Silva, Carlos de O. Galvao, Nelson O. L. Caicedo, Adriano R. da Paz, Yunqing Xuan, Guillaume F. Bertrand, Davi de C. D. Melo, Suzana M. G. L. Montenegro, Sascha E. Oswald, Cristiano das N. Almeida
Summary: Groundwater recharge estimation in tropical wet sedimentary regions is challenging due to limited observed data. This study developed an innovative water budget method using satellite products to estimate spatially distributed groundwater recharge. The results showed that considering cloud-cleaned evapotranspiration and root-zone soil water storage changes are essential for accurate estimation of groundwater recharge in tropical wet sedimentary regions.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Maximilian Reuss, Sascha E. Oswald, Matthias Munz, Michael U. Kumke
Summary: This study investigates the performance of a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) material for remediating acid mine drainage (AMD) under different boundary conditions. By using in-situ optical sensing methods for pH and oxygen detection, the researchers found that the remediation efficiency of iron and sulfate increased with decreasing flow velocity, increasing sulfate input concentration, and higher pH value. The study also highlights the use of optical monitoring to assess the stability of a PRB during AMD remediation.
GROUND WATER MONITORING AND REMEDIATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthias Munz, Jasper Kreiss, Lisa Krueger, Lena Katharina Schmidt, Mathias Bochow, Marius Bednarz, Claus Gerhard Bannick, Sascha E. Oswald
Summary: Microplastic particles (MPP) are found in various environmental compartments globally, but their distribution in space and time is limited by time-consuming detection methods. This study presents an enhanced lab-based near-infrared imaging (NIR) spectroscopy that can accurately identify and classify MPP and determine their sizes in shorter measuring times. The method was applied to key areas of microplastic research, revealing varying concentrations of MPP in a lowland river, adjacent groundwater wells, and marine beach sediments.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Altdorff, Sascha. E. E. Oswald, Steffen Zacharias, Carmen Zengerle, Peter Dietrich, Hannes Mollenhauer, Sabine Attinger, Martin Schroen
Summary: A novel rail-borne CRNS system was introduced for continuous monitoring of soil water content along a railway track. The system showed consistent spatial SWC patterns and temporal variations, which can support large scale hydrological modeling and detection of environmental risks.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Lena M. Scheiffele, Martin Schroen, Markus Koehli, Katya Dimitrova-Petrova, Daniel Altdorff, Trenton Franz, Rafael Rosolem, Jonathan Evans, James Blake, Heye Bogena, David McJannet, Gabriele Baroni, Darin Desilets, Sascha E. Oswald
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah Bereswill, Hannah Gatz-Miller, Danyang Su, Christian Toetzke, Nikolay Kardjilov, Sascha E. Oswald, Klaus Ulrich Mayer
Summary: Oxygen availability in soils plays a crucial role in plant growth and productivity. This study used non-invasive imaging techniques to measure the root system architecture, soil moisture, and oxygen concentrations in the root zone of maize. A reactive transport model was constructed based on the experimental data, and different modeling scenarios were compared to match the observed patterns. The results showed that considering the heterogeneity of soil structure and hydraulic parameters improved the accuracy of the model in reproducing soil moisture and oxygen patterns.
VADOSE ZONE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Maik Heistermann, Till Francke, Lena Scheiffele, Katya Dimitrova Petrova, Christian Budach, Martin Schroen, Benjamin Trost, Daniel Rasche, Andreas Guentner, Veronika Doepper, Michael Foerster, Markus Koehli, Lisa Angermann, Nikolaos Antonoglou, Manuela Zude-Sasse, Sascha E. Oswald
Summary: This paper presents the data recorded by a dense CRNS network from 2019 to 2022, consisting of permanent and temporary sensors, profiles of soil water content, groundwater observation wells, meteorological records, and GNSS-R data. Additional data were collected through mobile CRNS roving, UAS hyperspectral imagery, manual soil sampling, and biomass and snow observations. The unique 3-year temporal coverage provides a wide range of hydro-meteorological conditions and potential for various disciplines. The data set is expected to advance CRNS retrieval methods and benefit fields such as hydrology, agriculture, and remote sensing.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christian Toetzke, Boyana Kozhuharova, Nikolay Kardjilov, Nicolas Lenoir, Ingo Manke, Sascha E. Oswald
Summary: This study explored a non-invasive approach for detecting and localizing microplastics in soil using dual neutron and X-ray tomography. The method successfully identified microplastics in soil with organic components and provided information on their size, shape, and distribution. The approach had limitations for certain combinations of plastic types and organic material amendments, but could be enhanced by sample treatment or inclusion of shape parameters in image analysis.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Maik Heistermann, Heye Bogena, Till Francke, Andreas Guentner, Jannis Jakobi, Daniel Rasche, Martin Schroen, Veronika Doepper, Benjamin Fersch, Jannis Groh, Amol Patil, Thomas Puetz, Marvin Reich, Steffen Zacharias, Carmen Zengerle, Sascha Oswald
Summary: In a joint field campaign, CRNS sensors were deployed in the Wustebach catchment in Germany to study hydrological processes. The collected data, along with additional instruments and techniques, will be valuable in advancing water storage retrieval, improving sensor combinations, and supporting soil moisture estimation from remote sensing platforms.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Heye Reemt Bogena, Martin Schroen, Jannis Jakobi, Patrizia Ney, Steffen Zacharias, Mie Andreasen, Roland Baatz, David Boorman, Mustafa Berk Duygu, Miguel Angel Eguibar-Galan, Benjamin Fersch, Till Franke, Josie Geris, Maria Gonzalez Sanchis, Yann Kerr, Tobias Korf, Zalalem Mengistu, Arnaud Mialon, Paolo Nasta, Jerzy Nitychoruk, Vassilios Pisinaras, Daniel Rasche, Rafael Rosolem, Hami Said, Paul Schattan, Marek Zreda, Stefan Achleitner, Eduardo Albentosa-Hernandez, Zuhal Akyurek, Theresa Blume, Antonio del Campo, Davide Canone, Katya Dimitrova-Petrova, John G. Evans, Stefano Ferraris, Felix Frances, Davide Gisolo, Andreas Guentner, Frank Herrmann, Joost Iwema, Karsten H. Jensen, Harald Kunstmann, Antonio Lidon, Majken Caroline Looms, Sascha Oswald, Andreas Panagopoulos, Amol Patil, Daniel Power, Corinna Rebmann, Nunzio Romano, Lena Scheiffele, Sonia Seneviratne, Georg Weltin, Harry Vereecken
Summary: This article presents the spatiotemporal coverage of soil moisture data provided by the COSMOS-Europe network and describes the protocols for data processing. It emphasizes the importance and potential applications of this dataset in environmental research, particularly in analyzing extreme climatic events at the continental scale.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Till Francke, Maik Heistermann, Markus Koehli, Christian Budach, Martin Schroen, Sascha E. Oswald
Summary: Cosmic-ray neutron sensing is a non-invasive tool for measuring hydrogen pools such as soil moisture. This study proposes a directional shielding approach to improve the interpretability of data and analyzes its potential in obtaining a sharper horizontal view on the soil moisture distribution.
GEOSCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION METHODS AND DATA SYSTEMS
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Automation & Control Systems
Stefano Gianessi, Matteo Polo, Luca Stevanato, Marcello Lunardon, Hami Said Ahmed, Georg Weltin, Arsenio Toloza, Christian Budach, Peter Biro, Till Francke, Maik Heistermann, Sascha E. Oswald, Emil Fulajtar, Gerd Dercon, Lee Kheng Heng, Gabriele Baroni
Summary: The study demonstrates the good performance of a new optimized scintillator-based cosmic-ray neutron detector for large-scale soil moisture estimation, showcasing it as a valid alternative to existing devices with lower cost and smaller dimensions, making it suitable for wider applications.
2021 IEEE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON METROLOGY FOR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY (IEEE METROAGRIFOR 2021)
(2021)
