Understanding the Link Between Groundwater, Human Activities and Climate Change: The Case of Europe

At the February meeting, counterparts and experts discussed the extent to which isotopic techniques are included in their respective national hydrological assessments strategies, to identify incomplete or deficient isotopic information and, to agree upon approaches for regional knowledge- and information-sharing aimed at filing these gaps.

“The nuclear techniques have already proven to be very useful in giving answers to hydrology problems,” said Paula Carreira, a researcher in Portugal’s Superior Technical Institute. “For example, the use of carbon-14 in dating groundwater systems was applied in Portugal to identify potential water resources that are well protected from human actions. At the same time, chemical and isotopic parameters can help us to identify pollution sources and to delimit groundwater recharge protection zones.”

The IAEA has been a key point of reference for the development and dissemination of isotope data in hydrology since the 1960s, thanks to its  Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation, established jointly with the World Meteorological Organization. At the same time, the Agency’s technical cooperation (TC) programme has helped countries to acquire critical equipment, as well as delivering training in the application of isotope hydrology and building national capacity. This IAEA support has provided countries with the capacity to collect and analyse data on the origin, size and age of groundwater resources—data  that are essential for policy-makers to make informed resource management decisions.

A new regional technical cooperation project[1] launched in January 2020 aims to support national efforts to integrate isotopic techniques into national hydrological assessments, so that the countries can subsequently develop sustainable water-use policies.

“The cornerstone of the project is cooperation between several isotope hydrology laboratories in the Europe and Central Asia. We plan that these cooperating groups will team up with institutions in the region that are more advanced in isotope hydrology,” said Christoph Henrich, IAEA Programme Management Officer. “Our goal is that these teams will answer common and transboundary water resources management-related research questions that can be examined using  isotope hydrology.”

During the meeting, the participants agreed to develop eight, separate isotope hydrology case studies on the effects of external factors on  the quality and quantity of groundwater.

One case study will use isotope techniques to investigate a transboundary aquifer lying between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of better delineating the catchment area of the aquifer, as well as identifying the vulnerability of karstic springs to climate change.

Another study will focus on the influence of climate change on groundwater resources in the Sava River Basin, which is shared by Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, littoral countries participating in the project will investigate whether evolving human and environmental factors—such as rising sea levels caused by climate change or the extensive pumping of groundwater resources—may lead to salt-water intrusion in coastal aquifers.

These case studies, among others launched through the project, will enhance cooperation in the field of water and isotope hydrology in the region, and at the same time will support the development of new technical capacities and competencies in the participating countries. They are expected to help clarify persisting issues in the region related to the sustainable management of water resources.

[1] RER7013, ‘Evaluating Groundwater Resources and Groundwater-Surface-Water Interactions in the Context of Adapting to Climate Change’