Groundwater in climate change

Groundwater, which is invisibly stored underground, is the most important resource for our water supply. As part of the water cycle, it is also important for ecosystems such as wetlands and streams. In contrast to surface water, groundwater generally responds more slowly to changes in the water cycle. Identifying and assessing the effects of climate change and direct human intervention on the quantity and quality of groundwater and distinguishing them from natural influences is therefore a key task of current hydrogeological research. Indirect effects, such as climate-induced changes in vegetation or land use, pose a particular challenge. In order to overcome these challenges, we combine hydrogeological methods of groundwater research with approaches from other disciplines, for example in cooperation with partners from agricultural and biological research.

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