New research on groundwater systems in India under past, present and future climates
(23 January 2012)
A project led by Dr Alex Densmore received a grant of £716k from the NERC Changing Water Cycle programme.
'The structure and dynamics of groundwater systems in northwestern India under past, present, and future climates’, investigates how groundwater used for irrigation in northwestern India is dependent upon the local geology – specifically, the presence or absence of buried river channels – and the monsoon climate. The groundwater that is extracted does not appear to replenish itself, and its continued use could negatively impact the environment. Predicted changes in the Indian monsoon over the next 50-100 years could have serious, but largely unknown, effects on this critical resource. Work for the project begins this spring.
The grant also involves Imperial College London, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, National Institute of Hydrology Roorkee, and Delhi University. Further details available at http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/cwc/.
Read more about the project on IHRR's blog.