Overview
Our research seeks to improve our understanding and predictive capabilities of groundwater movement through the fractured/fissured aquifers in Ireland and to assess potential changes in groundwater resources with respect to impacts on flooding, recharge and ecohydrology. Ireland offers some of the best examples of fractured aquifers and of lowland karst aquifers in the world as well as frequent examples of groundwater flooding, in addition to a wide range of groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems, many vulnerable to climate change. These aquifers provide an excellent basis for examining the heterogeneous nature of groundwater flow, and because even those with high transmissivity are characterised by low storage, they are ideal for quantifying the impacts of a changing climate, in particular altered recharge patterns.
Research activities are focussed on the following areas:
- Development of predictive models for groundwater-surface water interaction
- Groundwater flooding in lowland karst areas
- Predictive models for changing recharge
- Quantitative analysis of fracture and karst networks
- Deep groundwater flow in geothermal energy sites
Project titles:
- Characterisation of diffuse recharge into karst aquifers using chemical and numerical modelling techniques - Philip Schuler
- Impacts of changing climate on groundwater recharge in low storativity fractured-rock aquifers - Elia Cantoni
- Visualisation of flow and contaminant transport through karst aquifers - Dr Lea Duran
- Ecosystem services provided by turloughs - Fabio Delle Grazie
- Quantitative investigation of potential geothermal systems in Ireland - Dr Sarah Blake
