Groundwater Problems and the Trend of the Research in Australia

-Groundwater Hydrology in Australia (2)-

Abstract

The second part of two-series paper deals with each groundwater problem in Australia. The studies on salinity, clearing land, groundwater recharge and Great Artesian Basin are discussed.
The salinity problem divides into two types which are the natural salinity and the salinity by human activities. The salinity problems and examples of the measurement in Moora, Western Australia and in River Murray, South Australia are reported.
Another feature of the groundwater study in Australia is to quantify the changes in the input and output of salt and water when land use changed from forest to agriculture. The study in Collie, Western Australia after clearing has been shown and the hydraulic and hydrological equilibriums have been discussed.
Significant contributions to the theory of unsaturated movement of water downward from the ground surface have been made in Australia. The estimation of recharge rates using tracer techniques has been developed. It is clarified from the recharge project by CSIRO in perth that the recharge rate not only depends on a kind of vegitations but also on a density and maturity of the stems. The management of land use after understanding the water balance is necessary.
The recent studies of the Great Artesian Basin which is a multi-layered, confined groundwater system occupying 20% of the area of Australia, have been introduced. The features of Great Artesian Basin research have been the systematic application of isotope techniques.