GroundWater

Following an exceptionally dry October across the majority of the UK, the outlook for November is for river flows to be below normal to normal across the UK, with below normal flows more likely in the south and east. Below normal to normal flows are likely to persist across the south and east of the UK over the next three to six months. Groundwater levels are expected to be within the normal range, except in areas of the southern Chalk which are likely to be below normal over the next three months.

The UK’s rivers, due to the variability of our climate from year to year and associated extreme weather events, are prone to flooding and periods of drought and water scarcity. Making robust predictions of these impacts is critical to developing effective planning and management of our precious water resources both for now and in the future.

The outlook for October is for river flows to be within the normal range for the majority of the UK; the exception is for Wales where flows are likely to be normal to above normal. Over the three month period to December 2016, river flows are likely to be normal with the exception of the eastern side of Scotland and north east England where flows are likely to be normal to below normal. Groundwater levels are most likely to be normal except for aquifers around the border between England and Scotland where levels are likely to remain above normal.

The outlook for September is for river flows to be within the normal range for the majority of the UK, with normal to above normal flows in central southern England. Flows in north western England are likely to be normal to above normal over the next three months. In the northern Permo-Triassic sandstone aquifers, groundwater levels are likely to remain above normal to exceptionally high throughout September, whilst levels across the rest of the UK are likely to be normal to above normal for the next three months.

The outlook for August is for river flows to be normal to above normal in many areas of the UK, particularly in parts of western Britain.  Over the next three months, river flows are more likely to be within the normal range, and normal to above normal in East Anglia.  The outlook for groundwater levels in August is for a continuation of normal to above normal levels across most of the aquifers in the UK.  Groundwater levels are expected to remain above normal over the next three months in some aquifers in northern Britain.

The Geological Society's Hydrogeological Group and IAH are pleased to announce a two-day conference on 13-14 September 2016 to celebrate the International Association of Hydrogeologists 60th anniversary and the Geological Society's Year of Water, hosted by the University of Birmingham. The conference will incorporate the Ineson Lecture and re-launch of Groundwater our Hidden Asset, supported by the Groundwater Forum. 

The UK Groundwater Modellers’ Forum (GWMF) is organising a meeting which combines the 14th GWMF workshop and the National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation (NGWREF)’s Darcy lecture.

A large number of regional and local scale groundwater models exist in the UK and increasingly, these are being adapted for application beyond the purpose, scale or time frame for which they were originally intended.

A number of talks will consider recent examples of repurposed models being used by the wider UK community.