Subsurface processes are important for groundwater formation, for the fate of organic compounds and trace metals dissolved therein, as well as for carbon and nutrient fluxes. They are governed by the hydrology of a given site, by aquatic chemistry, the composition and activity of microbial communities, and by mineral / geochemical interface properties. A thorough understanding of subsurface processes is important to predict aquifer vulnerability, to improve remediation of groundwater contaminations, and to address sustainable use of aquifers.
This session encourages presentations of recent developments, state-of-the-art tools and techniques, and innovative instrumentation, sampling techniques and measurement / monitoring approaches, focussed on subsurface processes. Of particular interest are studies on flow, reactive transport and microbial activity in the subsurface. This may cover measuring and monitoring techniques (e.g. hydraulic testing, applied tracers, indicator techniques, in-situ microcosms, joint methods, etc.) through modelling strategies and / or scaling approaches. In addition, aspects like vulnerability, sustainability, risk and remediation approaches are of interest.
We welcome contributions related to the use of isotope signatures and analogue compounds as tracers for contaminant source / provenance and for process identification / quantification. Contributions on the use of stable isotope fractionation to identify and quantify in-situ transformation of groundwater contaminants and to investigate their transformation pathways are particularly encouraged.