Groundwater is worlds most important, best protected and most exploited freshwater resource. It is intensively used by man; it is the prime source for drinking water and irrigation, hence critical to global food security. But also for sustaining low flow requirements and ecological values of groundwater dependent ecosystems, groundwater flow is essential. Groundwater therefore needs to be managed, protected and especially sustainably used. These requirements are also expressed in major regulatory initiatives such as the European Water Directive. In itself this is a challenge, however under a changing environment, climate, land use, population growth, etc., this task becomes challenging especially in the light of limited data and consequential uncertainties. From arid over humid to arctic regions, each shows different and particular consequences of a changing environment. In Arctic regions e.g., significant changes in groundwater runoff contributing to river discharge regimes, which suggests that degradation of permafrost has started in response to recent warming. Parameters controlling the increasing rates of groundwater discharge and recharge in areas of permafrost degradation are not well understood, nor documented in detail.
In this session we invite contributions, which report on research on the consequences of a changing environment for future management, protection, and sustainable use of groundwater. Methodologies, strategies, case studies as well as quantitative techniques for dealing with uncertainty and limited data availability are of interest for this session. Furthermore, contributions describing case studies and new techniques for active management and protection of groundwater resources such as artificial recharge and conjunctive use are welcome.