Objectives

Overall objective

Develop, test, and promote holistic tools and approaches

To characterize and model groundwater resources

To propose sustainable management strategies

In the Mediterranean context & in the context of global change

Themes

The research work of the GeEAUde partnership chair focuses on:

Groundwater dynamics within aquifers

The interaction of groundwater with surface water & ecosystems

They are structured around four closely interconnected thematic pillars. These four scientific areas are the result of many years of multidisciplinary research conducted  UMR EMMAH on the aquifer-soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. They guide the research strategies and holistic approaches that are implemented for each type of aquifer.

Specific objectives

Technological advances and integration

  • Development and refinement of tools to characterize and monitor changes in groundwater resources at different spatial and temporal scales ;
  • Adaptation and validation of digital modeling tools to simulate the current and future hydrodynamic functioning of aquifers based on anthropogenic and climatic forcings;
  • Integrate modeling and monitoring tools into a dynamic forecasting platform that provides managers with real-time, informed decision support.

Improvement of knowledge

  • Improving our understanding of the processes governing aquifer functioning and their response to environmental and human changes is essential for the sustainable and equitable management of groundwater resources ;
  • Identification and in-depth study of interactions between groundwater resources and associated ecosystems: Aquifers are closely linked to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (including marine environments), and their overexploitation can have negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services.