Peter Cook
Research project
Groundwater-surface water interactions – the invisible and forgotten part of nutrient cycles?
Project summary
On every diagram of a water cycle, interactions between groundwater and surface water reservoirs feature prominently. But just how much do we know about these interactions, and how do we consider them in natural resource management in the Mediterranean region today? The ‘footprint’ of hidden subsurface flow of groundwater on hydrology, productivity or contamination of aquatic and coastal ecosystems remains a major knowledge gap in environmental science to date, in particular in the Mediterranean region where the seasonally dry climate exerts significant pressures on water resources. Research to address this knowledge gap will require an integrated interdisciplinary approach combining hydro(geo)logical, biogeochemical and ecological investigations with integrated water and land use studies thus bridging physical and social sciences. The objective of this Iméra residence by the world-leading groundwater scientist Prof Peter Cook is to (a) contribute to building critical mass in water science at AMU and Labex OTmed, (b) promote the consideration and incorporation of groundwater-surface water interaction processes in regional modelling and management strategies. The results of this project will improve our capacity to sustainably manage hydrological and ecological resources in the Mediterranean region in the future.
