Human Impact on Groundwater Environment, 2nd Edition

Abstract submission deadline

31 May 2026

Manuscript submission deadline

31 July 2026

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2053

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Topic will gather novel and innovative works of general interest to the journal’s audience related to the environmental implications of ever-growing human activities, with a particular emphasis on the changes that these are inducing in groundwater. Global demand for water is projected to outstrip supply by 40% in 2030 and 55% in 2050 as a result of climate change, a rising global population, economic growth, rapid urbanization, and increased water–energy–food nexus pressures. Humans are thus now facing the critical challenge of preserving our groundwater resources from biological and chemical contamination induced by its own point and diffuse sources. Addressing this challenge will require a holistic approach that addresses new issues and emerging contaminants, as well as multiple embedded risks, to ultimately conduct a comprehensive environmental and human health risk assessment.  Compared to environmental issues, there is a greater focus on hydrogeochemical monitoring and modeling. The sustainable management of groundwater resources is consistent not only with protecting groundwater but also with protecting the natural ecosystems that depend on groundwater. Groundwater is a habitat for extremely small animals and supports life in pores, cracks, and caves. In addition, groundwater can provide water for rivers and sustain endemic flora and fauna in riverside areas. This Topic will not only focus on human impacts on groundwater but will also include the environment, considering both hydrogeological and complex ecosystems.

Consequently, the contributions to this Topic will cover varied topics related to human impacts on groundwater resources, including but not limited to emerging topics dealing with water resource vulnerability and human impacts, including emerging and chemical contaminants; advances in analytical techniques used to monitor and identify sources and processes controlling human contaminants in water resources; advances in hydrological processes and hydrodynamic models for investigating water vulnerability to human impact; analysis of urban growth consequences for water resources and water management; remote sensing applications for water vulnerability assessment; and linkages between water vulnerability, scarcity, security, and sustainability.

In this Topic, we will fill research gaps on applications of hydrochemistry (including measurements of radioactive and stable isotope ratios, nutrients, trace elements, and organic components) in environmental research by requesting manuscripts that constitute original contributions on hydrogeology, nutrient balances, pollution, and environmental changes, as well as modeling or empirical studies aimed at improving our mechanistic understanding of short- and long-term chemical variations in global hydrological systems. The submission of inter- and multidisciplinary original research and review papers is particularly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Zongjun Gao
Dr. Jiutan Liu
Dr. Qiao Su
Dr. Tengfei Fu
Dr. Dakang Wang
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Earth earth	2.1	3.3	2020	23.7 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Hydrology hydrology	3.1	4.9	2014	15.3 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Water water	3.0	5.8	2009	17.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering jmse	2.7	4.4	2013	16.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agriculture agriculture	3.3	4.9	2011	19.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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All Earth Hydrology Sustainability Water JMSE Agriculture

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20 pages, 10754 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Late Pleistocene Climate–Weathering Dynamics in Bohai Bay: High-Resolution Sedimentary Proxies and Their Global Paleoclimatic Synchronicity

by Yanxiang Lei, Xinyi Liu, Yanhui Zhang, Lei He, Zengcai Zhao, Liujuan Xie and Siyuan Ye

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(5), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050881 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2025

Abstract

Understanding the climate–weathering coupling mechanisms remains pivotal for interpreting global glacial–interglacial cycles, yet advancements have been constrained by the limited high-resolution sedimentary archives. The newly acquired BXZK2017-2 borehole (30.5 m core) from Bohai Bay provides an exceptional sedimentary sequence to investigate the Late [...] Read more.

Understanding the climate–weathering coupling mechanisms remains pivotal for interpreting global glacial–interglacial cycles, yet advancements have been constrained by the limited high-resolution sedimentary archives. The newly acquired BXZK2017-2 borehole (30.5 m core) from Bohai Bay provides an exceptional sedimentary sequence to investigate the Late Quaternary climate–weathering interactions. Through an integrated high-resolution chronostratigraphic framework (AMS ¹⁴C and OSL dating) coupled with multi-proxy sedimentological analyses (major element geochemistry and granulometric parameters), we reconstructed the chemical–weathering dynamics in the Bohai coastal region since the Late Pleistocene. Our findings revealed four distinct climate-weathering phases that correlate with the regional paleoenvironmental evolution and global climate perturbations: (1) enhanced weathering during mid-MIS3 to ~37.5 cal kyr BP (Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA): 55.9–62.2), corresponding to regional warming and strengthened summer monsoon circulation; (2) weathering minimum in late MIS3 through early–mid-MIS2 (37.5–14.8 cal kyr BP, CIA < 55), marking the peak aridity before the Last Glacial Maximum; (3) maximum weathering intensity from mid-MIS2 to early MIS1 (14.8–3.34 cal kyr BP, CIA: 65–68), documenting the postglacial humidification driven by the intensified East Asian Summer Monsoon; (4) renewed weathering decline during the Neoglacial (3.34 cal kyr BP-present, CIA: 59–63), coinciding with the late Holocene cooling events. Remarkably, this study identifies a striking synchronicity between the CIA in marine drill cores and δ¹⁸O records derived from Greenland ice cores. Our results indicate that chemical weathering proxies from marginal sea sediments can serve as robust recorders of post-Late Pleistocene climate variability, establishing a new proxy framework for global paleoclimate comparative research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Human Impact on Groundwater Environment, 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 662 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Voluntary Nutrient Management Measures to Reduce Nitrate Leaching on Dairy Farms Using Soil N Surplus as an Indicator

by J. Verloop, C. van den Brink and J. Gielen

Water 2025, 17(3), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17030455 - 6 Feb 2025

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Abstract

A pilot study with 18 dairy farms in recharge areas of five vulnerable drinking water abstractions in the Dutch province of Overijssel aimed to reduce nitrate leaching risks to the upper meter of groundwater through improved farm management. The pilot employed a voluntary, [...] Read more.

A pilot study with 18 dairy farms in recharge areas of five vulnerable drinking water abstractions in the Dutch province of Overijssel aimed to reduce nitrate leaching risks to the upper meter of groundwater through improved farm management. The pilot employed a voluntary, mutual gain approach, promoting measures that enhanced both nutrient efficiency and groundwater quality. Over the research period (2011–2017), nitrogen surpluses on the soil balance declined significantly from 153 to 96 kg N per ha per year, achieving the target of 100 kg N per ha per year. Despite this decline, average nitrate concentrations in the upper meter of groundwater fluctuated annually, showing no significant reduction in grassland but a noticeable decrease in maize. Economic evaluation showed that relative fodder profitability (RFP) increased over time, suggesting positive financial effects of implemented measures, as acknowledged by participating farmers. However, the adoption of measures perceived as complex or less financially rewarding remained limited, highlighting the challenges of relying solely on voluntary implementation. The absence of farm-specific feedback on nitrate leaching emerged as a critical limitation, emphasizing the need for additional monitoring tools, such as residual soil nitrogen assessments, to provide actionable insights at the farm or field level. These findings underscore the potential for further reducing nitrate leaching through enhanced feedback systems, precise execution of measures, and collaborative efforts integrating farmer expertise and scientific knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Human Impact on Groundwater Environment, 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 7346 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Hydrochemical Analysis, Controlling Mechanisms, and Water Quality Assessment of Surface and Groundwater in a Typical Intensive Agricultural Area, Northern China

by Zongjun Gao, Tingting Huang, Jinkai Chen, Hong Tian, Menghan Tan, Yiru Niu and Kexin Lou

Water 2025, 17(2), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17020276 - 19 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1064

Abstract

Groundwater is a significant source of water, and evaluating its hydrochemical attributes, quality, and associated health risks holds paramount importance in guaranteeing safe water access for the population and fostering sustainable socio-economic progress. Situated within a semi-arid region, the Dianbu area (DBA) features [...] Read more.

Groundwater is a significant source of water, and evaluating its hydrochemical attributes, quality, and associated health risks holds paramount importance in guaranteeing safe water access for the population and fostering sustainable socio-economic progress. Situated within a semi-arid region, the Dianbu area (DBA) features numerous greenhouses interspersed amongst open farmlands. An examination revealed a discernible decline in the overall water chemistry environment in this area. This study extensively examined the fundamental water chemistry characteristics of groundwater and surface water samples through a statistical analysis, Piper’s trilinear diagram, ion ratios, and other analytical methods. The assessment of irrigation water quality was conducted using the entropy weight water quality index (EWQI), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percentage of soluble sodium (Na%), among other relevant indicators. The findings demonstrate multiple key aspects: 1. Water cations are chiefly composed of Ca²⁺ and Na⁺, while groundwater anions are notably NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ dominant, defining the water type as NO₃-SO₄-Ca. Conversely, surface water primarily displays HCO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ anions, aligning it with an HCO₃-SO₄-Ca water type. 2. The extensive agricultural activities in the region, coupled with the excessive utilization of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, as well as the discharge of domestic sewage, contribute to heightened NO₃⁻ concentrations in groundwater. 3. The water quality assessments indicate that approximately 53% of agricultural water quality meets irrigation standards based on EWQI, with SAR results suggesting around 65.52% suitability for irrigation and Na% findings indicating approximately 55.88% viability for this purpose. Proper water selection tailored to specific conditions is advised to mitigate potential soil salinization risks associated with long-term irrational irrigation practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Human Impact on Groundwater Environment, 2nd Edition)

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