Human Impact on Groundwater Environment, 2nd Edition

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