Groundwater and surface-water interaction refers to the bidirectional exchange of water, solutes, heat, and sometimes contaminants between aquifers and surface-water bodies such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries. This interaction is governed by hydraulic gradients, permeability contrasts, geological heterogeneities, and temporal variability in recharge and evapotranspiration. It encompasses processes such as baseflow discharge, bank storage, hyporheic exchange, and infiltration from surface water to aquifers, which together control streamflow regimes, water quality, redox conditions, and ecological habitat. Quantifying these exchanges is critical in hydrologic modeling, water-budget analysis, contaminant transport studies, and integrated water-resources management under changing climatic and anthropogenic stresses.
Declining Colorado River flows and falling water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead are highly visible signs of the Southwestern megadrought.
Earth Sciences
Oct 13, 2026
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"Is there enough water? What's happening with climate change? How do I operate my hydro plant? In a world of water problems, there are problems that we need a good model to solve," says Colin Gleason, a hydrologist in the ...
Earth Sciences
Oct 6, 2026
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42
The picturesque Lac des Brenets between France and Switzerland has dried up after a record-breaking hot summer, leaving locals crying out for help to save the lake.
Environment
Oct 4, 2026
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146
The bright orange plumes of water scientists first noticed billowing across a river in Alaska's Brooks Range in 2018 were even more acidic and metallic than water leached from metal mines, despite their pristine surroundings. ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 24, 2026
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20
A study led by a doctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool has found that beavers may help restore degraded peatlands by keeping landscapes wetter and making them more resilient to drought.
Plants & Animals
Sep 17, 2026
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42
Chalk streams are among the world's rarest river habitats. Fewer than 300 exist globally, and most are found in England. They support rich wildlife and have been described as England's 'Great Barrier Reef' due to their biodiversity. ...
Ecology
Aug 14, 2026
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21
The latest update of nationwide flood maps, to be released next year, will give communities across New Zealand the clearest picture yet of the regional risk of flooding.
Environment
Aug 13, 2026
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11
Groundwater pumped to irrigate cannabis crops in California's Emerald Triangle can cause some streams that normally run year-round to dry up entirely during summer, say researchers from Simon Fraser University, the University ...
Earth Sciences
Aug 4, 2026
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96
The small mountain streams that feed many of the West's rivers may face a much drier future. A new study led by NAU researchers found that groundwater-fed streamflow, known as base flow, has been steadily declining across ...
Environment
Aug 2, 2026
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45
As water shot into an open stock tank atop a high-country mesa, a trickle soaked the dusty earth below. Scott Snyder rose from the shade to fasten a hose and stop the spillage.
Environment
Jul 28, 2026
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33
