Water Resources News

Atlas of Isotope Hydrology—Africa

05 Dec 2007 –At the core of all efforts for sustainable human development lies adequate supply of freshwater. With increasing populations and economic growth, it is imperative that we reach a balance between demand and availability of freshwater, protect available resources in rivers, lakes and aquifers, and prevent disputes over shared resources. Freshwater is a finite resource and, unlike many other strategic resources, freshwater has no substitute in most of its uses. Groundwater is an important resource for Africa, providing nearly two-thirds of drinking water on the continent, and an even greater proportion in northern Africa.

Despite the importance of groundwater for many societies, the world’s groundwater resources are poorly understood and there is a lack of corresponding public concern about its protection, perhaps because the extent and availability of groundwater are not easily measured. Applications of isotopes in hydrology are based on the general concept of “tracing”. Environmental isotopes are unique in regional studies of water resources to obtain temporally and spatially integrated characteristics of groundwater systems. Among the most important areas where isotopes are useful in groundwater applications include aquifer recharge and discharge processes, flow and interconnections between aquifers, and the sources, fate and transport of pollutants.

This Atlas of Isotope Hydrology focuses on Africa. Data from nearly 10 500 isotope records gathered from about 80 IAEA projects in 26 African countries from 1973 to 2007 are included. For each country, a digital elevation map is provided that shows major water bodies, locations of stations in the IAEA global network of isotopes in precipitation (GNIP) and the project study areas. Summary pages for each project include a higher resolution map of the study area, and data tables and plots for median and mean d18O and d2H, average annual precipitation and air temperature, tritium values, and radiocarbon in groundwater.

The Isotope Hydrology Information System (ISOHIS), maintained by the Isotope Hydrology Section of the IAEA, has been the source of the hydrological and isotope information used in the compilation of this Atlas of Isotope Hydrology – Africa. The isotope information presented in the Atlas can be downloaded through the online application WISER.

The isotopic information presented in this unique Atlas is expected to be a valuable reference to scientists, practitioners and policy makers engaged in the field of hydrology.

IAEA Isotope Hydrology Section Participates in the 2007 Joint Danube River Survey (JDS)

11 Sep 2007 –The Danube is the second longest river in Europe and flows through or along ten countries. This summer, three ships have initiated an over 2400 km journey in almost 50 days from the headwater area of the Danube above Regensburg, Germany to the Black Sea, resulting in the world’s biggest river research expedition in 2007.

The survey was coordinated by the International Commission on the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) in support of the EU Water Framework Directive objectives. The mission was to conduct a survey of the biological, geochemical, and hydrological status of river water, habitats, and sediments at 95 sampling points along the main Danube stem and its 11 largest tributaries. The expedition attracted international collaboration of all Danube countries and included an on-board research team of 18 scientists from 8 countries.

The IAEA Isotope Hydrology Section is cooperating with the ICPDR to conduct a series of isotope surveys including water sample collection for isotope measurements of d2H, d18O, d15N; and 3H at over 100 locations. In addition, an on-board radon detector was used to map 222Rn concentrations in the river. The isotope studies will be used to understand such issues as groundwater input to the river, role of tributaries and human impact in the spatial evolution of Danube water quality and quantity and to identify potential nitrate pollution sources. Results of the survey will be used for assistance to Member States in development of river basin management plans. More details of the survey will be discussed in a future issue of our newsletter “Water & Environment News”.

The Director General's Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors.

10 Sep 2007 – Read Full Statement »

IAEA-CN-151 Posters

23 Aug 2007 - International Symposium on Advances in Isotope Hydrology and Its Role in Sustainable Water Resources Development (IHS–2007). Link for the IAEA-CN-151 posters in pdf. (Click the title to see the poster).

A Sinking Carbon Feeling? Try Isotope Hydrology

18 May 2007 - Not many people see isotope hydrologists on the front line of the fight against climate change. But they are -- studying how to trap greenhouse carbon gas and bury it deep below ground in salty aquifers. The work is one topic being reviewed at the IAEA, when world experts in isotope hydrology meet 21-25 May in Vienna at an international symposium.

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