[Aqualist] FW: SENVinar - Guest Speaker Professor Andy Baker - "Caves and their stalagmites: linking climate to groundwater recharge”

[Helen Bostock]

TODAY - This might be of interest to AQUA members.

“Caves and their stalagmites: linking climate to groundwater recharge"

Professor Andy Baker – UNSW Sydney

Friday 6 March 2026 11:00am – 12:00pm  AEST (12-1pm AEDT)

In-person: Steele Building (3), Learning Theatre Room 309
Zoom link: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/87170890628

There will be a pre-SENVinar morning tea from 10:15am – out the front of Steele Building 03. All welcome 😊

Abstract:
Groundwater is a natural resource supporting industry, agriculture and water supply worldwide. It is especially important in drier, water-limited parts of the world, where it can provide a resilient water source in times of drought. Despite this economic importance, we do not know how the replenishment of groundwater (technically known as groundwater recharge) relates to climate phenomena such as El Ni?o and La Ni?a. This is increasingly important as we adapt to climate change and associated climate extremes, such as the recent rare occurrence of three consecutive La Ni?a years. This knowledge gap can be filled by using caves, uniquely situated between the land surface and the groundwater, as observatories of groundwater recharge in the past, present and future. This lecture will explain how we can generate new knowledge by combining the analysis of cave stalagmites to understand when recharge occurred in the past; underground hydrological monitoring today to work out how much rainfall is needed and the associated weather and climate patterns; and climate and hydrological modelling to identify when this replenishment will occur in the future. Using these approaches, we can identify the climate conditions most likely to lead to the rainfall recharge of groundwater, and how this recharge of groundwater will change with future climate change. This new knowledge can be used to help identify where groundwater can be sustainably used for water supply and industrial use in the future and to mitigate the impacts of longer and more intense droughts that are predicted with climate change.

Bio:
Andy Baker is a UNSW Sydney academic and Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow. His research aims to generate new knowledge that is only possible by combining the analysis of cave stalagmites, underground hydrological monitoring, and climate hydrological modelling to identify when this replenishment occurred in the past, present, and future. His research will use caves and cave stalagmites to define the role of climate phenomena such as El Ni?o and La Ni?a, and the Indian Ocean Dipole in the replenishment of groundwater. This work will help identify where groundwater can be sustainably used for water supply and industrial use in the future and to mitigate the impacts of prolonged droughts that are predicted as result of climate change.


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