Assessing Hydrological Connectivity in Australia Through Noble Gas Data

Conceptual model describing the mechanisms of water flow attenuation within a beaver wetland with an unconfined floodplain. Image: Wikipedia

This Project aims to demonstrate the value of combining novel noble gas analysis facilities at CSIRO and the University of Adelaide (UoA) to strengthen our understanding of complex groundwater systems. This will underpin long-term water security in Australia and, in turn, support the growing water needs of the mineral, energy, and agricultural industries.

Overview

Hydrological connectivity is a water-mediated transport of matter, energy, and organisms within or between elements of the hydrological cycle. Typically used to understand variations in run-off and run-on, at a broader scale, it provides crucial information that impacts everything from water quality to ecosystem health.

Spearheaded by Dr Matthias Raiber from CSIRO’s Sustainable Groundwater Futures team, this project aims to collect groundwater samples from two proof-of-concept areas on First Nations Country: Beetaloo Sub-Basin in the Northern Territory and the K’gari World-Heritage sand island on Queensland. The team will analyse samples through the Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) technology at UoA, and publish the findings via respective data portals to facilitate inclusion of groundwater environmental tracer data for users in industry and academia.

The Challenge

Despite hydroconnectivity being a cornerstone of effective water management, environmental conservation, and sustainable development, adequate information about hydrological connectivity is lacking. This can interfere with governance and management of ecological systems, particularly around decision-making for land-use activities.

The inclusion of groundwater sampling in platforms like AusGeochem and the CSIRO data access portal will enable the development of new data models, allowing more of Australia’s groundwater science community to participate more actively in research and development.

Expected Outcomes

Field collection of water noble gas samples
Gas separation and purification of radioactive noble gas samples
Analysis of water samples in Australia (including 3H, 14C, 36Cl and stable noble gases)
Analysis of radioactive noble gas samples (University of Adelaide and at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei)
Final data delivery through AusGeochem database and CSIRO data portal

What are the benefits?

Enhanced environmental monitoring: Collections of high-quality tracer data, including stable noble gas and radioactive noble gas isotopes, will provide a better understanding of coastal aquifers by monitoring climate change impacts and subsequent mitigation actions.
Improved sampling and processing techniques: Using a new gas separator for radioactive noble gases will demonstrate the benefits of small-volume sampling, enabling groundwater stakeholders to participate in research more actively.
Broader research partnerships: The creation of new groundwater data sets will help provide greater context to research, including knowledge sharing with adjacent fields that rely on groundwater assessment and prediction.

Who will benefit

Researchers, government agencies, and industry professionals involved or are interested in groundwater sampling and hydrological processes.

Access

Lab access: The broader research community has access to the ATTA radioactive noble gas analytical facility at UoA and the stable noble gas laboratory at CSIRO.
Data access: When available, groundwater sampling data will be made available via AusGeochem and the CSIRO data access portal.

Acknowledging AuScope

This project was made possible by support from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) through AuScope. Acknowledging AuScope and NCRIS helps us demonstrate the value of shared research infrastructure, ensuring continued support and resources for the research community.

If you helped deliver this project or have benefited from its outputs, please credit AuScope so we can include your work in our impact reporting. For examples of acknowledgment, please visit our ‘How to Acknowledge AuScope’ page.

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Project Name
Assessing Hydrological Connectivity in Australia Through Noble Gas Data

Project Lead

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