Recognising that hydrological, soil and biological processes are interlinked and interdependent, our research programme uses catchment-based studies to improve our understanding of environmental processes. As part of our catchment studies, BGS helps to maintain a number of observatories, including sites in Oxfordshire and the Eden Valley in Cumbria.
The River Eden in Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.
Groundwater/surface water interaction
An ongoing study is looking in detail at the physical and chemical processes involved in the movement of groundwater to streams whilst increasing our understanding of the geological controls on these processes.
Catchment processes case studies
- Eddleston: groundwater-surface water interaction on an upland floodplain
- Floodplains and their role in contaminant attentuation
Groundwater recharge
Groundwater recharge processes have been the focus of significant research effort over the last few years, including, most recently, the studies of recharge through drift and groundwater nitrate in the Eden Valley, Cumbria.
Controls on groundwater flooding
In order to help develop appropriate flood risk management measures, BGS staff investigated the controls on groundwater flooding at the catchment scale at a number of sites, including work in Oxford and establishing the Oxford field observatory.
CatchmentCARE
Community Actions for Resilient Eco-systems (CatchmentCARE) was an EU-funded project that aimed to improve freshwater quality in river basins across three cross-border catchments. This was done through development of three water quality improvement projects in the Finn, Blackwater and Arney catchments and the installation of 50 boreholes across the region.
The aims of the groundwater package were to:
- better understand the role of groundwater in the cross-border catchments
- raise awareness within rural communities of the role of groundwater in catchments and the impact of land-use activities on groundwater resources
- this meets the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in ensuring sustainable groundwater resources and help provide the evidence base for WFD characterisation and measures
- develop of groundwater policy within the EU.
Contact
Please contact BGS Enquiries (enquiries@bgs.ac.uk) for more information.
Our research
Hyporheic zone
Research into the zone where groundwater and surface water meet.
Eddleston: groundwater/surface water interaction on an upland floodplain
A demonstration research catchment for natural flood management.
Floodplains and contaminant attentuation
The role of floodplains in reducing the effects of groundwater contamination.
Land use and groundwater quality in the Eden Valley
How use of the land such as agriculture can affect the geochemistry of groundwater.