The hydrogeology is the branch of geology that is responsible for the study of underground water reserves occupying the planet, which focuses on the origin and the factors governing their movements.
It focuses on the analysis of the physical and bacteriological properties, the chemical composition of the water that emanates through the springs and its contamination. To do this, he uses methods that are generally supported by other sciences such as geophysics or geostatistics.
Soda springs are located in Germany. Source: pixabay.com
One of the main objectives of hydrogeology is to analyze the behavior of groundwater from its insertion through the subsoil to its incorporation into the hydrological cycle.
The means of capturing groundwater for use at the agricultural, industrial or personal level, as well as the impact that these activities cause on the quality of the reserves, are part of the hydrogeology studies.
History
The emergence of hydrogeology as a science is due to the need of scientists and philosophers to obtain a valid explanation of the laws of nature about the origin of the waters that emanated from the springs.
The idea that the water came only from the sea was supported by most scientists, however, some attempts were carried out whose results correspond to the hydrological cycle.
Marco Vitruvio (1st century BC), by means of his work entitled Treaty of Architecture, affirmed that the waters coming from the snow infiltrated below the soils and from there they traveled to the springs.
Bernard Palissy, considered one of the precursors of hydrogeology and geology during the Middle Ages, explained in his work Discours admirable de la Nature des Eaux et Fontaines his theories about the origins of groundwater, which turned out to be correct.
Pierre Perrault in 1674 presented in De origine des Fontaines the results of his experiments on the Seine river, which supported the theories of Palissy and Vitruvius regarding the origin of groundwater.
Edmé Mariotte (1620 - 1684) carried out a similar experiment, but chose a different location on the Seine and verified the infiltration of rainwater through the soils, which he exposed through his Traité du mouvement des Eaux et des autres Corps Fluides.
Edmund Halley (1656-1742), together with Mariotte and Perrault, was in charge of establishing scientifically valid methods for the study of groundwater, its origin and the definition of the hydrological cycle.
Background
The first contacts of man with the underground reserves took place in various ancient civilizations, which were noted for the design of various mechanisms for the collection of water.
Source: pixabay.com
In China, evidence supports the construction of wells (2000 BC) that gave way to the economic and social development of various peoples.
The Persian and Egyptian civilizations, for their part, carried out great works based on the exploration of underground waters by means of which they managed to irrigate large areas of crops.
The kanats were large-scale constructions of the Egyptians and the Persians, whose function was to transfer underground water from the depths to the surface through a deep tunnel.
In Spain, specifically in Catalonia and the Levant, the construction of quite deep tunnels known as mines for the collection of water were carried out.
Although it is true that the different catchment systems used in ancient civilizations reflected a treatment of groundwater reserves, there is no evidence to support scientific knowledge.
Object of study
Hydrogeology is responsible for the study of groundwater found on the planet from the point of view of its behavior and the laws that govern its movement.
It is a branch of geology that is interested in the analysis of the physical, bacteriological and chemical composition of water reserves, as well as the possible changes that it may experience.
Hydrogeology also focuses on determining the origin of groundwater and studying the processes involved in the hydrological cycle.
Measuring the amount of existing underground water reserves is part of the object of study of hydrogeology, as well as the number of systems that are located on the earth's surface.
Hydrogeology places special emphasis on the changes produced in groundwater due to the interaction of man with these natural resources.
The analysis of the actions undertaken by human beings, whether for economic purposes or for personal use, on groundwater reserves is part of hydrogeology research.
Various activities include the use of groundwater, in industries to carry out different processes, the agricultural sector for irrigation or maintenance of crops, and in some towns connections are made to access drinking water.
Examples of investigations in hydrogeology
Pierre Perrault (1608 - 1614) carried out a study for three years in which he collected data from the amount of rain that fell on the Seine basin and, in addition, was in charge of calculating the amount of water in the river.
The results were conclusive and allowed him to demonstrate that the rainfall had been sufficient to supply the river and generate, through infiltration, water for the springs, which filled the stream even during periods of drought.
Mariotte was commissioned to carry out the same experiment as Perrault in another part of the basin and was able to correctly describe the process of infiltration of rainwater into the subsoil.
In addition, he optimally defined the process of water transformation from rains, known as the hydrological cycle, explaining the coalescence that consists of the union of water from one state to another.
References
- EcuRed. Hydrogeology. Taken from ecured.cu
- Iwashita, F, (2.015). Hydrogeology. Taken from uniandes.edu.co
- Martínez, GFJ, (1972). Historical and evolutionary aspect of ideas about groundwater from the most remote times to the birth of Hydrogeological Science. Taken from hydrologia.usal.es
- Hydrogeology. Taken from nature.com
- University of Antioquia. Hydrogeology. Taken from udea.edu.com