From 8 to 13 September 2024, the World Groundwater Conference 2024 organized by the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) took place in Davos (Switzerland). The event provides a unique opportunity to get a comprehensive update on the latest international developments on groundwater and their relevance for society.
Our consortium members Lena Merete Tallaksen, Anne van Loon, Azucena Rodriguez Yebra, Marijke Huysmans and Daniela Cid Escobar were there to contribute by presenting and participating in both formal and informal discussions. PhD Candidate Anna Luisa Hemshorn de Sánchez from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Masters student Torkel Andreassen Bjørbæk from the University of Oslo were also there to present some of their work.
The main project contribution was done by Anne. She introduced GroundedExtremes by presenting the plans for the project and sharing some first preliminary results of postdocs Jose Henao Casas and Azucena Rodriguez Yebra.
In addition, Daniela presented the results of her doctoral thesis and Lena’s student Torkel Andreassen Bjørbæk presented his master’s thesis on trends in groundwater levels in undisturbed catchments in Norway, shown in the picture.
A key takaway was that, regardless of hydrological background, there is a significant overlap between disciplines. Both hydrogeologists and hydrologists face common challenges related to freshwater availability—whether it’s groundwater or surface water—and use similar methodologies to address them. The critical focus for all is understanding the impact of human activities and climate change on these vital water resources.
GroundedExtremes 