3d Down-under — What Are the Australians up to in 3d Hydrogeology

Water shortage is common in much of Australia. With the vast majority of the continent classed as semi arid (an overall average of 455mm rainfall per year) and the tropical north having monsoonal rains and long dry seasons, groundwater provides an essential buffer for many parts of the country. In recent years though, rainfall has been significantly below average, especially across the south east of the continent, which has affected vast areas of Australia’s most important agricultural production region. The Murray Darling Basin, (which occupies 1/7 of the continent) supported average annual consumptive water use of 11,000 GL (to 1997), but last year, had fallen to less than half. This year, heading in to spring, the 22,600 GL of upstream basin storage is sitting at only 23% of capacity.