Major Australian aquifers

Abstract

There is some evidence from climatological studies that the pattern of Australian rainfall changed from the period 1913–45 to the period 1946–73. Rainfall increased in many areas, with the exception of Perth where rainfall decreased. There was a southwards shift in the region of summer-dominated rainfall. Postulated climatic change due to the accrual ofgreenhouse gases from fossil fuel burning and other anthropogenic sources means that these trends will continue. Climatic change of this nature will have major effects on the groundwater resources of the continent. Effects will be beneficial in the arid and semiarid zones and in areas where aquifers are under stress due to overdevelopment, such as many of the alluvial aquifers of New South Wales and Queensland. Effects will be detrimental in some other important areas such as the Perth and Murray Basins. Also, rises in sea level will increase the intrusion of sea water in coastal aquifers and will reduce the sustainable yield of fresh water in such aquifers. The costs of the negative effects of climatic change, such as the development of new sources of water supply for Perth, management of coastal aquifers affected by sea water intrusion and control of salinity problems in the Murray Basin could be substantial. Show more