hydrochemistry

The study of the chemical characteristics of water and the ways in which these are linked to the biological function, geological origins and hydrological conditions in a river basin is critical to understanding how:

• pollutants are delivered to and transported within a water body
• this chemistry interacts with biological and physical factors to determine the types, health and abundance of plants and animals in a water body
• a water body is likely to respond, in hydrochemical terms, to
• any modification of the timing and rates of flows to and through the water body
• the introduction of alien species or other modifications to food web structure, and
• the modification of pollutant loading from catchment sources.

Hydrochemistry is traditionally broken down into two major sub-themes:

• Biogeochemistry, focusing on the cycling and transport of energy and matter through plant, animal, physical and chemical pools within the water body, and
• Hydrogeochemistry, focusing on the inter-relationships between water chemistry and geology at various scales

HYDRA members have extensive and in-depth expertise in both Biogeochemistry and Hydrogeochemistry, and access to state of the art field and laboratory equipment and experimental facilities to support this research base. Details on staff with expertise in this field can be found in the directory of expertise or by contacting the champion for this discipline Professor Penny Johnes.

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