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Surface-Groundwater Interactions in the Upper Hunter River under changing climate
Salinity in soil, groundwater and river systems are now a serious problem in many parts of Australia, and the problem is increasing. Salinity increases are usually caused by a rise in the level of ground water-table bringing naturally occurring salt to the surface. Salinity occurs naturally in many soils and streams in the Wybong catchment of the Hunter Valley of New South Wales due to its geological features. The Permian geology of the Hunter Valley has been deposited during marine at fresh water phases. Salt which is partially dissolved in the groundwater is transferred into the Valley's streams and rivers. Therefore, a number of issues can be considered for causing the salinity in that region. Aims of this study are to model water and salt balance, surface-groundwater interaction and rate of groundwater discharge in the Wybong catchment of the Hunter valley. This modelling also includes assessment of spatio-temporal trends in salinity and groundwater discharge under the past 50 years of changing climate. Increasing stream salinities in this catchment could also be due to mineral weathering.
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