Long datasets for improved understanding, management and protection of groundwater

In a changing world, long datasets for groundwater have great value, as they do for all components of environmental monitoring. However, there is a global scarcity of such datasets, with few extending beyond 30 years and even fewer to 50 or 100 years. Hydrogeological investigations and groundwater management activities benefiting from long-term data are listed, the successful use of such datasets illustrated, and the reasons for their scarcity discussed.

Automated summary

Long datasets for groundwater are of great value in environmental monitoring, but there is a global scarcity of such datasets, especially those that extend beyond 30 years. This article lists and illustrates the benefits of long-term data in hydrogeological investigations and groundwater management activities, while discussing the reasons for their scarcity.