Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability
Abstract Heavy precipitation, drought, and other hydroclimatic extremes occur more frequently than in the past climate reference period (1961–1990). Given their strong effect on groundwater recharge dynamics, these phenomena increase the vulnerability of groundwater quantity and quality. Over the co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55890-2 |
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| author | Simon A. Schroeter Alice May Orme Katharina Lehmann Robert Lehmann Narendrakumar M. Chaudhari Kirsten Küsel He Wang Anke Hildebrandt Kai Uwe Totsche Susan Trumbore Gerd Gleixner |
| author_facet | Simon A. Schroeter Alice May Orme Katharina Lehmann Robert Lehmann Narendrakumar M. Chaudhari Kirsten Küsel He Wang Anke Hildebrandt Kai Uwe Totsche Susan Trumbore Gerd Gleixner |
| author_sort | Simon A. Schroeter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Heavy precipitation, drought, and other hydroclimatic extremes occur more frequently than in the past climate reference period (1961–1990). Given their strong effect on groundwater recharge dynamics, these phenomena increase the vulnerability of groundwater quantity and quality. Over the course of the past decade, we have documented changes in the composition of dissolved organic matter in groundwater. We show that fractions of ingressing surface-derived organic molecules increased significantly as groundwater levels declined, whereas concentrations of dissolved organic carbon remained constant. Molecular composition changeover was accelerated following 2018’s extreme summer drought. These findings demonstrate that hydroclimatic extremes promote rapid transport between surface ecosystems and groundwaters, thereby enabling xenobiotic substances to evade microbial processing, accrue in greater abundance in groundwater, and potentially compromise the safe nature of these potable water sources. Groundwater quality is far more vulnerable to the impact of recent climate anomalies than is currently recognized, and the molecular composition of dissolved organic matter can be used as a comprehensive indicator for groundwater quality deterioration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-822775a3e42f48d387b4cdf3a2f92a4b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-822775a3e42f48d387b4cdf3a2f92a4b2025-01-19T12:31:56ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-011611910.1038/s41467-025-55890-2Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stabilitySimon A. Schroeter0Alice May Orme1Katharina Lehmann2Robert Lehmann3Narendrakumar M. Chaudhari4Kirsten Küsel5He Wang6Anke Hildebrandt7Kai Uwe Totsche8Susan Trumbore9Gerd Gleixner10Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryDepartment of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryDepartment of Hydrogeology, Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller UniversityDepartment of Hydrogeology, Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller UniversityAquatic Geomicrobiology, Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller UniversityAquatic Geomicrobiology, Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller UniversityAquatic Geomicrobiology, Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller UniversityGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigDepartment of Hydrogeology, Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller UniversityDepartment of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryDepartment of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for BiogeochemistryAbstract Heavy precipitation, drought, and other hydroclimatic extremes occur more frequently than in the past climate reference period (1961–1990). Given their strong effect on groundwater recharge dynamics, these phenomena increase the vulnerability of groundwater quantity and quality. Over the course of the past decade, we have documented changes in the composition of dissolved organic matter in groundwater. We show that fractions of ingressing surface-derived organic molecules increased significantly as groundwater levels declined, whereas concentrations of dissolved organic carbon remained constant. Molecular composition changeover was accelerated following 2018’s extreme summer drought. These findings demonstrate that hydroclimatic extremes promote rapid transport between surface ecosystems and groundwaters, thereby enabling xenobiotic substances to evade microbial processing, accrue in greater abundance in groundwater, and potentially compromise the safe nature of these potable water sources. Groundwater quality is far more vulnerable to the impact of recent climate anomalies than is currently recognized, and the molecular composition of dissolved organic matter can be used as a comprehensive indicator for groundwater quality deterioration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55890-2 |
| spellingShingle | Simon A. Schroeter Alice May Orme Katharina Lehmann Robert Lehmann Narendrakumar M. Chaudhari Kirsten Küsel He Wang Anke Hildebrandt Kai Uwe Totsche Susan Trumbore Gerd Gleixner Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability Nature Communications |
| title | Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability |
| title_full | Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability |
| title_fullStr | Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability |
| title_short | Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability |
| title_sort | hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55890-2 |
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