Interfaces between Systems

Much of our work seeks to make advances by linking research that has traditionally been viewed as separate, so creating artificial boundaries between systems. We seek to challenge these conventions by identifying key ‘interfaces’ within the environment and explicitly investigating the processes and feedbacks that occur across them.

Key ‘interfaces’ investigated include those between surface and groundwaters, the atmosphere and groundwater and between ecological and hydrological systems.

Examples of research

Ecohydrological implications of hotspots in biogeochemical turnover in hyporheic and riparian zones

Applying novel sensor network technology with reactive “smart tracers” to investigate the efficiency of interconnected nutrient cycling in reactive “hot-spots”.

FInd out more information see the 
INTERFACES project pages


The hydrodynamics of microbial landscapes

How do biofilms affect the  exchange processes occurring between turbulent flows and the pore spaces within the river bed?

View our Geophysical Research Letters paper on this research


Climate-groundwater interactions in drylands

Integrated groundwater-surface water modelling to assess the physical controls oninteractions between climate and groundwater systems.

View our Earth and Planetary Science Letters paper on this research


Drought: from atmosphere to surface water to groundwater

The propagation of drought from meteorological conditions via soil moisture deficits to hydrological drought (below-normal groundwater or river flow) requires integrated knowledge of the hydrological system, from atmospheric conditions and land surface properties, to hydrogeology and groundwater properties. 

View our Hydrology and Earth System Sciences paper on this research

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