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PRESENTATION:

The Importance of Groundwater to the People and Ecosystems of the Pacific Islands

PRESENTATION INFORMATION:

The Pacific Ocean is host to more than 30,000 islands, the vast majority of which are small, remote, and vulnerable to climate variability. Groundwater plays an important role in the resilience of these isolated environments. On many islands, groundwater has long been the only reliable source of drinking water. 

We will see, for example, how groundwater was a critical resource for the first settlers of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Groundwater also helps explain how coral reefs can flourish in the midst of a nutrient desert (Darwin’s Paradox). It turns out that groundwater is an important transport mechanism for nutrients from terrestrial to ocean biomes. Our recent investigations of the magnitude and distribution of groundwater flow to coral reefs sheds some light on these processes.

Sea level rise will disrupt and potentially overwhelm some of these incredibly unique and biologically critical ecosystems. An improved understanding of hydrogeologic systems and their interactions with marine life surrounding Pacific islands will be essential for strategic adaptation to increased settlement, climate change, and sea level rise.

 

SPEAKERS:

Russell Kyle

Matthew W. Becker, Ph.D., California State University, Long Beach, 2024 Darcy Lecturer Nominee

Matt Becker is the Conrey Chair in Hydrogeology and Professor of Earth Sciences at California State University Long Beach, USA. He holds degrees in Geology and Civil Engineering and has worked with Chevron USA, Los Alamos National Labs, the U.S Geological Survey, NASA Goddard Space Center, the University at Buffalo, and has been awarded Fulbright scholarships for Italy and Australia. Matt’s primary focus of research is fluid flow in highly heterogeneous subsurface environments.

 

REGISTRATION

Member Price: 10.00

Student Member: 0.00

Non-Member: 20.00

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Patrick Wickham
pwickham@elmontgomery.com
(916) 753-4173

 



Date and Time

Tue, May 23, 2023

6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
(GMT-0700) US/Pacific

Location

Virtual only



United States of America

Zoom link will be provided the day of the event

Event has ended