The Amsterdam Critical Zone Hydrology Group focuses its research on the analysis and synthesis of ecological and hydrological systems in order to:
The aim is to achieve this through both theoretical and applied research.
Field measurements, where necessary supported by remotely sensed spatial information, are considered to hold the key to the development and validation of models simulating the exchanges of water, energy, and solutes between the different compartments of the Critical Zone, i.e. the atmosphere, vegetation, soils, groundwater and surface water.
Two main research lines are actively pursued, viz. (i) the hydrological impacts of global change, and (ii) the sustainable use of groundwater and aquifer systems, which are subdivided into five sub-themes each (see the interactive diagram below).
The former research is conducted in such contrasting environmental settings as tropical lowland rain forests, montane cloud forests, and the sub-arctic belt, whereas the groundwater-related research is largely conducted in the Netherlands.
