Department of Hydrogeology and Geophysics
The didactic and scientific activity of the Department of Hydrogeology and Geophysics covers a wide spectrum issues in the field of hydrogeology. Groundwater, its quality, resources and protection constitute one of the mainstream of modern world research. Recognition of regional conditions, searching for new ones, often unconventional solutions, methodology development, with simultaneous emphasis on interdisciplinarity, this is what we do every day. Every day we combine science with practice – often by using the latest research methods. We show the great importance of hydrogeology and geophysics in water management, environmental protection, construction, mining, archaeology and even forensics.
The main directions of the Department’s scientific and research activities are:
- quantitative analysis of hydrogeological processes and phenomena,
- hydrodynamic modelling of processes taking place in the groundwater environment, hydrogeochemical modelling of groundwater chemistry transformations,
- strategy for the protection of the quantity and quality of groundwater resources, and the identification of threats to these resources, assessment of protection costs, legal aspects of hydrogeological works and research,
- assessment of the groundwater vulnerability to pollution in various hydrogeological systems: in the area of exploitation of minerals, mining aeras, in urban areas,
- hydrogeological studies of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs),
- regional hydrogeology, designing and implementation of dedicated monitoring systems for quantitative and chemical groundwater protection,
- methodology of research on the values of hydrogeological parameters, evaluation of their value in the research field, laboratory and model tests, hydrogeochemical tests, research isotopic,
- research on the properties of groundwaters used due to special composition (curative, mineral, thermal, brine); hydrogeochemistry of elements having a beneficial effect on human health,
- application of geophysical methods in hydrogeology, engineering geology and archeology; conducting research with the methods of: Electrical Resistivity Tomography, refractive seismic, MASW, one and eight-channel GPR,
- geotechnical and engineering geology research in advanced investment projects,
- application of remote sensing in hydrogeological research,
- interdisciplinary groundwater research combining geochemical methods with biological and physical methods.