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Islands to face water problems as sea levels rise, populations grow mongabay.com August 15, 2007
Studying the vadose zone, the critical area between the soil surface and groundwater, an international team of researchers found that "both the quantity and salinity of atoll groundwater is extremely vulnerable to frequent ENSO-related droughts." "In long droughts domestic water wells are often too salty too drink and some communities have to rely on large groundwater lenses or on coconuts," say the authors, who add that over-pumping or inappropriate methods of pumping can cause groundwater to become salty. The researchers report that due to the high permeablality of coral soils, surface contaminants can reach shallow fresh groundwater within an hour of being split on the soil surface, in some areas.
This article is based on a news release from Vadose Zone Journal Comments? News options
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