The global ecohydrogeology of springs

Springs are fed by groundwater issuing from an aquifer but there are many different types. This talk will be geographic tour of spring types and will include karst springs, pressurised aquifers and gravity-fed springs. Hot springs can be a result of their deep source, volcanism, but can also be radioactive. ‘Fossil springs’ may have no current recharge, a product of paleo-climates.

Thanks to a Fellowship from the Institute of Advanced Studies, Prof. Rod Fensham, a renowned international expert on spring ecosystems, particularly in arid climate contexts, and founder of the Fellowship of the Spring (FoS), is serving as a Visiting Professor at the BiGeA Department from April 6 to May 16. As part of the activities related to the Fellowship, he is delivering a series of seminars and lectures at the Bologna and Ravenna campuses. In particular, on May 7 and May 13, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, he will hold two seminars at the Via S. Alberto 163 campus (Teaching Rooms) on topics related to the environmental role of springs.