The project seeks Citizen Scientists to collect water samples from as many waterholes scattered throughout the MacDonnell Ranges Bioregion and surrounds in southern, central Northern Territory as possible. The water samples will be analysed in the environmental lab at Charles Darwin University and will measure the conductivity and stable isotopic composition (d18O and d2H) of each water sample.
The conductivity will indicate how fresh or salty the water is. The stable isotopic composition will provide information on local evaporation rates, humidity, size of rainfall events and the mixing of groundwater and surface water sources.
This information will allow us to understand the relative contributions of groundwater and surface waters in sustaining arid zone springs, rockholes, gorges and river pools.
