BGR, KIT, IAH, and UNESCO presented new World Karst Aquifer Map

The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), and UNESCO presented a new global groundwater map at the 44th Annual IAH Congress "Groundwater Heritage and Sustainability" in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 25th - 29th September 2017. The new map, titled World Karst Aquifer Map, was officially presented through the World-wide Hydrogeological Mapping and Assessment Programme (WHYMAP).

The World Karst Aquifer Map (WOKAM)

Karst aquifers constitute valuable freshwater resources for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In many countries and regions, groundwater from karst aquifers is the major source of freshwater for drinking water supply and agricultural irrigation.

The World Karst Aquifer Map (WOKAM) allows a more precise global quantification of karst systems. The map will help to increase awareness of karst groundwater resources in the context of global water issues and will serve as a basis for other karst-related research questions at global scales: for example those related to climate change, biodiversity, food production, geochemical cycles and urbanisation.

Printed copies of the new World Karst Aquifer Map at a scale of 1 : 25 000 000 and 1 : 40 000 000 can be ordered via UNESCO, KIT and BGR. Digital versions of the map are available for download on the WHYMAP website.