Country: Nature Notes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AFTER SUCH torrents of rain it seems extraordinary that ground- water levels are still not as high as the authorities would like. The weather has been doing its best to top up underground aquifers, but in many areas there is still some way to go.
Experts estimate that probably only a fifth of all rainfall is "effective" - that is, it reaches subterranean storage areas. The rest evaporates, is taken up by plants and trees, or runs off down rivers. After prolonged dry spells, such as we have had in recent years, the top layer of soil must become saturated before moisture can start dripping down into the lower strata.
Then gradually water sinks into porous rock such as sandstone, whose individual grains are circular, or into the cracks and fissures of hard rock like limestone. Depending on depth, and on the density of the stratum, the process can take from weeks to tens of thousands of years.
The amount of water stored beneath Britain is immense. The main chalk aquifer alone stretches from the Dorset coast all the way to North Yorkshire. It has been calculated that, in the chalk and sandstone, the top 20 metres alone contain about 20 times as much water as all the surface reservoirs in the kingdom put together.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments