Book Review/
Alan Fryar/Book Editor
Hydrogeology: Objectives, Methods, Applications reviewed by Yu-Feng F. Lin
Hydrogeology: Objectives, Methods, Applications, by the ´ Gilli, Christian Mangan, and Jacques French scholars Eric Mudry (2012), was translated into English by Chlo´e Fandel of the United States. This book is an introduction to hydrogeology intended for students in both science and nonscience majors that emphasizes applications in Europe, particularly France. The contents are organized into four major sections to deliver a wide coverage of the objectives, methods, and applications in hydrogeology: Concepts, Tools and Methods, Water Resources, and Engineering. This book utilizes a novel structure for organizing the hydrogeology content at a basic level. Its four-part structure seems to be specifically targeting readers and students from various backgrounds, such as from resource management, Earth sciences, social sciences, and civil engineering. The book begins with a chapter on etymology and an interesting historical timeline, from Biblical times (“The Bible describes Moses striking a rock to bring forth a spring; could this be a religious example of the diviner’s dowsing rod?”) to the birth of hydrogeology in 1797, to the Martian water circulation from recent space exploration. This introduction is unlike hydrogeology textbooks in North America, which usually emphasize fundamental principles and concepts with a few exceptions that include the history of the discipline in rather limited ways (e.g., Domenico and Schwartz 1997; Deming 2002), as Fryar (2013) pointed out. The writing style fits the “communication modes of the 21st century” (Hunt and Schwartz 2014), with short paragraphs and short sections. Some of the one- and two-sentence paragraphs clearly demonstrate a modern writing style (e.g., spotlight articles and digital media). In contrast, the figures and tables are all in traditional grayscale format instead of utilizing digital illustrations to deliver the information, the latter of which might be a good modification for a possible next edition. Despite its unconventional structure, this book offers broad coverage of fundamental principles and Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 615 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820; [email protected] © 2014, National Ground Water Association. doi: 10.1111/gwat.12282
NGWA.org
methodologies in traditional and nonquantitative approaches, ranging from Darcy’s law and Turc’s equation to isotope and microbiologic analyses and artificial groundwater recharge. Aquifer systems with various characteristics, such as fractured, karst, and coastal, are also introduced. Most of the examples used in this book are from Europe, especially from France, which is logical based on the origin of the authors. Few case studies are included from other regions in the world, and most of the reference information is limited to French or European applications. For instance, Chapter B1 on tools and methods of hydrogeology includes maps and databases available only from French agencies, and Chapter C3 provides water quality standards for the European Union. Readers need to be cautious about some general statements that are also based in the French context, such as “Groundwater is not greatly used in energy production” (Chapter B3-3.2: “Cooling Thermal and Nuclear Power Plants”). Readers will also find some incorrect technical details within a good overall qualitative description. For example, the MODFLOW code, which was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and is freely distributed online, was mistakenly implied to have the capability of solving contaminant transport and to be distributed by Waterloo. Despite this, Chapter B3-8.1 offers a good overall introduction to deterministic models, although the coverage of numerical computation, mathematical principles, and statistical analysis is very limited. In summary, this book is recommended for readers who are seeking a nonquantitative, multidisciplinary introduction to hydrogeology presented in an unconventional manner, especially those who are interested in European applications and studies. Several current high-profile topics that are either directly or indirectly connected to hydrogeology are also included. For example, the book includes discussions on energy (e.g., geothermal energy, hydraulic energy, hydroelectricity, and nuclear waste) and sustainability (e.g., anthropogenic impacts, socioeconomic importance, and international conflicts surrounding water resources) in different chapters. These topics also make the book an enjoyable read for the general public, in addition to its use as a textbook. It would not be surprising to see other recent topics, such as
Vol. 52, No. 6–Groundwater–November-December 2014
815
geological carbon sequestration and hydraulic fracturing, included in a later updated edition. Readers from outside of Europe might feel distanced from the applications and should note some minor mistakes in information related to topics outside of Europe.
References Deming, D. 2002. Introduction to Hydrogeology, Vol. 480. New York: McGraw-Hill. Domenico, P.A., and F.W. Schwartz. 1997. Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology, 2nd ed., Vol. 528. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
816
Groundwater 52, no. 6: 815–816
Fryar, A.E. 2013. History of the Development of Hydrogeology in the United States (2nd Edition) and History of Hydrogeology. Groundwater 51: 813–814. DOI:10.1111/gwat.12123. ´ C. Mangan, and J. Mudry. 2012. Hydrogeology: Gilli, E., Objectives, Methods, Applications, Vol. 394. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. Hunt, R.J., and F.W. Schwartz. 2014. For whom do we write? Suggestions for getting read in the 21st century. Groundwater 52: 163–164. DOI:10.1111/gwat.12167.
NGWA.org
Alan Fryar/Book Editor
Hydrogeology: Objectives, Methods, Applications reviewed by Yu-Feng F. Lin
Hydrogeology: Objectives, Methods, Applications, by the ´ Gilli, Christian Mangan, and Jacques French scholars Eric Mudry (2012), was translated into English by Chlo´e Fandel of the United States. This book is an introduction to hydrogeology intended for students in both science and nonscience majors that emphasizes applications in Europe, particularly France. The contents are organized into four major sections to deliver a wide coverage of the objectives, methods, and applications in hydrogeology: Concepts, Tools and Methods, Water Resources, and Engineering. This book utilizes a novel structure for organizing the hydrogeology content at a basic level. Its four-part structure seems to be specifically targeting readers and students from various backgrounds, such as from resource management, Earth sciences, social sciences, and civil engineering. The book begins with a chapter on etymology and an interesting historical timeline, from Biblical times (“The Bible describes Moses striking a rock to bring forth a spring; could this be a religious example of the diviner’s dowsing rod?”) to the birth of hydrogeology in 1797, to the Martian water circulation from recent space exploration. This introduction is unlike hydrogeology textbooks in North America, which usually emphasize fundamental principles and concepts with a few exceptions that include the history of the discipline in rather limited ways (e.g., Domenico and Schwartz 1997; Deming 2002), as Fryar (2013) pointed out. The writing style fits the “communication modes of the 21st century” (Hunt and Schwartz 2014), with short paragraphs and short sections. Some of the one- and two-sentence paragraphs clearly demonstrate a modern writing style (e.g., spotlight articles and digital media). In contrast, the figures and tables are all in traditional grayscale format instead of utilizing digital illustrations to deliver the information, the latter of which might be a good modification for a possible next edition. Despite its unconventional structure, this book offers broad coverage of fundamental principles and Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 615 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820; [email protected] © 2014, National Ground Water Association. doi: 10.1111/gwat.12282
NGWA.org
methodologies in traditional and nonquantitative approaches, ranging from Darcy’s law and Turc’s equation to isotope and microbiologic analyses and artificial groundwater recharge. Aquifer systems with various characteristics, such as fractured, karst, and coastal, are also introduced. Most of the examples used in this book are from Europe, especially from France, which is logical based on the origin of the authors. Few case studies are included from other regions in the world, and most of the reference information is limited to French or European applications. For instance, Chapter B1 on tools and methods of hydrogeology includes maps and databases available only from French agencies, and Chapter C3 provides water quality standards for the European Union. Readers need to be cautious about some general statements that are also based in the French context, such as “Groundwater is not greatly used in energy production” (Chapter B3-3.2: “Cooling Thermal and Nuclear Power Plants”). Readers will also find some incorrect technical details within a good overall qualitative description. For example, the MODFLOW code, which was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and is freely distributed online, was mistakenly implied to have the capability of solving contaminant transport and to be distributed by Waterloo. Despite this, Chapter B3-8.1 offers a good overall introduction to deterministic models, although the coverage of numerical computation, mathematical principles, and statistical analysis is very limited. In summary, this book is recommended for readers who are seeking a nonquantitative, multidisciplinary introduction to hydrogeology presented in an unconventional manner, especially those who are interested in European applications and studies. Several current high-profile topics that are either directly or indirectly connected to hydrogeology are also included. For example, the book includes discussions on energy (e.g., geothermal energy, hydraulic energy, hydroelectricity, and nuclear waste) and sustainability (e.g., anthropogenic impacts, socioeconomic importance, and international conflicts surrounding water resources) in different chapters. These topics also make the book an enjoyable read for the general public, in addition to its use as a textbook. It would not be surprising to see other recent topics, such as
Vol. 52, No. 6–Groundwater–November-December 2014
815
geological carbon sequestration and hydraulic fracturing, included in a later updated edition. Readers from outside of Europe might feel distanced from the applications and should note some minor mistakes in information related to topics outside of Europe.
References Deming, D. 2002. Introduction to Hydrogeology, Vol. 480. New York: McGraw-Hill. Domenico, P.A., and F.W. Schwartz. 1997. Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology, 2nd ed., Vol. 528. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
816
Groundwater 52, no. 6: 815–816
Fryar, A.E. 2013. History of the Development of Hydrogeology in the United States (2nd Edition) and History of Hydrogeology. Groundwater 51: 813–814. DOI:10.1111/gwat.12123. ´ C. Mangan, and J. Mudry. 2012. Hydrogeology: Gilli, E., Objectives, Methods, Applications, Vol. 394. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. Hunt, R.J., and F.W. Schwartz. 2014. For whom do we write? Suggestions for getting read in the 21st century. Groundwater 52: 163–164. DOI:10.1111/gwat.12167.
NGWA.org
