Analysis of groundwater temperature measurements of the Hydrological Service

Monitoring of groundwater temperature is directly used in monitoring and analysis of the energy balance of groundwater. Due to the tracer characteristics of heat, groundwater temperatures can also serve as indicators for groundwater flow processes. They can be used to study natural flow processes as well as to assess the impacts of measures that influence the heat balance of groundwater, such as inflitration of cooling water, effects of waste dump sites, constructions, heat pumps or changes in the atmospheric heat exchange due to changes in landuse. In the current project we will analyse the records and sites of groundwater temeperature measurements that are operated by the Austrian Hydrological Service. We will assess whether the current monitoring network and the collected data are suitable for studying the problems mentioned above. Further, we will identify areas with a need for densified monitoring of groundwater temperature.