stalagmites

lake cave margaret river

South-west Australia relies on groundwater for three-quarters of its water use. But a new study of the region’s caves has found a drying climate is having a dramatic impact on this precious resource.

Pauline Treble and Katie Coleborn in Yonderup Cave

A stalagmite in Western Australia has revealed regular, low-intensity fires before European arrival and infrequent, high-intensity fires afterwards.

Andy Baker at the UNSW Connected Waters Initiative in Wellington NSW.

Andy Baker, who researches the water underground, has been recognised by the highly esteemed earth sciences organisation.

Two stalagmites in Yonderup Cave, Yanchep, Western Australia

To look inside a stalagmite is to look back in time tens of thousands of years to see how the Earth’s climate patterns have shaped the world we live in today.

Minaret limestone formations in Jenolan Caves, NSW

Caves are easily forgotten when fire rips through the bush, but despite their robustness the long-term impact of frequent, unprecedented fire seasons presents a new challenge for subsurface geology.

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Global trends in cave waters identify how stalagmites reveal past rainfall and drought patterns.