Ground water resources and earthquake hazards: Ancient and modern perspectives

Abstract

Hydrologic responses to earthquakes such as water level oscillations in monitoring wells and flow changes in streams have been known for decades. However, damage to aquifers and changes in groundwater supplies represents an earthquake hazard that has received relatively little attention from the scientific community. Yet, its impact is high as it leaves well infrastructure without water, results in water pollution, and creates a threat to public health in the aftermath of earthquakes. Although there are relatively few documented cases of the effects of seismic activity on aquifers and groundwater in both the ancient written record and in archaeological studies dealing with the consequences of earthquakes, the use of modern seismic examples and technology could allow for new interpretations of ancient disasters. This chapter reviews known documented modern cases of groundwater supply damages and attempts to analyze similar ancient occurrences in Crete during the Bronze Age. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.