IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON LEACHING SOIL CONTAMINATION

The influence of climate change on leaching of contamination in soil was evaluated using vadose zone modeling. Historical monthly temperature and precipitation data for Newark, New Jersey was utilized to create 112 model scenarios. These simulations covered 14 different soil types that spanned 8 climate periods from 1931 to 2050. Monthly temperature and precipitation parameters for the year 2050 were forecast based on historical trends.

Modeling results using benzene as a contaminant indicate a trend towards increased leaching in permeable soils driven by higher rates of precipitation. In contrast, elevated temperatures in very fine clay soil led to increased volatilization, thereby reducing threats to groundwater quality. Silty soils, on the other hand, displayed minimal sensitivity to climate change for leaching of benzene. Our research suggests that the impact of climate change on soil leaching poses the greatest threat to our most productive aquifers.