Guy Parker is a technical specialist in groundwater flooding from chalk aquifers with over 20 years experience in flood incident management. In this episode he shares his knowledge and provides a brilliant guide to how chalk works and the unique way it affects groundwater flooding.

A huge swathe of the UK sits on top of chalk aquifers and this is a key part of how the nation stays supplied with water. But, chalk reacts in very specific ways to water, and, with climate change affecting weather patterns, there are knock-on effects to the interaction between chalk, groundwater levels and flooding.

This episode is as knowledge-filled as it is fascinating. An essential listen for anyone involved with groundwater, flooding or water (and a genuinely revealing and thoroughly interesting listen for anyone who likes to understand "how things work"), Guy has a great way of making detailed scientific information very accessible.

From the chemical composition of chalk, to how it was formed, why pores and fractures matter... to stories of Guy on horseback earlier in his career following streams uphill to map the water table, this episode is engaging and insightful.

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