乌梁素海悬浮颗粒物和沉积物有机碳同位素特征及来源

悬浮颗粒物和沉积物是湖泊有机污染物的主要承载物质,其稳定同位素研究对有效识别有机质污染导致的湖泊富营养化具有重要意义.本研究选取乌梁素海为研究区,于2019年4月（融冰期）、7月（夏灌期）和10月（秋灌期）对湖区及入湖渠道的表层沉积物和悬浮颗粒物中有机碳的δ¹³C、C/N比及总有机碳（TOC、POC）和总氮（TON、PON）含量进行测定分析,联合采用δ¹³C、C/N及同位素多元混合模型研究湖泊有机碳来源及其贡献率.结果表明,乌梁素海悬浮颗粒物有机碳δ¹³C_POC的变化范围为-23.29‰~-29.75‰,呈现10月>4月>7月、入湖渠道>湖区的趋势,悬浮颗粒物POC/PON比变化范围为4.10~21.35,呈现出4月<7月<10月的时间变化,悬浮颗粒有机质主要来源于浮游植物（51.59%）、入湖渠道泥沙（34.60%）和大型水生植物（13.76%）.沉积物有机碳δ¹³C_TOC变化范围为-27.58‰~-22.68‰,呈现4月<10月<7月的变化,沉积物TOC/TON比变化范围为3.06~23.77,时空变化明显,沉积物有机质则主要源于入湖渠道挟带的泥沙,贡献达72.79%以上,而浮游植物与大型水生植物的贡献率相差较小,分别为11.85%和15.36%.本研究可以初步判定受入湖渠道影响的富营养化湖泊中悬浮颗粒物和沉积物有机碳来源,为改善湖泊有机污染和研究有机碳来源提供更多理解.     

中国松辽盆地商业天然气的非生物成因烷烃气体

阐述了自然界不同物质来源、不同成烃环境和不同成烃机制, 形成的各类烷烃气体的碳、氢同位素动力学分馏效应及其同位素组成和分布特征. 指出复杂高分子沉积有机质经生物降解作用和热降解作用形成细菌成因气和热成因气. 细菌成因甲烷δ¹³C₁, -110‰~-50‰; 热成因甲烷δ¹³C₁, -50‰~-35‰(或更重). 受同位素动力学分馏效应的制约, 细菌成因和热成因烷烃的碳氢同位素δ¹³C值和δD值均具有正序分布特征, 即δ¹³C₁< δ¹³C₂< δ¹³C₃< δ¹³C₄和δD_CH4< δ D_C2H6< δD_C3H8< δD_C4H10, 且二者之间具正相关关系. 自然界非生物化学过程, 由简单含碳分子(CH₄, CO, 和CO₂)经聚合反应生成的非生物成因烷烃气体, 甲烷的δ¹³C₁值大于-30‰. 受其同位素动力学分馏效应的制约, 烷烃气体的碳同位素δ¹³C值具反序分布特征, 氢同位素δD值则具有正序分布特征, 即δ¹³C₁> δ¹³C₂> δ¹³C₃> δ¹³C₄和δD_CH4< δD_C2H6< δD_C3H8< δD_C4H10, 且二者之间具负相关关系. 分布于中国松辽盆地徐家围子断陷和莺山-庙台子断陷的26口商业天然气井, 天然气的甲烷碳同位素δ¹³C₁值为-30.5‰~-16.7‰, 氢同位素d D值的变化范围极窄, 为-203‰~-196‰. 烷烃碳同位素δ¹³C值具反序分布特征, 氢同位素δD值具正序分布特征. 烷烃碳同位素δ¹³C值和氢同位素δD值之间具负相关关系, 显示了非生物成因特征. 研究表明, 在自然界不仅存在非生物成因甲烷, 而且作为能源气体, 非生物成因烷烃气体还能聚集形成有商业价值的天然气藏. 据估算松辽盆地26口具非生物成因特征的天然气井的储量超过500×10⁸ m³. 松辽盆地勘探实践表明非生物成因天然气具有良好的资源前景, 为在世界范围内研究和寻找非生物成因商业天然气提供了典型实例.     

鄱阳湖候鸟栖息地湖泊悬浮有机质的碳氮分布及来源分析——以大湖池和沙湖为例

以江西鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区的2个湖泊——大湖池和沙湖为研究对象,分析不同季节和水位悬浮有机质的碳氮稳定同位素（δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N）及碳氮比值（C/N）的变化特征,甄别悬浮有机质的来源.结果表明：在不同水位条件下,悬浮有机质的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N均存在差异显著性.沙湖5月水位上涨时,悬浮有机质δ¹³C最正,均值为-26.4‰±0.9‰,10月退水后,δ¹³C最负,均值为-31.2‰±1.1‰.悬浮有机质δ¹⁵N值在5月和8月较低（范围为3.5‰~5.5‰）,10月也相对较低,均值为6.1‰±0.6‰,而12月相对较高（7.3‰~10.8‰）.悬浮有机质C/N值在10月最低,均值为6.5±0.6,小于7,与其他各月的C/N有显著差异,而其他各月C/N在7.8~8.7之间,不存在显著差异.大湖池悬浮有机质δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N各月的变化趋势与沙湖类似,并且两个湖泊在相同月份的δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N或C/N均不存在显著差异,但大湖池的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N比沙湖的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N均值略偏正0.1‰~0.5‰,C/N比沙湖的C/N略偏低0~0.4.有机δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N结合C/N示踪表明,大湖池和沙湖的悬浮有机质在5月水位上涨和8月丰水期主要来源于河流运输的土壤有机质,表层沉积物对5月悬浮有机质也有一定贡献（16%）,水生浮叶植物对8月悬浮有机质有一定贡献（25%）;10月秋季退水后悬浮有机质主要来源于藻类（77%）,表层沉积物有一定贡献（23%）;12、3和4月冬、春季枯水期悬浮有机质主要来源于表层沉积物,候鸟粪便对12月悬浮有机质有较大贡献（40%）,湿地植物碎屑对3和4月有较大贡献（47%和51%）.     

水位变化对干涸湖底沉积物有机碳矿化的影响

人为干扰和气候变化会改变湖泊水位状态,明确不同水位条件下湖泊沉积物有机碳矿化特征及其影响因素,对了解内陆水生态系统碳循环具有重要意义.为探究干旱区典型盐湖沉积物有机碳矿化速率对水位变化的响应,以巴里坤湖干涸湖底原状沉积物为研究对象,初步探究了0（T1）、-9（T2）、-23（T3）、-34（T4）和-45 cm（T5）水位处理对沉积物有机碳矿化速率的影响.结果表明,T1、T2和T3处理有机碳矿化速率在试验初期较高（0~10 d）,10 d后缓慢下降,T4和T5处理有机碳矿化速率呈先增加后降低趋势;T1（1.718 μmol/（m²·s））与T3（1.784 μmol/（m²·s））处理有机碳矿化速率不存在显著差异,T1处理有机碳矿化速率是T2、T4和T5处理的1.09、3.31和3.57倍,不同处理有机碳累积矿化量表现为T3 > T1 > T2 > T4 > T5.有机碳累积矿化量（C_t）占沉积物有机碳（C₀）的比例（C_t/C₀）介于0.012~0.044之间,沉积物有机碳潜在排放量（C_i）占C₀的比例（C_i/C₀）介于0.018~0.045之间;水位降低,沉积物有机碳矿化常数（k值）减小,T1处理k值最大（0.137 d）,T4处理最小（0.032 d）.线性方程C_r=0.008x+0.488能较好地模拟有机碳矿化速率（C_r）与水位（x）的关系;不同水位处理有机碳矿化速率与模拟柱中沉积物5 cm温度呈显著的指数函数关系,T4、T5处理有机碳矿化温度敏感系数（Q₁₀）显著高于T1、T2和T3处理,即水位降低增加了巴里坤湖干涸湖底沉积物Q₁₀.因此,就巴里坤湖干涸湖底沉积物而言,水位从0 cm降至-45 cm时有机碳矿化速率降低,Q₁₀增加;反之水位上升则会促进有机碳矿化分解,Q₁₀降低.水位持续下降抑制有机碳矿化可能是维持干旱区盐湖沉积物碳库稳定的机制之一.     

210Pbex沉积通量突发增大对湖泊生产力的指示

²¹⁰Pb沉积计年的基本假设是大气沉降并经由湖水转入沉积物的²¹⁰Pb_ex 通量稳定. 当沉积速率相对稳定时, 沉积物中²¹⁰Pb_ex 的比活度将随沉积年代呈指数衰减. 湖泊水体中的²¹⁰Pb_ex 主要随有机微粒的沉降而进入沉积物. 如果湖泊水体中有机质沉积通量出现突发增大时, 则可能显著地增大²¹⁰Pb_ex 被清洗而转入沉积物的通量. 这种突发性清洗效应, 一方面显然不符合²¹⁰Pb沉积计年的基本前提; 另一方面可能指示湖泊水体初级生产力的明显变化. 根据云南程海近代沉积物²¹⁰Pb_ex 垂直剖面的特殊变化, 对这一问题进行讨论. 沉积物柱芯于1997年6月采自程海深水湖区. ¹³⁷Cs比活度垂直剖面呈现出3峰特征, 给出了可靠的计年结果并显示出近几十年间沉积物堆积的稳定性. 而²¹⁰Pb_ex 比活度垂直剖面呈现出特异的峰值分布, 并与Corg垂直剖面相似. 这一现象可能与制约²¹⁰Pb_ex 转入沉积物的机制有关. 程海沉积物中H_org/C_org和C_org/N_org原子比平均值分别为5.51和7.04, 表明其有机质主要源于内生藻类残骸. 根据沉积物有机质“沉降-降解-堆积”的3阶段特征, 模拟计算出1970年以来有机碳C_org的沉积通量(F(C_org)). 不同年代²¹⁰Pb_ex 的沉积通量(F(²¹⁰Pb_ex ))与F(C_org)显示出很好的同步关系. 特别是1972～1974年和1986～1989年的两个时段, 二者同步增大. F(C_org)的变化导致F(²¹⁰Pb_ex )的变化; F (²¹⁰Pb_ex)的变化在一定程度上反映出湖泊生产力的历史变化.     

末次冰期以来雷州半岛北部C3/C4植物相对丰度变化及其驱动因素

末次冰期以来陆地植被中C₃/C₄植物相对丰度变化及其驱动因素是当前古生态古气候研究中的重要内容.本文利用雷州半岛北部下录和屋山两处泥炭沉积有机碳同位素组成(δ¹³C_org)重建了该区域末次冰期以来C₃/C₄植物相对丰度演化历史,并探讨了其可能的驱动因素.结果表明,在MIS-3阶段初期,屋山地区的植被以C₃和C₄混合植被为主,在此后的MIS-3阶段绝大部分时期,下录和屋山地区的植被主要为C₃植被,在个别时段C₄植物也曾一度有所扩张;在MIS-2阶段,下录地区C₃植物含量显著降低,区域植被以C₄植物为主;在全新世初期,下录地区的C₃植物含量呈现出增加趋势,气候环境变得有利于C₃植物生长.对比研究表明,由于在末次冰期乃至冰期最盛期阶段,雷州半岛地区的气温下降幅度可能仅在5~8℃左右,温度足以满足C₃/C₄植物的生长需要,从而使得受东亚夏季风强度直接影响的降水增多或减少成为控制本区域C₃/C₄植物相对丰度变化的主导因素.此外,大气CO₂浓度可能对该地区C₃/C₄植物相对丰度变化也具有一定的影响.     

东北地区典型湖沼沉积物溶解态有机质组成特征及来源解析：以库里泡为例

溶解态有机质(DOM)是湖泊沉积物的重要组分,解析DOM的组成和来源对于深入理解湖泊有机质生物地球化学循环及控制水体富营养化具有重要意义。 本研究于2021年5月和8月采集了大庆市库里泡表层及柱状沉积物、泡内水生物(浮游藻类、挺水植物和沉水植物)、岸边土壤、陆生C3和C4植物、禽畜粪便以及城镇污水等样品,分析了样品DOM的稳定同位素(δ¹³C 和 δ¹⁵N)组成及三维荧光光谱特征,并利用IsoSource软件计算了不同来源样品对沉积物DOM的贡献率。结果显示:(1)库里泡内表层沉积物DOM的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N组成存在季节性差异,5月δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N均值分别为-25.54‰和9.02‰,8月分别为-26.81‰和8.40‰。(2)库里泡内柱状沉积物DOM的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N组成在垂直方向存在差异,表层(0~3 cm)δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N均值分别为-26.58‰和9.04‰,深层(3~30 cm)均值分别为-25.40‰和10.61‰。(3)表层沉积物DOM的三维荧光组分存在季节性差异。5月以类腐殖质荧光组分为主,占比为87.89%,HIX和BIX分别为6.27和0.67;8月蛋白类荧光组分占比为49.58%,HIX和BIX指数均值分别为1.72和0.87。(4)5月表层沉积物DOM外源输入占比为61%,以土壤(21.40%)和城镇污水(18.08%)为主;而8月内源贡献占比稍高(55.10%),且以挺水植物为主(48.68%)。(5)柱状沉积物(0~30 cm)不同深度DOM来源组成相近,主要为城镇污水、沉水植物/藻和挺水植物,贡献率均值分别为42.13%、25.07%和18.53%。整体上,库里泡沉积物DOM来源主要受到流域内人类活动及气候特征的影响,本文研究结果有利于加深对我国东北地区湖泊沉积物有机质迁移转化及累积规律的认识。     

Cascadia边缘与天然气水合物共生沉积物中有机质碳、氮同位素组成及意义

Hydrate Ridge南高点ODP204航次5个站位54个沉积物样品中有机碳C, N同位素组成及C/N比值表明沉积物中的有机质主要来自海洋. 对1245B孔的系统分析表明天然气水合物的发育改变了沉积物中有机碳和氮同位素的成岩演化轨迹, 水合物发育处δ¹⁵N值和C/N比值同时变低, 且δ¹³C值相对较重; 在水合物稳定带内δ¹⁵N值的亏损将近2‰. 水合物发育处沉积物中氮含量的增加和δ¹⁵N值的亏损, 推断可能与天然气水合物发育处沉积物中细菌(包括古细菌)的固氮作用有关. 沉积物中有机质中碳、氮同位素的分布与沉积环境的变化同步响应, 同时亦反映流体活动的变化.     

富营养化对湖泊消费者群落碳源和氮源的影响——以白洋淀为例

富营养化对湖泊生态系统能流和物流的影响具有不确定性,多数研究仅关注富营养化对浅水湖泊食物网结构和功能的影响,而富营养化对消费者群落碳源和氮源的影响及其时空分异特征较少关注.鉴于此,本研究选取华北平原最大的浅水富营养化湖泊——白洋淀为研究区,依据生境理化参数将白洋淀划分为3类生境（生境1（Ⅰ和Ⅱ区）主要遭受上游府河废水排放影响;生境2（Ⅴ、Ⅶ和Ⅷ区）主要遭受水产养殖和生活污水的影响;生境3（Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅵ区）遭受人为干扰较小）.在2018年4月和8月分别收集了浮游生物、底栖生物和鱼类样品,运用碳、氮稳定同位素技术定量估算3类生境中底栖和浮游生物对消费者群落碳源和氮源贡献百分比的时空分异特征;同时收集水体和沉积物样品进行常规理化参数分析,明晰富营养化对白洋淀消费者群落碳源和氮源贡献百分比的影响.结果表明：1）就水体和沉积物理化参数季节变化而言,除pH相对稳定外,化学需氧量（COD）、沉积物氨氮（NH₃-Ns）、总氮（TN）和沉积物总磷（TPs）4月高于8月,而其他理化参数则8月高于4月;就空间分布而言,温度（T）、水深（WD）、溶解氧（DO）和沉积物总碳（TCs）值在生境3中最高,而其他理化参数的值则在生境1中最高;2）就δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N空间分布而言,对于同一群落,δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N在3类生境中富集程度呈现显著差异;就时间分布而言,不同季节消费者群落的δ¹³C值存在显著差异,而δ¹⁵N值未呈现显著差异,且消费者群落的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N呈显著负相关;3）就消费者营养级的空间分布而言,3类生境存在显著差异,同一消费者营养级在生境1中最高,在生境3中最低;就时间分布而言,消费者营养级未呈现显著差异;4）浮游生物对消费者群落碳源和氮源贡献百分比4月高于8月,生境1高于其他生境;而底栖生物对消费者群落碳源和氮源贡献百分比则8月高于4月,生境3高于其他生境;5）通过相关分析,结果表明白洋淀消费者群落的δ¹³C与总磷（TP）、TCs、沉积物总氮（TNs）、总有机碳（TOCs）、TPs呈现负相关关系;δ¹⁵N值与TP、TCs、TNs、TOCs、TPs呈正相关关系.因此,湖泊富营养化会影响消费者群落的碳源和氮源,进而改变湖泊生态系统的能流和物流.     

青藏高原中部全新世气候变化的湖泊沉积地球化学记录

通过青藏高原中部兹格塘错湖泊沉积物总碳(TC)、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总硫(TS)、氢指数(HI)、氧指数(OI)和有机质的碳同位素(δ¹³C_org)等多项指标的综合分析, 在判断沉积物中有机质来源的基础上, 根据各指标的变化特征阐明了各自的气候指示意义, 建立了兹格塘错全新世以来的古气候演化序列. 10100 cal a BP兹格塘错地区进入全新世, 全新世早中期为暖湿气候特征, 在8600~8400和7400~7000 cal a BP发生两次强烈冷事件; 中晚全新世以来气候变冷变干. 这一气候演化过程与其邻近的错鄂的研究结果相近, 代表了青藏高原中部全新世的气候演化特点. 青藏高原中部全新世气候变化主要受太阳辐射控制.     

Changes in sediment transport in the Kuye River in the Loess Plateau in China

In this paper, the changes in sediment transport over 51 years from 1955 to 2006 in the Kuye River in the Loess Plateau in China are assessed. Key factors affecting sediment yield and sediment transport, such as precipitation depth, discharge, and human activities are studied. To investigate the changes in sediment yield in this watershed, a trend analysis on sediment concentration, precipitation depth, and discharge is conducted. Precipitation depths at 2 Climate Stations （CSs）, as well as discharge and sediment transport at 3 Gauging Stations （GSs） are used to assess the features of sediment transport in the Kuye River. The rtmoff modulus （defined as the annual average discharge per unit area, L/（s·km^2）） and the sediment transport modulus （defined as the annual suspended sediment transport per unit area, t/（yr km^2）） are introduced in this study to assess the changes in runoff and sediment yield for this watershed. The results show that the highest average monthly discharge during the study period in the Kuye River is 66.23 m^3/s in August with an average monthly sediment concentration of 88.9 kg/m^3. However, the highest average monthly sediment concentration during the study period in the Kuye River is 125.34 kg/m^3 and occurs in July, which has an average discharge of 42.6 m^3/s that is much less than the average monthly discharge in August. It is found that both the runoff modulus and sediment transport modulus at Wenjiachuan GS on the Kuye River has a clear downward trend. During the summer season from July to August, the sediment transport modulus at Wenjiachuan GS is much higher than those at Toudaoguai and Longmen GSs on the Yellow River. The easily erodible loess in the Kuye River watershed and the sparse vegetation are responsible for the extremely high sediment yield from the Kuye River watershed. The analyses of the grain size distribution of suspended load in the Kuye River are presented. The average monthly median grain size of suspended load in the Kuye River is largest in February and then decreases until June. In July, the average monthly median grain size of suspended load approaches another peak and decreases until September. Then, the median grain size of suspended load starts to increase until February of the following year. However, the average monthly median grain size of suspended load in the Yellow River at Toudaoguai and Longmen GSs is the smallest between early summer and late fall The median grain size in the Yellow River starts to increase in November and approaches the largest size in January.     

TritiogenicHe in groundwater in Takaoka

³He/⁴He ratios up to 3.5 times the ratio of atmospheric He were found in groundwater samples. The³He enrichment can be attributed to radiogenic³He produced by in-situ beta-decay of³H. This shows that tritiogenic³He is accumulating in confined waters. From tritiogenic³He and³H concentrations, ages of groundwaters can be calculated. Detection of tritiogenic³He gives a tool to trace a tritium contamination which occurred in the past and cannot be assessed only by the³H counting method.     

Projected changes in flood indices in selected catchments in Poland in the 21st century

The aim of this study is to estimate likely changes in flood indices under a future climate and to assess the uncertainty in these estimates for selected catchments in Poland. Precipitation and temperature time series from climate simulations from the EURO-CORDEX initiative for the periods 1971–2000, 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 following the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios have been used to produce hydrological simulations based on the HBV hydrological model. As the climate model outputs for Poland are highly biased, post processing in the form of bias correction was first performed so that the climate time series could be applied in hydrological simulations at a catchment-scale. The results indicate that bias correction significantly improves flow simulations and estimated flood indices based on comparisons with simulations from observed climate data for the control period. The estimated changes in the mean annual flood and in flood quantiles under a future climate indicate a large spread in the estimates both within and between the catchments. An ANOVA analysis was used to assess the relative contributions of the 2 emission scenarios, the 7 climate models and the 4 bias correction methods to the total spread in the projected changes in extreme river flow indices for each catchment. The analysis indicates that the differences between climate models generally make the largest contribution to the spread in the ensemble of the three factors considered. The results for bias corrected data show small differences between the four bias correction methods considered, and, in contrast with the results for uncorrected simulations, project increases in flood indices for most catchments under a future climate.     

Variations in trace gas concentrations in different environments in India

Observations of trace gases (SO₂, NH₃, NO₂ and O₃) were made during the period 1981 to 1984 at 6 different locations representative of urban industrial, urban, nonurban, thermal power plant and marine environment. Diurnal variations of the trace gases were studied in an urban environment. Except in the urban industrial environment, the concentration of NH₃ was found in the range of background values. Also, the average concentrations of NO₂ and O₃ at the different environments were in the order of background values. However, the concentrations of SO₂ were substantially higher by about 7 times, in urban industrial and thermal power plant environments. The diurnal variations of SO₂, NH₃ and NO₂ showed anitphase relationship with surface temperature at the urban environment station which is relatively free of industrial pollution. Discussion is centred on trace gas variations in different environments in India together with the values reported for various countries in the world.     

Copper in natural waters in Transbaikalia

Cu concentrations in surface (river and lake) and subsurface waters are determined. The geographic pattern of Cu distribution in natural water is identified. This pattern is controlled by the difference between its concentrations in drained rocks and soils and the geochemical redox conditions of its migration. Territories with low, medium, and elevated Cu concentrations in natural waters are identified. The concentrations of Cu in natural waters of the region are found to be generally lower than the Clarke values.     

Changes in thermal extremes in Poland

Changes in thermal extremes of the climate of Poland in 1951–2010 are examined. Warm extremes have become more frequent, while cold extremes have become less frequent. In the warming climate of Poland, the increase in the number of extremely warm days in a year and the decrease in the number of extremely cold days in a year have been observed. Also the increase of the maximum number of consecutive hot days in a year and the decrease of the maximum number of consecutive very cold and extremely cold days in a year have been observed. However, the trends are not of ubiquitous statistic significance, as the natural variability is strong.     

Hydrological changes in the Ganges system in Bangladesh in the post-Farakka period

Abstract

The basin area of the Ganges River in Bangladesh is extremely dependent on a regular water supply from upstream to meet requirements for agriculture, fisheries, navigation, salinity control, and domestic and industrial sectors. In 1975, India commissioned a barrage on the Ganges River at Farakka to divert a significant portion of the dry season flow in order to make the Calcutta Port navigable. Statistical analyses of discharge and water level data have been carried out to determine if significant changes have occurred in the hydrology of the Ganges system in Bangladesh in the post-Farakka period. Siltation of the Gorai River (an offtake of the Ganges River) has also been examined using the stage-discharge relationship and regression analysis. The analyses show that the diversion has caused considerable hydrological changes in the Ganges system in Bangladesh. The water supply in the dry season has been reduced substantially, while siltation of the Gorai River has increased significantly.     

Applied volcanology in geothermal exploration in Iceland

In an active spreading area like Iceland, where the regional geothermal gradient is in the range 50–150°C/km, it is normally not a problem to find high enough temperature with deep drilling, but the difficulties arise with finding permeable layers at depth within the strata. Various volcanological methods can be applied in the search for aquifers and geothermal reservoir rocks. The flow pattern (as deduced from deuterium studies) indicates that the thermal water flows preferentially along high porosity stratiform horizons and dyke swarms from the recharge areas in the highlands to the hot spring areas in the lowlands. The primary porosity of the volcanic strata is dependent on the chemical composition and the mode of eruption of the volcanic units. Both the reservoir rocks and the flow channels forming the geothermal plumbing system are thought to vary from the Tertiary to the Quaternary provinces due to environmental conditions at the eruptive sites.