ESTIMATION OF LAKE EVAPORATION FROM A SHALLOW LAKE IN CENTRAL SWEDEN BY OXYGEN-18

Lake evaporation has been estimated for a shallow lake using a combination of water and isotope mass balance, accounting for the isotopic non-steady state of lake water. The main feature of the isotope method is that inflows need not be measured. Knowledge of their isotopic content is sufficient. Oxygen-18 content, i.e. (δ¹⁸O), of lake water, inflows and outflow was measured on a weekly basis, whereas for precipitation it was monitored daily. The discharge from the lake was also recorded daily. Lake water level, relative humidity, air, and lake water surface temperatures were recorded by a logger. The weather data were recorded on a small island in the lake. It was observed that the lake is isotopically well mixed. Furthermore, the atmospheric moisture was not always in isotopic equilibrium with the precipitation. Daily lake evaporation was estimated as an average of six to eight days depending upon the field logistics. Lake evaporation varied from 0.6 to about 5.4 mm/day during the experimental period. It was found that evaporation estimates are very sensitive to small variations in δ¹⁸O of lake evaporate. Induced changes of 10% in δ¹⁸O of lake evaporate caused errors in evaporation estimates of 9–31%, while similar induced changes in δ¹⁸O of inflows caused errors of 8–18%. Thus, an accurate experimental determination of δ¹⁸O of lake evaporate is relatively more important.     

Determination of groundwater discharge rates and water residence time of groundwater‐fed lakes by stable isotopes of water (18O, 2H) and radon (222Rn) mass balances

Lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) and the related water residence time are crucial parameters for quantifying lake matter budgets and assessing its vulnerability to contaminant input. Our approach utilizes the stable isotopes of water (δ¹⁸O, δ²H) and the radioisotope radon (²²²Rn) for determining long‐term average and short‐term snapshots in LGD. We conducted isotope balances for the 0.5‐km² Lake Ammelshainer See (Germany) based on measurements of lake isotope inventories and groundwater composition accompanied by good quality and comprehensive long‐term meteorological and isotopic data (precipitation) from nearby monitoring stations. The results from the steady‐state annual isotope balances that rely on only two sampling campaigns are consistent for both δ¹⁸O and δ²H and suggested an overall long‐term average LGD rate that was used to infer the water residence time of the lake. These findings were supported by the good agreement of the simulated LGD‐driven annual cycles of δ¹⁸O and δ²H lake inventories with the observed lake isotope inventories. However, radon mass balances revealed lower values that might be the result of seasonal LGD variability. For obtaining further insights into possible seasonal variability of groundwater–lake interaction, stable water isotope and radon mass balances could be conducted more frequently (e.g., monthly) in order to use the derived groundwater discharge rates as input for time‐variant isotope balances.     

Groundwater and surface water connectivity within the recharge area of Guarani aquifer system during El Niño 2014–2016

Recharge areas of the Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to climate variability; therefore, the understanding of infiltration mechanisms for aquifer recharge and surface run‐off generation represent a relevant issue for water resources management in the southeastern portion of the Brazilian territory, particularly in the Jacaré‐Pepira River watershed. The main purpose of this study is to understand the interactions between precipitation, surface water, and groundwater using stable isotopes during the strong 2014–2016 El Niño Southern Oscillation event. The large variation in the isotopic composition of precipitation (from ?9.26‰ to +0.02‰ for δ¹⁸O and from ?63.3‰ to +17.6‰ for δ²H), mainly associated with regional climatic features, was not reflected in the isotopic composition of surface water (from ?7.84‰ to ?5.83‰ for δ¹⁸O and from ?49.7‰ to +33.6‰ for δ²H), mainly due to the monthly sampling frequency, and groundwater (from ?7.04‰ to ?7.76‰ for δ¹⁸O and from ?49.5‰ to ?44.7‰ for δ²H), which exhibited less variation throughout the year. However, variations in deuterium excess (d‐excess) in groundwater and surface water suggest the occurrence of strong secondary evaporation during the infiltration process, corresponding with groundwater level recovery. Similar isotopic composition in groundwater and surface water, as well as the same temporal variations in d‐excess and line‐conditioned excess denote the strong connectivity between these two reservoirs during baseflow recession periods. Isotopic mass balance modelling and hydrograph separation estimate that the groundwater contribution varied between 70% and 80%, however, during peak flows, the isotopic mass balance tends to overestimate the groundwater contribution when compared with the other hydrograph separation methods. Our findings indicate that the application of isotopic mass balance methods for ungauged rivers draining large groundwater reservoirs, such as the GAS outcrop, could provide a powerful tool for hydrological studies in the future, helping in the identification of flow contributions to river discharge draining these areas.     

D/H and O/O ratios of water in the crater lake at Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, Japan

The D/H and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios of water in the active crater lake situated on the Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, Japan are about 20 and 6‰, respectively, higher than local meteoric water. The ratios show seasonal variations superimposed on a gradual change over nine years. The isotopic ratios started to increase in early 1990 and decrease in the spring of 1995. The seasonal variation which is high in winter and low in summer correlates with the temperature difference between lake water and ambient air. The large temperature difference in winter enhances the evaporation of lake water and produces the enriched isotopic ratios relative to the ratios in summer. The accumulation of snow and the decrease in the flux of meteoric water into the lake strengthens the winter-time isotopic enrichment. The enriched isotopic ratios of the lake water over a long time result from the addition of an end member with heavy isotopic ratios contained in a thermal fluid supplied to the lake. Considering the water balance in the lake, the isotopic ratios of the thermal fluid were found to be close to the lake water itself, suggesting the circulation of the lake water seeping through lake floor. Based on the correlation between Cl⁻concentration and the isotopic ratios, the contribution by the heavy end member was estimated to be 25–36% relative to the enrichment by evaporation. The heavy end member could be a liquid phase evolved from a parental fluid, which is a mixture of local meteoric water and a magmatic fluid as found in high-temperature volcanic gases.     

Deuterium‐excess determination of evaporation to inflow ratios of an alpine lake: Implications for water balance and modeling

The numerous lakes on the Tibetan Plateau play an important role in the regional hydrological cycle and water resources, but systematic observations of the lake water balance are scarce on the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we present a detailed study on the water cycle of Cona Lake, at the headwaters of the Nujiang‐Salween River, based on 3 years (2011–2013) of observations of δ¹⁸O and δ²H, including samples from precipitation, lake water, and outlet surface water. Short‐term atmospheric water vapor was also sampled for isotope analyses. The δ²H–δ¹⁸O relationship in lake water (δ²H = 6.67δ¹⁸O ? 20.37) differed from that of local precipitation (δ²H = 8.29δ¹⁸O + 12.50), and the deuterium excess (d‐excess) in the lake water (?7.5‰) was significantly lower than in local precipitation (10.7‰), indicating an evaporative isotope enrichment in lake water. The ratio of evaporation to inflow (E /I ) of the lake water was calculated using both d‐excess and δ¹⁸O. The E /I ratios of Cona lake ranged from 0.24 to 0.27 during the 3 years. Observations of atmospheric water vapor isotopic composition (δ _A ) improved the accuracy in E /I ratio estimate over a simple precipitation equilibrium model, though a correction factor method provided nearly identical estimates of E /I ratio. The work demonstrates the feasibility of d‐excess in the study of the water cycle for lakes in other regions of the world and provides recommendations on sampling strategies for accurate calculations of E /I ratio.     

Plant source water apportionment using stable isotopes: A comparison of simple linear,two‐compartment mixing model approaches

Plant source water identification using stable isotopes is now a common practice in ecohydrological process investigations. Notwithstanding, little critical evaluation of the approaches for source apportionment have been conducted. Here, we present a critical evaluation of the main methods used for source apportionment between vadose and saturated zone water: simple mass balance and Bayesian mixing models. We leverage new isotope stem water samples from a diverse set of tree species in a strikingly uniform terrain and soil conditions at the Christchurch Botanic Garden, New Zealand. Our results show that using δ²H alone in a simple, two‐source mass balance approach leads to erroneous results, particularly an apparent overestimation of groundwater contribution to xylem. Alternatively, using both δ²H and δ¹⁸O in a Bayesian inference framework improves the source water estimates and is more useful than the simple mass balance approach, particularly when soil and groundwater contributions are relatively disproportionate. We suggest that plant source water quantification methods should take into consideration the possible effects of ²H/¹H fractionation. The Bayesian inference approach used here may be less sensitive to ²H/¹H fractionation effects than simple mass balance methods.     

The stable isotope composition of Dead Sea waters

Dead Sea waters are moderately enriched in¹⁸O; the degree of enrichment constitutes a balance between the dilution by freshwater influx and the isotope fractionation which accompanies evaporative water loss and vapour exchange with the atmospheric moisture. Modelling of the seasonal cycle and long-term trends of δ¹⁸O, in response to the changes in the environmental parameters, shows that the major control is exercised by the salinity of the surface waters, through its effect on the vapour pressure gradient between the lake's surface and the atmosphere; the (steady state) isotopic composition of the more saline brines tends towards less enriched¹⁸O values. This fact can explain the relatively high δ¹⁸O levels encountered in the Lisan formation, which was deposited from Lake Lisan, —the less saline Pleistocene precursor of the Dead Sea.     

Continuous monitoring of stream δ18O and δ2H and stormflow hydrograph separation using laser spectrometry in an agricultural catchment

A portable Wavelength Scanned‐Cavity Ring‐Down Spectrometer (Picarro L2120) fitted with a diffusion sampler (DS‐CRDS) was used for the first time to continuously measure δ¹⁸O and δ²H of stream water. The experiment took place during a storm event in a wet tropical agricultural catchment in north‐eastern Australia. At a temporal resolution of one minute, the DS‐CRDS measured 2160 δ¹⁸O and δ²H values continuously over a period of 36 h with a precision of ±0.08 and 0.5‰ for δ¹⁸O and δ²H, respectively. Four main advantages in using high temporal resolution stream δ¹⁸O and δ²H data during a storm event are highlighted from this study. First, they enabled us to separate components of the hydrograph, which was not possible using high temporal resolution electrical conductivity data that represented changes in solute transfers during the storm event rather than physical hydrological processes. The results from the hydrograph separation confirm fast groundwater contribution to the stream, with the first 5 h of increases in stream discharge comprising over 70% pre‐event water. Second, the high temporal resolution stream δ¹⁸O and δ²H data allowed us to detect a short‐lived reversal in stream isotopic values (δ¹⁸O increase by 0.4‰ over 9 min), which was observed immediately after the heavy rainfall period. Third, δ¹⁸O values were used to calculate a time lag of 20 min between the physical and chemical stream responses during the storm event. Finally, the hydrograph separation highlights the role of event waters in the runoff transfers of herbicides and nutrients from this heavily cultivated catchment to the Great Barrier Reef. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water isotopic-geochemical composition in the Trekhtsvetnoe meromictic lake on the White Sea coast

The isotopic features of Lake Trekhtsvetnoe in the White Sea coast area were studied in 2012–2015 in both winter and summer. Lake Trekhtsvetnoe is a water body, separating from the sea, with constant vertical stratification throughout the observation period. Its isotopic, hydrophysical, and biological characteristics have been studied. By the isotopic profile of lake water body, three zones can be identified in the lake: (1) 0–1 m: mixolimnion zone with δ¹⁸O varying from–12 to–11.1‰; (2) 1.0–3.0 m: zone with transitional properties with δ¹⁸O varying from–11.1 to–5.5‰; (3) 3.0–7.6 m: monimolimnion zone with highest values of δ¹⁸O—from–5.5 to–4.7‰.     

Characterizing spatial and temporal variation in 18O and 2H content of New Zealand river water for better understanding of hydrologic processes

Time series of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) in rivers can be used to quantify groundwater contributions to streamflow, and timescales of catchment storage. However, these isotope hydrology techniques rely on distinct spatial or temporal patterns of δ²H and δ¹⁸O within the hydrologic cycle. In New Zealand, lack of understanding of spatial and temporal patterns of δ²H and δ¹⁸O of river water hinders development of regional and national-scale hydrological models. We measured δ²H and δ¹⁸O monthly, together with river flow rates at 58 locations across New Zealand over a two-year period. Results show: (a) general patterns of decreasing δ²H and δ¹⁸O with increasing latitude were altered by New Zealand's major mountain ranges; δ²H and δ¹⁸O were distinctly lower in rivers fed from higher elevation catchments, and in eastern rain-shadow areas of both islands; (b) river water δ²H and δ¹⁸O values were partly controlled by local catchment characteristics (catchment slope, PET, catchment elevation, and upstream lake area) that influence evaporation processes; (c) regional differences in evaporation caused the slope of the river water line (i.e., the relationship between δ²H and δ¹⁸O in river water) for the (warmer) North Island to be lower than that of the (cooler, mountain-dominated) South Island; (d) δ²H seasonal offsets (i.e., the difference between seasonal peak and mean values) for individual sites ranged from 0.50‰ to 5.07‰. Peak values of δ¹⁸O and δ²H were in late summer, but values peaked 1 month later at the South Island sites, likely due to greater snow-melt contributions to streamflow. Strong spatial differences in river water δ²H and δ¹⁸O caused by orographic rainfall effects and evaporation may inform studies of water mixing across landscapes. Generally distinct seasonal isotope cycles, despite the large catchment sizes of rivers studied, are encouraging for transit time analysis applications.     

Isotopic temporal and spatial variations of tropical rivers in Thailand reflect monsoon precipitation signals

Stable isotopic compositions (δ¹⁸O and d-excess) from 25 rivers in Thailand were analysed monthly during 2013–2015. Results indicated that monsoon precipitation fundamentally influences the river isotopes. The overland flow supplied from monsoon precipitation and human-altered flow regimes produces considerable isotopic variability. Spatial and temporal variations were observed among four principal geographical regions. The seasonality of monsoon precipitation in mountainous Thailand produced large variations in isotopic compositions because most rainfall occurred during the southwest monsoon, and dry conditions prevailed during the northeast monsoon. The northern and northeastern regions are mountainous, highland areas. Low δ¹⁸O values were found in these regions, likely because of altitude effects on precipitation. Conversely, monsoonal precipitation continually supplies rivers in southern Thailand all year round, producing higher and more consistent δ¹⁸O values than in the other regions. The Chao Phraya plain in the central region experienced enrichment of δ¹⁸O river runoff related to evaporation in irrigation systems. Larger catchment areas and longer residence times resulted in more pronounced evaporation effects, producing lower values of d-excess and local river water line slopes compared with precipitation. The isotopic differences between river waters and precipitation were utilized to determine river recharge elevations and water transit time. The methods presented here can be used to explore hydrological interactions in other tropical river basins.     

Influences of forest canopy on snowpack accumulation and isotope ratios

The stable water isotopes, ²H and ¹⁸O, can be useful environmental tracers for quantifying snow contributions to streams and aquifers, but characterizing the isotopic signatures of bulk snowpacks is challenging because they can be highly variable across the catchment landscape. In this study, we investigate one major source of isotopic heterogeneity in snowpacks: the influence of canopy cover. We measured amounts and isotopic compositions of bulk snowpack, throughfall, and open precipitation during seven campaigns in mid-winter 2018 along forest-grassland transects at three different elevations (1196, 1297, and 1434 m above sea level) in a pre-Alpine catchment in Switzerland. Snowpack storages under forest canopies were 67 to 93% less than in adjacent open grasslands. On average, the water isotope ratios were higher in the snowpacks under forest canopy than in open grasslands (by 13.4 ‰ in δ²H and 2.3 ‰ in δ¹⁸O). This isotopic difference mirrored the higher isotope values in throughfall compared with open snowfall (by 13.5 ‰ in δ²H and 2.2 ‰ in δ¹⁸O). Although this may suggest that most of the isotopic differences in snowpacks under forests versus in open grasslands were attributable to canopy interception effects, the temporal evolution of snowpack isotope ratios indicated preferential effluxes of lighter isotopes as energy inputs increased and the snowpack ripened and melted. Understanding these effects of forest canopy on bulk snowpack snow water equivalent and isotopic composition are useful when using isotopes to infer snowmelt processes in landscapes with varying forest cover.     

Water isotopic variability in Mallorca: a path to understanding past changes in hydroclimate

This paper reports the first results on δ¹⁸O and δ²H analysis of precipitations, cave drip waters, and groundwaters from sites in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean), a key region for paleoclimate studies. Understanding the isotopic variability and the sources of moisture in modern climate systems is required to develop speleothem isotope‐based climate reconstructions. The stable isotopic composition of precipitation was analysed in samples collected between March 2012 and March 2013. The values are in the range reported by GNIP Palma station. Based on these results, the local meteoric water line (LMWL) δ²H = 7.9 (±0.3) δ¹⁸O + 10.8 (±2.5) was derived, with slightly lower slope than Global Meteoric Water Line. The results help tracking two main sources of air masses affecting the study sites: rain events with the highest δ¹⁸O values (> ?5‰) originate over the Mediterranean Sea, whereas the more depleted samples (< ?8‰) are sourced in the North Atlantic region. The back trajectory analysis and deuterium excess values, ranging from 0.4 to 18.4‰, further support our findings. To assess the isotopic variation across the island, water samples from eight caves were collected. The δ¹⁸O values range between ?6.9 and ?1.6‰. With one exception (Artà), the isotopic composition of waters in caves located along the coast (Drac, Vallgornera, Cala Varques, Tancada, and Son Sant Martí) indicates Mediterranean‐sourced moisture masses. By contrast, the drip water δ¹⁸O values for inland caves (Campanet, ses Rates Pinyades) or developed under a thick (>50 m) limestone cap (Artà) exhibit more negative values. A well‐homogenized aquifer supplied by rainwaters of both origins is clearly indicated by groundwater δ¹⁸O values, which show to be within 2.4‰ of the unweighted arithmetic mean of ?7.4‰. Although limited, the isotopic data presented here constitute the baseline for future studies using speleothem δ¹⁸O records for western Mediterranean paleoclimate reconstructions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stable isotopes of atmospheric water vapour and precipitation in the northeast Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Stable water isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) are an important source signature for understanding the hydrological cycle and altered climate regimes. However, the mechanisms underlying atmospheric water vapour isotopes in the northeast Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau of central Asia remain poorly understood. This study initially investigated water vapour isotopic composition and its controls during the premonsoon and monsoon seasons. Isotopic compositions of water vapour and precipitation exhibited high variability across seasons, with the most negative average δ¹⁸O values of precipitation and the most positive δ¹⁸O values of water vapour found during the premonsoon periods. Temperature effect was significant during the premonsoon period but not the monsoon period. Both a higher slope and intercept of the local meteoric water line were found during the monsoon period as compared with in the premonsoon period, suggesting that raindrops have been experienced a greater kinetic fractionation process such as reevaporation below the cloud during the premonsoon periods. The δ²H and δ¹⁸O signatures in atmospheric water vapour tended to be depleted with the occurrence of precipitation events especially during the monsoon period and probably as a result of rainout processes. The monthly average contribution of evaporation from the lake to local precipitation was 35.2%. High d‐excess values of water vapour were influenced by the high proportion of local moisture mixing, as indicated by the gradually increasing relative humidity along westerly and Asian monsoon trajectories. The daily observation (observed ε) showed deviations from the equilibrium fractionation factors (calculated ε), implying that raindrops experienced substantial evaporative enrichment during their descent. The average fraction of raindrops reevaporation was estimated to be 16.4± 12.9%. These findings provide useful insights for understanding the interaction between water vapour and precipitation, moisture sources, and help in reconstructing the paleoclimate in the alpine regions.     

Combining isotopic tracers (222Rn and δ13C) for improved modelling of groundwater discharge to small rivers

In regions where aquifers sustain rivers, the location and quantification of groundwater discharge to surface water are important to prevent pollution hazards, to quantify and predict low flows and to manage water supplies. ²²²Rn is commonly used to determine groundwater discharge to rivers. However, using this isotopic tracer is challenging because of the high diffusion capacity of ²²²Rn in open water. This study illustrates how a combination of isotopic tracers can contribute to an enhanced understanding of groundwater discharge patterns in small rivers. The aim of this paper is to combine ²²²Rn and δ¹³C_DIC to better constrain the physical parameters related to the degassing process of these tracers in rivers. The Hallue River (northern France) was targeted for this study because it is sustained almost exclusively by a fractured chalk aquifer. The isotopes ²²²Rn, δ¹³C_DIC, δ²H and δ¹⁸O were analysed along with other natural geochemical tracers. A mass balance model was used to simulate ²²²Rn and δ¹³C_DIC. The results of δ²H and δ¹⁸O analyses prove that evaporation did not occur in the river. The calibration of a numerical model to reproduce ²²²Rn and δ¹³C_DIC provides a best‐fit diffusive layer thickness of 3.21 × 10^?5 m. This approach is particularly useful for small rivers flowing over carbonate aquifers with high groundwater DIC where the evolution of river DIC reflects the competing processes of groundwater inflow and CO₂ degassing. This approach provides a means to evaluate groundwater discharge in small ungauged rivers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxygen and carbon isotope evidence for seawater-hydrothermal alteration of the Macquarie Island ophiolite

Rocks of the Miocene Macquarie Island ophiolite, south of New Zealand, have oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions comparable to those of seafloor rocks. Basalt glass and weathered basalts have δ¹⁸O values at 5.8–6.0‰ and 7.9–9.5‰, respectively, similar to drilled seafloor rocks including samples from the Leg 29 DSDP holes near Macquarie Island. Compared to the basalt glass, the greenschist to amphibolite facies metaintrusives are depleted in¹⁸O (δ¹⁸O=3.2–5.9‰) similar to dredged seafloor samples, whereas the metabasalts are enriched (δ¹⁸O=7.1–9.7‰). Although the gabbros are only slightly altered in thin-section they have exchanged oxygen with a hydrothermal fluid to a depth of at least 4.5 km. There is an approximate balance between¹⁸O depletion and enrichment in the exposed ophiolite section. The carbon isotopic composition of calcite in the weathered basalts (δ¹³C=1.0–2.0‰) is similar to those of drilled basalts, but the metamorphosed rocks have low δ¹³C values (?14.6 to 0.9‰).These data are compatible with two seawater circulation regimes. In the upper regime, basalts were weathered by cold seawater in a circulation system with high water/rock ratios (?1.0). Based on calcite compositions weathering temperatures were less than 20°C and the carbon was derived from a predominantly inorganic marine source. As previously suggested for the Samail ophiolite, it is postulated that the lower hydrothermal regime consisted of two coupled parts. At the deeper levels, seawater circulating at low water/rock ratios (0.2–0.3) and high temperatures (300–600°C) gave rise to¹⁸O-depleted gabbro and sheeted dikes via open system exchange reactions. During reaction the seawater underwent a shift in oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O=1.0–5.0‰) and subsequently caused¹⁸O enrichment of the overlying metabasalts. In the shallower part of the hydrothermal regime the metabasalts were altered at relatively high water/rock ratios (1.0–10.0) and temperatures in the range 200–300°C. The relatively low water/rock ratios in the hydrothermal regime are supported by the low δ¹³C values of calcite, interpreted as evidence of juvenile carbon in contrast to the inorganic marine carbon found in the weathered basalts.     

Vapour source and spatiotemporal variation of precipitation isotopes in Southwest Spain

The δ²H and δ¹⁸O composition of 77 precipitation samples collected between January 2014 and April 2019 from two sites across the Guadalquivir Basin, SW Spain, were analysed. The first site is located in an urban area of Seville at 100 km distance to the Atlantic coast and the second site is located in a dune area of the Doñana National Park a few kilometres from the coast. Sampling was performed within intervals of at least 14 days if rain occurred but frequently intervals were longer according to the rainfall incidence. Samples from both sites are available for the period February 2016 to June 2018 with six samples containing identical rain events at both locations. Precipitation weighted averages and local meteoric water lines produced by weighting and non-weighting regression methods are presented for its use in hydrological applications. Results show a remarkably high variability in δ²H and δ¹⁸O values and precipitation weighted average d-excess values of 11.8‰ and 13‰ at the sites Plaza de España and Doñana, respectively. Temperature and amount effects were found to be weak. A significant influence of secondary evaporation for single rainfall events during summer was identified by enriched isotopic signatures with reduced d-excess values plotting close or below the global meteoric water line. Backward trajectory analysis of 115 days with daily rainfall above 3 mm yield a predominant Atlantic Ocean vapour source with negligible Mediterranean influence and therefore, d-excess variability is attributed to the different ocean surface conditions of relative humidity and sea surface temperature. Parallel sampling indicate very similar isotopic signatures at both sites and point to the existence of thermal effects of the Plaza de España site in Seville city during the summer season.     

Spatial and temporal variability of stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) in surface waters of arid,mountainous Central Asia

Characterization of spatial and temporal variability of stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) of surface waters is essential to interpret hydrological processes and establish modern isotope–elevation gradients across mountainous terrains. Here, we present stable isotope data for river waters across Kyrgyzstan. River water isotopes exhibit substantial spatial heterogeneity among different watersheds in Kyrgyzstan. Higher river water isotope values were found mainly in the Issyk‐Kul Lake watershed, whereas waters in the Son‐Kul Lake watershed display lower values. Results show a close δ¹⁸O–δ²H relation between river water and the local meteoric water line, implying that river water experiences little evaporative enrichment. River water from the high‐elevation regions (e.g., Naryn and Son‐Kul Lake watershed) had the most negative isotope values, implying that river water is dominated by snowmelt. Higher deuterium excess (average d = 13.9‰) in river water probably represents the isotopic signature of combined contributions from direct precipitation and glacier melt in stream discharge across Kyrgyzstan. A significant relationship between river water δ¹⁸O and elevation was observed with a vertical lapse rate of 0.13‰/100 m. These findings provide crucial information about hydrological processes across Kyrgyzstan and contribute to a better understanding of the paleoclimate/elevation reconstruction of this region.     

Flow dynamics of groundwater and soil water in the former heap Gessenhalde at the uranium mining area of Ronneburg: a stable isotope approach

Stable isotopes, ²H_water, ¹⁸O_water as well as ¹⁸O_sulphate and ³⁴S_sulphate, were used to study the flow system of shallow groundwater and soil water at the base area of a former leaching heap at the uranium mining area of Ronneburg, Germany. The flow paths and water‐retention times were estimated by comparison of δ²H and δ¹⁸O values in groundwater and soil water to the δ²H and δ¹⁸O signature of precipitation, giving distinctive inputs of summer or winter precipitation. The points of measuring the groundwater were divided into three categories with different flow conditions: rapid flow, stagnant conditions and a transition zone by hierarchical cluster analysis of δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of groundwater. The transit time of groundwater in the rapid flow area is less than 6 months, whereas water in the stagnant zone is stored for at least 1 year. In soil water, a clear response to different input signals is detectable only in the 30‐cm horizon (retention time is about 6 months), whereas at deeper levels a mixing with older water is taking place. The isotopic composition of the dissolved sulphate was used to identify oxidation of sulphides as the source of sulphate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isotopic composition of precipitation in a topographically steep,seasonally snow‐dominated watershed and implications of variations from the global meteoric water line

The local meteoric water line (LMWL), the functional relationship between locally measured values of δ¹⁸O and δ²H in precipitation, represents the isotopic composition of water entering hydrologic systems. The degree to which the LMWL departs from the global meteoric water line (GMWL), moreover, can reveal important information about meteoric sources of water (e.g. oceanic or terrestrial) and atmospheric conditions during transport. Here we characterize the isotopic composition of precipitation within an experimental watershed in the Western US that is subject to large topographic and seasonal gradients in precipitation. Interpreting the hydrometeorologic and spatial controls on precipitation, we constructed a seasonally weighted LMWL for southwestern Idaho that is expressed by the equation δ²H = 7.40 × δ¹⁸O ? 2.17. A seasonally weighted LMWL that is based on weighting isotopic concentrations by climatic precipitation volumes is novel, and we argue better represents the significant seasonality of precipitation in the region. The developed LMWL is considerably influenced by the semiarid climate experienced in southwest Idaho, yielding a slope and y‐intercept lower than the GMWL (δ²H = 8 × δ¹⁸O + 10). Moderate to strong correlations exist between the isotopic composition of precipitation from individual events and surface meteorologic variables, specifically surface air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation amount. A strong negative correlation exists between the annual average isotopic composition of precipitation and elevation at individual collection sites, with a lapse rate of ?0.22‰/100 m. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.