water-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

New Application of Isotopes in Hydrology and Hydrogeology

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2024) | Viewed by 2561

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
Interests: isotope hydrology; hydrogeology; groundwater recharge; lake hydrology; stream flow generation processes; catchment hydrology; surface water groundwater interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In hydrology and hydrogeology, isotopes play a crucial role in tracing the origin, movement, and age of water in various environmental systems. By analyzing the stable and radioactive isotopic composition of water samples, researchers can gain valuable insights into groundwater recharge processes, surface–water interactions, and the overall hydrological cycle. Isotope hydrology also helps in understanding groundwater flow dynamics, in determining the age of groundwater and identifying potential sources of contamination, and in determining the effectiveness of water management practices in maintaining water quality. The application of isotopes includes determining groundwater recharge rates and studying the impact of climate change on water resources. Isotopes also play a key role in studying water cycle processes such as the determination of source moisture, evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Isotope hydrology is a valuable tool in understanding the complex interactions between surface water and groundwater systems.

As advancements in isotope technology continue to progress in compound-specific isotope analysis, noble gas isotopes, trace techniques, etc., there is great potential for further innovation in hydrology and hydrogeology. Overall, isotopes have proven to be invaluable tools in understanding water quality and guiding policy decisions. It is imperative that research and development in isotopic applications remain a priority to ensure continued progress in water resource management. This Special Issue focuses on isotopes, with real-world examples showcasing the utility of isotopes in addressing water quality issues and making informed policy decisions and helping to address transboundary issues.

Dr. Umayadoss Saravana Kumar
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • source moisture
  • surface water groundwater interaction
  • contamination
  • water chemistry
  • groundwater flow
  • rockwater interaction
  • groundwater residence time

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 5320 KiB  
Article
Strontium Isotopic Composition as Tracers for Identifying Groundwater Recharge Sources in the Choushui River Alluvial Plain, Western Taiwan
by Hao-Wei Huang, Shiuh-Tsuen Huang, Ruo-Mei Wang, Wen-Fu Chen, Chuan-Hsiung Chung and Chen-Feng You
Water 2024, 16(15), 2151; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152151 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 814
Abstract
Groundwater is a vital resource in the Chuoshui River alluvial plain (CSAP), a key agricultural area in Taiwan. Understanding groundwater recharge is crucial for sustainable water management amidst changing climatic conditions and increasing water demand. This study investigates the major ion composition, solute [...] Read more.
Groundwater is a vital resource in the Chuoshui River alluvial plain (CSAP), a key agricultural area in Taiwan. Understanding groundwater recharge is crucial for sustainable water management amidst changing climatic conditions and increasing water demand. This study investigates the major ion composition, solute Sr concentrations, and 87Sr/86Sr ratios in groundwater and stream water from the Choushui River (CSR) to trace groundwater recharge sources. The Piper diagram reveals that most groundwater samples are of the freshwater Ca–HCO3 type, aligning with the total dissolved solids (TDS) classification. TDS and major ion compositions indicate that groundwater near Baguashan Terrace (BGT) and Douliu Hill (DLH) primarily derives from stream water and rainwater. Na+ and Cl enrichment in some aquifers of BGT and DLH is attributed to the dissolution of paleo-sea salt and mixing with paleo-seawater from sedimentary porewater. Elevated dissolved Sr concentrations and lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios in these aquifers further support the intrusion of paleo-seawater. Groundwater in the proximal fan shows high TDS due to intensive weathering, complicating the use of TDS as a tracer. Sr isotopic compositions and solute Sr2+ concentrations effectively distinguish recharge sources, revealing that the CSR mainstream primarily recharges the proximal fan and BGT region, while CSR tributaries and rainwater mainly recharge the DLH region. This study concludes that Sr isotopic compositions and solute Sr2+ concentrations are more reliable than TDS and major ion compositions in identifying groundwater recharge sources, enhancing our understanding of groundwater origins and the processes affecting water quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Application of Isotopes in Hydrology and Hydrogeology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2045 KiB  
Article
Reconstructing 273 Years of Potential Groundwater Recharge Dynamics in a Near-Humid Monsoon Loess Unsaturated Zone Using Chloride Profiling
by Lingzhi Fan, Jianlong Wang, Yanzhu Zhao, Xia Wang, Kaijian Mo and Min Li
Water 2024, 16(15), 2147; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152147 - 30 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 596
Abstract
Understanding the historical groundwater recharge process and its influencing factors is crucial for effectively managing regional groundwater resources amidst future climate change. However, the availability of high-resolution hydroclimate archives remains severely limited. In this study, we used a 59 m chloride profile within [...] Read more.
Understanding the historical groundwater recharge process and its influencing factors is crucial for effectively managing regional groundwater resources amidst future climate change. However, the availability of high-resolution hydroclimate archives remains severely limited. In this study, we used a 59 m chloride profile within the unsaturated loess zone to reconstruct the potential groundwater recharge (PGR) records spanning 273 years in a near-humid area on the Loess Plateau. Spectral analysis was employed to identify the principal influencing factors on PGR across various time scales. The reconstructed hydrological records revealed three wet periods and four dry periods from 1745 to 2007 AD, with PGR rates ranging from 66.7 to 222.4 mm yr−1 during wet periods and 20.0 to 66.7 mm yr−1 during dry periods. In addition, spectral analysis indicated multiple cycles, ranging from 2.1 to 50.0 years, within the PGR history. Temperature, precipitation, and sunspot activity emerged as the key factors governing the rate of PGR over the 3-year, 7-year, and 11-year time scales, respectively, highlighting the combined influence of solar activity and climate on the PGR process. These findings enhance our understanding of groundwater recharge and environmental climate dynamics in the near-humid loess unsaturated zone and other regions exhibiting similar hydroclimatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Application of Isotopes in Hydrology and Hydrogeology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 6744 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Origins of Groundwater in the Changbai Mountain Region via Inverse Hydrogeochemical Modeling and Unsupervised Machine Learning
by Yi Liu, Mingqian Li, Ying Zhang, Xiaofang Wu and Chaoyu Zhang
Water 2024, 16(13), 1853; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16131853 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 770
Abstract
This study employed hydrochemical data, traditional hydrogeochemical methods, inverse hydrogeochemical modeling, and unsupervised machine learning techniques to explore the hydrogeochemical traits and origins of groundwater in the Changbai Mountain region. (1) Findings reveal that predominant hydrochemical types include HCO3Ca·Mg, HCO [...] Read more.
This study employed hydrochemical data, traditional hydrogeochemical methods, inverse hydrogeochemical modeling, and unsupervised machine learning techniques to explore the hydrogeochemical traits and origins of groundwater in the Changbai Mountain region. (1) Findings reveal that predominant hydrochemical types include HCO3Ca·Mg, HCO3Ca·Na·Mg, HCO3Mg·Na, and HCO3Na·Mg. The average metasilicic acid content was found to be at 49.13 mg/L. (2) Rock weathering mechanisms, particularly silicate mineral weathering, primarily shape groundwater chemistry, followed by carbonate dissolution. (3) Water-rock interactions involve volcanic mineral dissolution and cation exchange adsorption. Inverse hydrogeochemical modeling, alongside analysis of the widespread volcanic lithology, underscores the complexity of groundwater reactions, influenced not only by water-rock interactions but also by evaporation and precipitation. (4) Unsupervised machine learning, integrating SOM, PCA, and K-means techniques, elucidates hydrochemical types. SOM component maps reveal a close combination of various hydrochemical components. Principal component analysis (PCA) identifies the first principal component (PC1), explaining 48.15% of the variance. The second (PC2) and third (PC3) principal components, explain 13.2% and 10.8% of the variance, respectively. K clustering categorized samples into three main clusters: one less influenced by basaltic geological processes, another showing strong igneous rock weathering characteristics, and the third affected by other geological processes or anthropogenic factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Application of Isotopes in Hydrology and Hydrogeology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop