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Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process
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Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2019) | Viewed by 76004

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Polona Vreča

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: water cycle; isotopes; changes in time and space; measurement traceability; statistical analysis; water management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zoltán Kern

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budaörsi út 45, 1112 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: environment and climate change; biogeochemistry; environmental isotopes; dendroclimatology; quaternary geochronology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is vital for all known forms of life and is transported continuously through the different spheres of Earth with the water cycle: Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, runoff, etc. As such, fresh water plays an important role in the world economy as well. Cities have been built around reliable sources of water since ancient times, and a considerable amount of available freshwater is used for irrigation and other agricultural activities to supply humanity.

Stable (16O, 17O, 18O, 1H, 2H) and radioactive (3H) water isotopes as well as other tracers are powerful tools to track the path of water molecules in the water cycle from precipitation to surface and groundwater and, further, to drinking water supplies. They are commonly used to trace the source of water and its flow pathways or to quantify exchanges of water, solutes, and particulates between hydrological compartments during different hydrological processes. In the last decade, a considerable number of studies have been published on the use of water isotopes in hydrological processes and the number is ever growing due to the development of new measurement techniques (i.e., laser spectrometry) that allow measurements of stable isotope ratios at an even higher resolution. However, accurate and precise measurements are required to provide new data comparable in space and time or with data obtained with classical isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

This Special Issue addresses the current state-of-the-art methods, applications, and hydrological process interpretations using stable and radioactive water isotopes in the whole water cycle. Contributions related to measurement traceability (comparison of different measurement techniques), conceptual network development, and long-term maintenance on local to regional scale, as well as papers on different statistical data evaluation approaches, are highly welcome.

Dr. Polona Vreča
Dr. Zoltán Kern
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Water cycle
  • Isotope hydrology
  • Measurement traceability
  • Precipitation (rain and snow)
  • Surface water
  • Groundwater
  • Water management
  • Networks and data bases
  • Statistical evaluation

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

6 pages, 236 KiB  
Editorial
Use of Water Isotopes in Hydrological Processes
by Polona Vreča and Zoltán Kern
Water 2020, 12(8), 2227; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082227 - 07 Aug 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3477
Abstract
Stable (16O, 17O, 18O, 1H, 2H) and radioactive (3H) isotopes in water are powerful tools in the tracking of the path of water molecules in the whole water cycle. In the last decade, a considerable [...] Read more.
Stable (16O, 17O, 18O, 1H, 2H) and radioactive (3H) isotopes in water are powerful tools in the tracking of the path of water molecules in the whole water cycle. In the last decade, a considerable number of studies have been published on the use of water isotopes, and the number continues to grow due to the development of new measurement techniques (i.e., laser absorption spectroscopy) that allow measurements of stable isotope ratios at ever-higher resolutions. Therefore, this Special Issue (SI) has been compiled to address current state-of-the-art water isotope methods, applications, and hydrological process interpretations and to contribute to the rapidly growing repository of isotope data important for future water resource management. We are pleased to present here a compilation of 14 papers reporting the use of water isotopes in the study of hydrological processes worldwide, including studies on the local and regional scales related either to precipitation dynamics or to different applications of water isotopes in combination with other hydrochemical parameters in investigations of surface water, snowmelt, soil water, groundwater, and xylem water to identify the hydrological and geochemical processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

13 pages, 2812 KiB  
Article
Isotopic ‘Altitude’ and ‘Continental’ Effects in Modern Precipitation across the Adriatic–Pannonian Region
by Zoltán Kern, István Gábor Hatvani, György Czuppon, István Fórizs, Dániel Erdélyi, Tjaša Kanduč, László Palcsu and Polona Vreča
Water 2020, 12(6), 1797; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12061797 - 24 Jun 2020
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4294
Abstract
It is generally observed that precipitation is gradually depleted in 18O and 2H isotopes as elevation increases (‘altitude’ effect) or when moving inland from seacoasts (‘continental’ effect); the regionally accurate estimation of these large-scale effects is important in isotope hydrological or [...] Read more.
It is generally observed that precipitation is gradually depleted in 18O and 2H isotopes as elevation increases (‘altitude’ effect) or when moving inland from seacoasts (‘continental’ effect); the regionally accurate estimation of these large-scale effects is important in isotope hydrological or paleoclimatological applications. Nevertheless, seasonal and spatial differences should be considered. Stable isotope composition of monthly precipitation fallen between January 2016 and December 2018 was studied for selected stations situated along an elevation transect and a continental transect in order to assess the isotopic ‘altitude’ and ‘continental’ effects in modern precipitation across the Adriatic–Pannonian region. Isotopic characteristics argue that the main driver of the apparent vertical depletion of precipitation in heavy stable isotopes is different in summer (raindrop evaporation) and winter (condensation), although, there is no significant difference in the resulting ‘altitude’ effect. Specifically, an ‘altitude’ effect of −1.2‰/km for δ18O and −7.9‰/km for δ2H can be used in modern precipitation across the Adriatic–Pannonian region. Isotopic characteristics of monthly precipitation showed seasonally different patterns and suggest different isotope hydrometeorological regimes along the continental transect. While no significant decrease was found in δ18O data moving inland from the Adriatic from May to August of the year, a clear decreasing trend was found in precipitation fallen during the colder season of the year (October to March) up to a break at ~400 km inland from the Adriatic coast. The estimated mean isotopic ‘continental’ effect for the colder season precipitation is −2.4‰/100 km in δ18O and −20‰/100 km in δ2H. A prevailing influence of the Mediterranean moisture in the colder season is detected up to this breakpoint, while the break in the δ18O data probably reflects the mixture of moisture sources with different isotopic characteristics. A sharp drop in the d-excess (>3‰) at the break in precipitation δ18O trend likely indicates a sudden switch from the Mediterranean moisture domain to additional (mainly Atlantic) influence, while a gradual change in the d-excess values might suggest a gradual increase of the non-Mediterranean moisture contribution along the transect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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19 pages, 1423 KiB  
Article
Can Soil Hydraulic Parameters be Estimated from the Stable Isotope Composition of Pore Water from a Single Soil Profile?
by Alexandra Mattei, Patrick Goblet, Florent Barbecot, Sophie Guillon, Yves Coquet and Shuaitao Wang
Water 2020, 12(2), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020393 - 01 Feb 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2787
Abstract
Modeling water and solute transport in the vadose zone for groundwater resource management requires an accurate determination of soil hydraulic parameters. Estimating these parameters by inverse modeling using in situ observations is very common. However, little attention has been given to the potential [...] Read more.
Modeling water and solute transport in the vadose zone for groundwater resource management requires an accurate determination of soil hydraulic parameters. Estimating these parameters by inverse modeling using in situ observations is very common. However, little attention has been given to the potential of pore water isotope information to parameterize soil water transport models. By conducting a Morris and Sobol sensitivity analysis, we highlight the interest of combining water content and pore water isotope composition data in a multi-objective calibration approach to constrain soil hydraulic property parameterization. We then investigate the effect of the sampling frequency of the observed data used for model calibration on a synthetic case. When modeling is employed in order to estimate the annual groundwater recharge of a sandy aquifer, it is possible to calibrate the model without continuous monitoring data, using only water content and pore water isotopic composition profiles from a single sampling time. However, even if not continuous, multi-temporal data improve model calibration, especially pore water isotope data. The proposed calibration method was validated with field data. For groundwater recharge estimate studies, these results imply a significant reduction in the time and effort required, by avoiding long-term monitoring, since only one sampling campaign is needed to extract soil samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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14 pages, 2888 KiB  
Article
Application of Stable Water Isotopes to Improve Conceptual Model of Alluvial Aquifer in the Varaždin Area
by Tamara Marković, Igor Karlović, Melita Perčec Tadić and Ozren Larva
Water 2020, 12(2), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020379 - 30 Jan 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2856
Abstract
To understand groundwater flow and geochemical processes within an aquifer, it is necessary to set up a conceptual model of the aquifer. To accomplish this, different methods are used, and one of them is an isotopic technique. The study area is located in [...] Read more.
To understand groundwater flow and geochemical processes within an aquifer, it is necessary to set up a conceptual model of the aquifer. To accomplish this, different methods are used, and one of them is an isotopic technique. The study area is located in the Varaždin area (NW Croatia). The aquifer represents the main source of potable water for the town of Varaždin and the surrounding settlements. The conceptual model of the alluvial aquifer has to be set up prior to creating a groundwater flow and transport model. Measurements of ratios δ18Ο and δ2H in ground- and surface waters and precipitation samples were carried out. The relationship between ratios δ18Ο, δ2H, and d-excess for local precipitation in the study area showed that precipitation originates from the Atlantic air masses, although during the colder periods of the year, influence of the Mediterranean air masses was not negligible. The monitored period was warmer and wetter than average. Evaporation was observed at all monitored surface waters, but the largest rate was at the location of a gravel pit in Šijanec. The isotopic composition of the precipitation and groundwater showed a good correlation due to the isotopic homogenization of groundwater along the flow path. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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21 pages, 5726 KiB  
Article
Application of a Self-Organizing Map of Isotopic and Chemical Data for the Identification of Groundwater Recharge Sources in Nasunogahara Alluvial Fan, Japan
by Takeo Tsuchihara, Katsushi Shirahata, Satoshi Ishida and Shuhei Yoshimoto
Water 2020, 12(1), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010278 - 18 Jan 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3635
Abstract
Paddy rice fields on an alluvial fan not only use groundwater for irrigation but also play an important role as groundwater recharge sources. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of isotopic and hydrochemical compositions of groundwater in the Nasunogahara alluvial fan [...] Read more.
Paddy rice fields on an alluvial fan not only use groundwater for irrigation but also play an important role as groundwater recharge sources. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of isotopic and hydrochemical compositions of groundwater in the Nasunogahara alluvial fan in Japan and applied a self-organizing map (SOM) to characterize the groundwater. The SOM assisted with the hydrochemical and isotopic interpretation of the groundwater in the fan, and clearly classified the groundwater into four groups reflecting the different origins. Two groundwater groups with lower isotopic ratios of water than the mean precipitation values in the fan were influenced by the infiltration of river water flowing from higher areas in the catchments and were differentiated from each other by their Na+ and Cl− concentrations. A groundwater group with higher isotopic ratios was influenced by the infiltration of paddy irrigation water that had experienced evaporative isotopic enrichment. Groundwater in the fourth group, which was distributed in the upstream area of the fan where dairy farms dominated, showed little influence of recharge waters from paddy rice fields. The findings of this study will contribute to proper management of the groundwater resources in the fan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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28 pages, 5057 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Isotope Records of Precipitation in Zagreb, Croatia
by Ines Krajcar Bronić, Jadranka Barešić, Damir Borković, Andreja Sironić, Ivanka Lovrenčić Mikelić and Polona Vreča
Water 2020, 12(1), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010226 - 14 Jan 2020
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5202
Abstract
The isotope composition of precipitation has been monitored in monthly precipitation at Zagreb, Croatia, since 1976. Here, we present a statistical analysis of available long-term isotope data (3H activity concentration, δ2H, δ18O, and deuterium excess) and compare [...] Read more.
The isotope composition of precipitation has been monitored in monthly precipitation at Zagreb, Croatia, since 1976. Here, we present a statistical analysis of available long-term isotope data (3H activity concentration, δ2H, δ18O, and deuterium excess) and compare them to basic meteorological data. The aim was to see whether isotope composition reflected observed climate changes in Zagreb: a significant increase in the annual air temperature and larger variations in the precipitation amount. Annual mean δ18O and δ2H values showed an increase of 0.017‰ and 0.14‰ per year, respectively, with larger differences in monthly mean values in the first half of the year than in the second half. Mean annual d-excess remained constant over the whole long-term period, with a tendency for monthly mean d-excess values to decrease in the first half of the year and increase in the second half due to the influence of air masses originating from the eastern Mediterranean. Changes in the stable isotope composition of precipitation thus resembled changes in the temperature, the circulation pattern of air masses, and the precipitation regime. A local meteoric water line was obtained using different regression methods, which did not result in significant differences between nonweighted and precipitation-weighted slope and intercept values. Deviations from the Global Meteoric Water Line GMWL (lower slopes and intercepts) were observed in two recent periods and could be explained by changes in climate parameters. The temperature gradient of δ18O was 0.33‰/°C. The tritium activity concentrations in precipitation showed slight decreases during the last two decades, and the mean A in the most recent period, 2012–2018, was 7.6 ± 0.8 Tritium Units (TU). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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19 pages, 1982 KiB  
Article
What Do Plants Leave after Summer on the Ground?—The Effect of Afforested Plants in Arid Environments
by César Dionisio Jiménez-Rodríguez, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Stefan Uhlenbrook and Jochen Wenninger
Water 2019, 11(12), 2559; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11122559 - 04 Dec 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3271
Abstract
The implementation of afforestation programs in arid environments in northern China had modified the natural vegetation patterns. This increases the evaporation flux; however, the influence of these new covers on the soil water conditions is poorly understood. This work aims to describe the [...] Read more.
The implementation of afforestation programs in arid environments in northern China had modified the natural vegetation patterns. This increases the evaporation flux; however, the influence of these new covers on the soil water conditions is poorly understood. This work aims to describe the effect of Willow bushes (Salix psammophila C. Wang and Chang Y. Yang) and Willow trees (Salix matsudana Koidz.) on the soil water conditions after the summer. Two experimental plots located in the Hailiutu catchment (Shaanxi province, northwest China), and covered with plants of each species, were monitored during Autumn in 2010. The monitoring included the soil moisture, fine root distribution and transpiration fluxes that provided information about water availability, access and use by the plants. Meanwhile, the monitoring of stable water isotopes collected from precipitation, soil water, groundwater and xylem water linked the water paths. The presence of Willow trees and Willow bushes reduce the effect of soil evaporation after summer, increasing the soil moisture respect to bare soil conditions. Also, the presence of soil water with stable water isotope signatures close to groundwater reflect the hydraulic lift process. This is an indication of soil water redistribution carried out by both plant species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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14 pages, 4744 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Water Isotopes and Water Source Identification During the Wet Season in Naqu River Basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
by Xi Chen, Guoli Wang, Fuqiang Wang, Denghua Yan and Heng Zhao
Water 2019, 11(11), 2418; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11112418 - 18 Nov 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3092
Abstract
Climate change is affecting the discharge of headstreams from mountainous areas on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. To constrain future changes in discharge, it is important to understand the present-day formation mechanism and components of runoff in the basin. Here we explore the sources of [...] Read more.
Climate change is affecting the discharge of headstreams from mountainous areas on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. To constrain future changes in discharge, it is important to understand the present-day formation mechanism and components of runoff in the basin. Here we explore the sources of runoff and spatial variations in discharge through measurements of δ2H and δ18O in the Naqu River, at the source of the Nu River, on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau, during the month of August from 2016 to 2018. We established thirteen sampling sites on the main stream and tributaries, and collected 39 samples from the river. We examined all the water samples and analyzed them for isotopes. We find a significant spatial variation trend based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05) between Main stream-2 and tributaries. The local meteoric water-line (LMWL) can be described as: δ2H = 7.9δ18O + 6.29. Isotopic evaporative fractionation in water and mixing of different water sources are responsible for the spatial difference in isotopic values between Main stream-2 and tributaries. Based on isotopic hydrograph separation, the proportion of snowmelt in runoff components ranges from 15% to 47%, and the proportion of rainwater ranges from 3% to 35%. Thus, the main components of runoff in the Naqu River are snowmelt and groundwater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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19 pages, 4635 KiB  
Article
Developing Meteoric Water Lines for Iran Based on Air Masses and Moisture Sources
by Mojtaba Heydarizad, Ezzat Raeisi, Rogert Sorí and Luis Gimeno
Water 2019, 11(11), 2359; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11112359 - 10 Nov 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4162
Abstract
Iran is a semi-arid to arid country that faces a water shortage crisis. Its weather is also influenced by various air masses and moisture sources. Therefore, applying accurate stable isotope techniques to investigate Iran’s precipitation characteristics and developing Iran meteoric water lines (MWLs) [...] Read more.
Iran is a semi-arid to arid country that faces a water shortage crisis. Its weather is also influenced by various air masses and moisture sources. Therefore, applying accurate stable isotope techniques to investigate Iran’s precipitation characteristics and developing Iran meteoric water lines (MWLs) as an initial step for future isotope hydrology studies is vitally important. The aim of this study was to determine the MWLs for Iran by considering air masses and dominant moisture sources. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model backward analysis was used to determine the trajectories of various air masses in 19 weather stations in Iran and the areas covered by them. δ18O and δ2H contents were obtained for precipitation events from 32 stations in Iran and four in Iraq. Stable isotope samples were gathered from different sources and analyzed in various laboratories across the world. Three MWLs for north of Iran, south Zagros, and west Zagros, were determined based on the locations of dominant air masses and moisture sources. The proposed MWLs were validated by comparison with fresh karstic spring isotope data across Iran. In addition, Iran main moisture sources MWLs were used to determine dominant moisture sources role in karstic springs and surface water resources recharge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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24 pages, 7173 KiB  
Article
Moisture Sources for Precipitation and Hydrograph Components of the Sutri Dhaka Glacier Basin, Western Himalayas
by Ajit T. Singh, Waliur Rahaman, Parmanand Sharma, C. M. Laluraj, Lavkush K. Patel, Bhanu Pratap, Vinay Kumar Gaddam and Meloth Thamban
Water 2019, 11(11), 2242; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11112242 - 26 Oct 2019
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4987
Abstract
Himalayan glaciers are the major source of fresh water supply to the Himalayan Rivers, which support the livelihoods of more than a billion people living in the downstream region. However, in the face of recent climate change, these glaciers might be vulnerable, and [...] Read more.
Himalayan glaciers are the major source of fresh water supply to the Himalayan Rivers, which support the livelihoods of more than a billion people living in the downstream region. However, in the face of recent climate change, these glaciers might be vulnerable, and thereby become a serious threat to the future fresh water reserve. Therefore, special attention is required in terms of understanding moisture sources for precipitation over the Himalayan glaciers and the hydrograph components of streams and rivers flowing from the glacierized region. We have carried out a systematic study in one of the benchmark glaciers, “Sutri Dhaka” of the Chandra Basin, in the western Himalayas, to understand its hydrograph components, based on stable water isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) and field-based ablation measurements. Further, to decipher moisture sources for precipitation and its variability in the study region, we have studied stable water isotopes in precipitation samples (rain and snow), and performed a back-trajectory analysis of the air parcel that brings moisture to this region. Our results show that the moisture source for precipitation over the study region is mainly derived from the Mediterranean regions (>70%) by Western Disturbances (WDs) during winter (October–May) and a minor contribution (<20%) from the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) during summer season (June–September). A three-component hydrograph separation based on δ18O and d-excess provides estimates of ice (65 ± 14%), snowpack (15 ± 9%) and fresh snow (20 ± 5%) contributions, respectively. Our field-based specific ablation measurements show that ice and snow melt contributions are 80 ± 16% and 20 ± 4%, respectively. The differences in hydrograph component estimates are apparently due to an unaccounted snow contribution ‘missing component’ from the valley slopes in field-based ablation measurements, whereas the isotope-based hydrograph separation method accounts for all the components, and provides a basin integrated estimate. Therefore, we suggest that for similar types of basins where contributions of rainfall and groundwater are minimal, and glaciers are often inaccessible for frequent field measurements/observations, the stable isotope-based method could significantly add to our ability to decipher moisture sources and estimate hydrograph components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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22 pages, 3550 KiB  
Article
Investigation into Groundwater Resources in Southern Part of the Red River’s Delta Plain, Vietnam by the Use of Isotopic Techniques
by Nguyen Van Lam, Hoang Van Hoan and Dang Duc Nhan
Water 2019, 11(10), 2120; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11102120 - 12 Oct 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3934
Abstract
Groundwater in the Red River’s delta plain, North Vietnam, was found in Holocene, Pleistocene, Neogene and Triassic aquifers in fresh, brackish and saline types with a total dissolved solids (TDS) content ranging from less than 1 g L−1 to higher than 3 [...] Read more.
Groundwater in the Red River’s delta plain, North Vietnam, was found in Holocene, Pleistocene, Neogene and Triassic aquifers in fresh, brackish and saline types with a total dissolved solids (TDS) content ranging from less than 1 g L−1 to higher than 3 g L−1. Saline water exists inHolocene aquifer, but fresh and brackish water exist in Pleistocene, Neogene and Triassic aquifers. This study aims at the investigation into genesis and processes controlling quality of water resources in the region. For this isotopic, combined with geochemical techniques were applied. The techniques include: (i) measurement of water’s isotopic compositions (δ2H, δ18O) in water; (ii) determination of water’s age by the 3H- and 14C-dating method, and (iii) chemical analyses for main cations and anions in water. Results obtained revealed that saline water in Holocene aquifer was affected by seawater intrusion, fresh water in deeper aquifers originated from meteoric water but with old ages, up to 10,000–14,000 yr. The recharge area of fresh water is from the northwest highland at an altitude of 140–160m above sea level. The recharge water flows northwesterly towards southeasterly to the seacoast at a rate of 2.5m y−1. Chemistry of water resources in the study region is controlled by ferric, sulfate and nitrate reduction with organic matters as well as dissolution of inorganic carbonate minerals present in the sediment deposits. Results of isotopic signatures in water from Neogene, Triassic and Pleistocene aquifers suggested the three aquifers are connected to each other due to the existence of faults and fissures in Mesozoic basement across the delta region in combination with high rate of groundwater mining. Moreover, the high rate of freshwater abstraction from Pleistocene aquifer currently causes sea water to flow backwards to production well field located in the center of the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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25 pages, 2508 KiB  
Article
Identification of Sulfate Sources and Biogeochemical Processes in an Aquifer Affected by Peatland: Insights from Monitoring the Isotopic Composition of Groundwater Sulfate in Kampinos National Park, Poland
by Adam Porowski, Dorota Porowska and Stanislaw Halas
Water 2019, 11(7), 1388; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071388 - 05 Jul 2019
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 6110
Abstract
Temporal and spatial variations of the concentration and the isotopic composition of groundwater sulfate in an unconfined sandy aquifer covered by peatland have been studied to better understand the sources and biogeochemical processes that affect sulfate distribution in shallow groundwater systems influenced by [...] Read more.
Temporal and spatial variations of the concentration and the isotopic composition of groundwater sulfate in an unconfined sandy aquifer covered by peatland have been studied to better understand the sources and biogeochemical processes that affect sulfate distribution in shallow groundwater systems influenced by organic rich sediments. The groundwater monitoring was carried out for one year at hydrogeological station Pożary located within the protected zone of the Kampinos National Park. Sulfur (δ34SSO4) and oxygen (δ18OSO4) isotopic composition of dissolved sulfates were analyzed together with oxygen (δ18OH2O) and hydrogen (δ2HH2O) isotopic composition of water and major ions concentration at monthly intervals. The research revealed three main sources of sulfates dissolved in groundwater, namely, (a) atmospheric sulfates—supplied to the aquifer by atmospheric deposition (rain and snow melt), (b) sulfates formed by dissolution of evaporite sulfate minerals, mainly gypsum—considerably enriched in 34S and 18O, and (c) sulfate formed during oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RIS), mainly pyrite—depleted in 34S and 18O. The final isotopic composition and concentration of dissolved SO42− in groundwater are the result of overlapping processes of dissimilatory sulfate reduction, oxidation of sulfide minerals, and mixing of water in aquifer profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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18 pages, 3536 KiB  
Article
Stable Isotopes of Precipitation in China: A Consideration of Moisture Sources
by Yanlong Kong, Ke Wang, Jie Li and Zhonghe Pang
Water 2019, 11(6), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11061239 - 13 Jun 2019
Cited by 61 | Viewed by 5742
Abstract
An accurate representation of the spatial distribution of stable isotopes in modern precipitation is vital for interpreting hydrological and climatic processes. Considering the dominant impact of moisture sources in controlling water isotopes and deuterium excess, we conducted a meta-analysis of precipitation isotopes using [...] Read more.
An accurate representation of the spatial distribution of stable isotopes in modern precipitation is vital for interpreting hydrological and climatic processes. Considering the dominant impact of moisture sources in controlling water isotopes and deuterium excess, we conducted a meta-analysis of precipitation isotopes using instrumental data from 68 stations around China. The entire country is divided into five regions according to the major moisture sources: Region I (the westerlies domain), Region II (the arctic domain), Region III (the northeast domain), Region IV (the Pacific domain), and Region V (the Tibetan Plateau). Each region has unique features of spatial distribution and seasonal variation for stable precipitation isotopes and deuterium excess. In particular, seasonal variation in Region IV tracks the onset of Asian summer monsoons well. The regional meteoric water lines are presented for each region. A significant temperature effect is found in Regions I and III, with δ18O-temperature gradients of 0.13–0.68‰/°C and 0.13–0.4‰/°C, respectively. However, the reasons for the temperature effects are quite different. In Region I, this effect is caused by the seasonal shift of the westerlies, whereas in Region III, it is caused by the seasonal difference in moisture sources. The precipitation amount effect is most significant in the region along the southeast coast in China, where the δ18O-precipitation amount the gradient is −0.24 to −0.13‰/mm. The findings in our paper could serve as a reference for isotopic application in hydrological and paleo-climatic research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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16 pages, 2057 KiB  
Article
Local Meteoric Water Line of Northern Chile (18° S–30° S): An Application of Error-in-Variables Regression to the Oxygen and Hydrogen Stable Isotope Ratio of Precipitation
by Tiziano Boschetti, José Cifuentes, Paola Iacumin and Enricomaria Selmo
Water 2019, 11(4), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040791 - 16 Apr 2019
Cited by 50 | Viewed by 5865
Abstract
In this study, a revision of the previously published data on hydrogen (2H/1H) and oxygen (18O/16O) stable isotope ratio of precipitation in northern Chile is presented. Using the amount-weighted mean data and the combined standard [...] Read more.
In this study, a revision of the previously published data on hydrogen (2H/1H) and oxygen (18O/16O) stable isotope ratio of precipitation in northern Chile is presented. Using the amount-weighted mean data and the combined standard deviation (related to both the weighted mean calculation and the spectrometric measurement), the equation of the local meteoric line calculated by error-in-variables regression is as follows: Northern Chile EIV-LMWL: δ2H = [(7.93 ± 0.15) δ18O] + [12.3 ± 2.1]. The slope is similar to that obtained by ordinary least square regression or other types of regression methods, whether weighted or not (e.g., reduced major axis or major axis) by the amount of precipitation. However, the error-in-variables regression is more accurate and suitable than ordinary least square regression (and other types of regression models) where statistical assumptions (i.e., no measurement errors in the x-axis) are violated. A generalized interval of δ2H = ±13.1‰ is also proposed to be used with the local meteoric line. This combines the confidence and prediction intervals around the regression line and appears to be a valid tool for distinguishing outliers or water samples with an isotope composition significantly different from local precipitation. The applicative examples for the Pampa del Tamarugal aquifer system, snow samples and the local geothermal waters are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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Review

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19 pages, 1886 KiB  
Review
Stable Isotopes of Water and Nitrate for the Identification of Groundwater Flowpaths: A Review
by Hyejung Jung, Dong-Chan Koh, Yun S. Kim, Sung-Wook Jeen and Jeonghoon Lee
Water 2020, 12(1), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010138 - 01 Jan 2020
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 13446
Abstract
Nitrate contamination in stream water and groundwater is a serious environmental problem that arises in areas of high agricultural activities or high population density. It is therefore important to identify the source and flowpath of nitrate in water bodies. In recent decades, the [...] Read more.
Nitrate contamination in stream water and groundwater is a serious environmental problem that arises in areas of high agricultural activities or high population density. It is therefore important to identify the source and flowpath of nitrate in water bodies. In recent decades, the dual isotope analysis (δ15N and δ18O) of nitrate has been widely applied to track contamination sources by taking advantage of the difference in nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios for different sources. However, transformation processes of nitrogen compounds can change the isotopic composition of nitrate due to the various redox processes in the environment, which often makes it difficult to identify contaminant sources. To compensate for this, the stable water isotope of the H2O itself can be used to interpret the complex hydrological and hydrochemical processes for the movement of nitrate contaminants. Therefore, the present study aims at understanding the fundamental background of stable water and nitrate isotope analysis, including isotope fractionation, analytical methods such as nitrate concentration from samples, instrumentation, and the typical ranges of δ15N and δ18O from various nitrate sources. In addition, we discuss hydrograph separation using the oxygen and hydrogen isotopes of water in combination with the nitrogen and oxygen isotopes of nitrate to understand the relative contributions of precipitation and groundwater to stream water. This study will assist in understanding the groundwater flowpaths as well as tracking the sources of nitrate contamination using the stable isotope analysis in combination with nitrate and water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Water Stable Isotopes in Hydrological Process)
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