Use of isotopes to study floodplain wetland and river flow interaction in the White Volta River basin,Ghana

Floodplain wetlands influence the timing and magnitude of stream responses to rainfall. In managing and sustaining the level of water resource usage in any river catchment as well as when modelling hydrological processes, it is essential that the role of floodplain wetlands in stream flows is recognised and understood. Existing studies on hydrology within the Volta River basin have not adequately represented the variability of wetland hydrological processes and their contribution to the sustenance of river flow. In order to quantify the extent of floodwater storage within riparian wetlands and their contribution to subsequent river discharges, a series of complementary studies were conducted by utilising stable isotopes, physical monitoring of groundwater levels and numerical modelling. The water samples were collected near Pwalugu on the White Volta River and at three wetland sites adjacent to the river using the grab sampling technique. These were analysed for ¹⁸O and ²H. The analysis provided an estimate of the contribution of pre-event water to overall stream flow. In addition, the variation in the isotopic composition in the river and wetland water samples, respectively, revealed the pattern of flow and exchange of water between the wetlands and the main river system.     

The role of soil gas radon survey in exploring unknown subsurface faults at Afamia B dam,Syria

The purpose of this work is to determine a possible connection between anomalous radon values and some expected subsurface geological faults at Afamia B dam which is currently suffering a serious problem of large leakage through its bedrocks. A total of 82 soil gas radon sampling points were measured, using direct active method, over an area of 300 × 300 m which almost covers the entire surface of the reservoir basin. The results revealed a reasonable correlation between the geometric pattern of radon anomalies and the probable orientation of some underlying tectonic lineaments. Abnormal radon values, with peak signals of about 2–5 times higher than the background level, led to the detection of two probable fractured zones, denoted as F₁ and F₂. The data analysis suggests that the leakage of water from Afamia B dam almost runs vertically downwards along N60E trending fault zone F₂. Such a fault is very likely extending down within the Neogene formation to reach the permeable karstic carbonate rocks of Cretaceous at depth, forming large conduits through which the water of the reservoir is possibly drained off. This suggestion was in agreement with the general direction of the groundwater flow in the study area which indicates clearly that the supposed fractured zone F₂ may represent a catchment area for groundwater, and thereby it may constitute the most important structural element concerning the leakage problem of Afamia B reservoir.     

Spatiotemporal patterns of stable isotopes and hydrochemistry in springs and river flow of the upper Karkheh River Basin,Iran

Karst springs of the Zagros Mountains contribute a significant amount to agricultural and human water demands of western and south-western Iran. For an adequate management of available water resources in semi-arid and arid regions, sufficient hydrological monitoring is needed, and hydro-chemical and isotope hydrological data provide important additional information. About 350 water samples were collected from precipitation, river water, and karst springs of the upper part of the Karkheh River Basin (20,895 km²) located between 33°35^′ and 34°55^′ North and 46°22^′ and 49°10^′ East with elevations ranging from 928 to 3563 m above sea level. Sampling was conducted in monthly time resolution from August 2011 to July 2012. All samples were analysed for hydro-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, and major ions) and stable isotopes (deuterium, oxygen-18). Isotope values of precipitation indicate a local meteoric water line (Zagros MWL δ²H=6.8 δ¹⁸O+10.1; R²=0.99) situated between the Mediterranean MWL and Global MWL. Spring and river water isotope values vary between?7.1 and?4.1 ‰, and?38 and?25 ‰ for δ¹⁸O and δ²H, respectively, responding to winter snowmelt and evaporation. This work implements stable isotopes and hydro-chemical information of springs and river water to understand hydrological and hydro-geological interrelations in karstic semi-arid areas and helps to improve the current water resources management practices of western Iran.     

Insights from stable isotopes of water and hydrochemistry to the evolutionary processes of groundwater in the Subei lake basin,Ordos energy base,Northwestern China

ABSTRACT

Changes in groundwater evolutionary processes due to aquifer overexploitation show a world-wide increase and have been of growing concern in recent years. The study aimed to improve the knowledge of groundwater evolutionary processes by means of stable water isotopes and hydrochemistry in a representative lake basin, Ordos energy base. Groundwater, precipitation, and lake water collected during four campaigns were analysed by stable isotopes and chemical compositions. Results showed that temperature effect predominated the isotope fractionation in precipitation, while evaporation and inadequate groundwater recharge were the key factors explaining high salinity and isotopic enrichment in lake water. Additionally, the Kuisheng Lake was a preferential area of groundwater recharge, while the Subei Lake received less sources from underlying aquifer due to the combined effects of low permeable zone and upstream groundwater captured by the production wells. The homogeneous isotope signatures of groundwater may be ascribed to the closely vertical hydraulic connectivity between the unconfined and the confined aquifers. Isotopically enriched groundwater pumping from well field probably promoted isotopic depletion in groundwater depression cone. These findings not only provide the conceptual framework for the inland basin, but also have important implications for sustainable groundwater management in other groundwater discharge basins with arid climate.     

Reactive glass and vegetation patterns

The formation of vegetation patterns in the arid and the semiarid climatic zones is studied. Threshold for the biomass of the perennial flora is shown to be a relevant factor, leading to a frozen disordered pattern in the arid zone. In this "glassy" state, vegetation appears as singular plant spots separated by irregular distances, and an indirect repulsive interaction among shrubs is induced by the competition for water. At higher precipitation rates, the diminishing of hydrological losses in the presence of flora becomes important and yields spatial attraction and clustering of biomass. Turing patterns with characteristic length scale emerge from the disordered structure due to this positive-feedback instability.     

半干旱采煤塌陷不同应力区典型植物高光谱特征分析

利用高光谱反演、监测植被生长状况的基础是光谱特征识别。以半干旱采煤塌陷区为样地，利用Field Spec 3地物光谱仪与SPAD-502叶绿素仪同步采集采煤地表塌陷形成的不同应力区(非采区、中性区、拉伸区、压缩区)典型植物叶片光谱反射率与叶绿素含量(SPAD值)，分析典型植物相同应力区SPAD值升高其光谱特征的变化，对比不同应力区典型植物SPAD值较高与较低时光谱特征的差异，并借助Matlab软件深入研究不同应力区典型植物SPAD值与差值指数、归一化指数的相关关系。结果表明：(1)不同应力区同种植物光谱曲线随着SPAD值不同变化规律相异，可见光波段区分明显，其余波段受应力影响的区域样本SPAD值不同，反射率比非采区波动更为剧烈与无序。可见光波段，糙隐子草、柠条、杨树、油蒿SPAD值低的样本光谱曲线绿峰缺失，SPAD值升高，绿峰出现但位置红移，SPAD值高于30时，为典型植被光谱曲线，油松样本SPAD值越高反射峰值越小；受应力影响的区域SPAD值低的样本谷、峰、边特征参数缺失更多，光谱变化规律不强。(2)400～700 nm波段，不同应力区糙隐子草、油蒿、油松、柠条样本SPAD值较低组反射率显著高于较高组，杨树样本相反；780～1 350 nm波段，拉伸区的糙隐子草、非采区的油蒿和柠条、压缩区的油松和杨树样本SPAD值较高组与较低组的反射率差异小；相较于非采区，受应力影响的糙隐子草、油蒿、柠条样本在所测波段SPAD值较高组与较低组的同波段反射率差值显著减小。(3)受应力影响的区域样本SPAD值与光谱指数相关性较之非采区在某些波段大面积增强。与非采区相比，中性区的油蒿、油松、柠条、杨树样本SPAD值与光谱指数的最大相关系数值均增大，糙隐子草相反；非采区植物SPAD值与NDVI最大相关系数均高于DI，波段组合多位于近红外，受应力影响区域的样本最大相关系数多数位于可见光波段。本研究为矿区不同应力区典型植物高光谱波段识别与植物健康状态监测、矿区生态环境精准治理提供了理论支撑。     

Isotope fractionation of sandy-soil water during evaporation – an experimental study

Soil samples containing water with known stable isotopic compositions were prepared. The soil water was recovered by using vacuum/heat distillation. The experiments were held under different conditions to control rates of water evaporation and water recovery. Recoveries, δ¹⁸O and δ²H values of the soil water were determined. Analyses of the data using a Rayleigh distillation model indicate that under the experimental conditions only loosely bound water is extractable in cases where the recovery is smaller than 100?%. Due to isotopic exchange between vapour and remaining water in the micro channels or capillaries of the soil matrix, isotopic fractionation may take place under near-equilibrium conditions. This causes the observed relationship between δ²H and δ¹⁸O of the extracted water samples to have a slope close to 8. The results of this study may indicate that, in arid zones when soil that initially contains water dries out, the slope of the relationship between δ²H and δ¹⁸O values should be close to 8. Thus, a smaller slope, as observed by some groundwater and soil water samples in arid zones, may be caused by evaporation of water before the water has entered the unsaturated zone.     

山东昌乐蓝宝石生长环带的FTIR和LA-ICP-MS 研究

山东昌乐蓝宝石生长环带的显微红外光谱和LA-ICP-MS研究结果表明：蓝宝石中的环带颜色成因与晶格中的-OH有相应的关系。在内部含有六边形环带的蓝宝石中,同一环带上的-OH含量相近;不同颜色环带中的-OH含量不相同,其中暗带中的-OH含量最高,过渡带次之,亮带为零;环带中-OH含量与微量元素Ti成正相关,可以用于反映蓝宝石形成过程中环境的变化。当环境中的含氢量较高时,会有较多的Ti4+-Fe2+对替代Al3+进入蓝宝石晶格;当环境中的含氢量较低时,则较少或者没有Ti4+-Fe2+对替代Al3+进入蓝宝石晶格;充分考虑蓝宝石晶格中-OH的分布特征,有利于为蓝宝石的呈色机理研究、高品质蓝宝石合成与优化等提供新的科学思路。     

Defining a stable water isotope framework for isotope hydrology application in a large trans-boundary watershed (Russian Federation/Ukraine)

Stable isotopes of hydrogen (²H) and oxygen (¹⁸O) of the water molecule were used to assess the relationship between precipitation, surface water and groundwater in a large Russia/Ukraine trans-boundary river basin. Precipitation was sampled from November 2013 to February 2015, and surface water and groundwater were sampled during high and low flow in 2014. A local meteoric water line was defined for the Ukrainian part of the basin. The isotopic seasonality in precipitation was evident with depletion in heavy isotopes in November–March and an enrichment in April–October, indicating continental and temperature effects. Surface water was enriched in stable water isotopes from upstream to downstream sites due to progressive evaporation. Stable water isotopes in groundwater indicated that recharge occurs mainly during winter and spring. A one-year data set is probably not sufficient to report the seasonality of groundwater recharge, but this survey can be used to identify the stable water isotopes framework in a weakly gauged basin for further hydrological and geochemical studies.     

基于植被光谱监测喀斯特异质性生境可行性研究

选取喀斯特与非喀斯特典型植被及共生植被,基于植被光谱分析和典范对应分析(CCA)探讨喀斯特植被光谱与喀斯特生境的关系。结果表明：在可见光波段范围(400～680 nm)的一阶导数光谱和短波红外波段(1 300～2 500 nm)的反射率光谱,喀斯特与非喀斯特植被光谱具有显著的差异特征;土壤水分含量和钙含量对喀斯特植被光谱特征具有较大影响,CCA二维排序图能够成功地将喀斯特植被与非喀斯特植被区分开。研究表明植被光谱特征与其生境条件密切相关,基于植被光谱特征来监测喀斯特异质性生境是可能的。     

Linking chloride mass balance infiltration rates with chlorofluorocarbon and SF6 groundwater dating in semi-arid settings: potential and limitations

In the framework of the investigation of enrichment processes of nitrate in groundwater of the Kalahari of Botswana near Serowe, recharge processes were investigated. The thick unsaturated zone extending to up to 100 m of mostly unconsolidated sediments and very low recharge rates pose a serious challenge to study solute transport related to infiltration and recharge processes, as this extends past the conventional depths of soil scientific investigations and is difficult to describe using evidence from the groundwater due to the limitations imposed by available tracers. To determine the link between nitrate in the vadose zone and in the uppermost groundwater, sediment from the vadose zone was sampled up to a depth of 15–20 m (in one case also to 65 m) on several sites with natural vegetation in the research area. Among other parameters, sediment and water were analysed to determine chloride and nitrate concentration depth profiles. Using the chloride mass balance method, an estimation of groundwater infiltration rates produced values of 0.2–4 mm a^?1. The uncertainty of these values is, however, high. Because of the extreme thickness of the vadose zone, the travel time in the unsaturated zone might reach extreme values of up to 500 years and more. For investigations using groundwater, we applied the chlorofluorocarbons CFC-113, CFC-12, sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) and tritium to identify potential recharge, and found indications for some advective transport of the CFCs and SF₆, which we accounted for as constituting potential active localised recharge. In our contribution, we show the potential and limitations of the applied methods to determine groundwater recharge and coupled solute transport in semi-arid settings, and compare travel time ranges derived from soil science and groundwater investigations.     

Using environmental isotopes 2H and 18O for identification of infiltration processes in floodplain ecosystems of the River Elbe

We examined a floodplain area in the middle section of the river Elbe Valley with regard to hydrogeological and hydrological processes using isotopic methods. Over two years, river water and groundwater have been analysed for temporal and spatial chemical and isotopic (delta2H and delta18O) changes. By these methods we assessed the flow dynamics of the river-groundwater infiltration system. At low and mean river stages there is a general hydraulic gradient from the higher areas at the margin of the valley towards the floodplain. During floods river water infiltrates into the adjacent aquifer not primarily through the river banks but first through surface water inflow from north to south, via depressions and gullies from the back of the floodplain. The early stage of river water infiltration is characterized by a sharp decrease in conductivity and in concentrations of SO4(2-) and Cl- in the hydraulically connected shallow aquifer. delta2H and delta18O values show a similar tendency. We observed a significant minimum in stable isotope ratios during the flood in March 1999. Using a simple mixing equation it was calculated that the groundwater in the upper, shallow aquifer consists of around 70% river water in the transition zone (well 13) during flooding.     

Geochemical signatures (C, N, delta13C, delta15N, metals) of suspended matter in the river Weisse Elster (central Germany): their seasonal and flow-related distribution 1997-2001

Geochemical studies of carbon, nitrogen, delta13C, delta15N as well as Fe, Mn, Cd, Zn, Cr and Hg in suspended matter taken from the river Weisse Elster (central Germany) between 1997 and 2001 reveal significant changes to the composition of the organic sediment load, which correlate with the hydrological period and flow rate. Using C/N ratios and the isotope values of carbon and nitrogen as source indicators, it was found that the organic suspended matter fractions in hydrological winter periods comprise both resuspended mortal plankton material from the riverbed and terrigenous C3 plant material from the clastic input. During the 6 month summer periods, increased bioproductivity results in more dissolved carbon and mineral nitrogen compounds being taken up by the freshly formed aquatic organic substance (freshwater plankton). These compounds stem from bacterial breakdown processes affecting organic components of the river sediment and/or the peripheral soil zone. Increasing fractions of freshwater plankton during the summer period are accompanied by an increase in the nitrogen content and by isotope signatures shifting (delta13C to lower but delta15N to higher values) in the suspended matter. Seasonally opposite correlations between metal contents (e.g. Cd, Zn, Cr, Hg and Fe) and the carbon and nitrogen levels of suspended matter (significantly positive in winter and significantly negative in summer) show that in suspended matter these elements mostly bind to resuspended mortal (rather than the freshly formed living aquatic) organic substance. According to long-term measuring series, between 1993 and 2002 the levels of heavy metals (especially cadmium) in the suspended matter of the river Weisse Elster decreased. Similarly, between 1997 and 2001 the oxygen level in the river Weisse Elster improved. This caused the faster breakdown of organic substance on the riverbed, resulting in the increased uptake of 15N-rich nitrogen compounds into the fresh aquatic organic substance formed every year, and an increase in the conversion of dissolved manganese in the water into insoluble manganese compounds in the river sediment.     

古油层和残余油层的定量颗粒荧光响应

利用定量颗粒荧光(QGF和QGF-E)技术研究了古油层和残余油层的定量颗粒荧光响应。结果表明,古油层与现今油层具有很强的QGF荧光响应,利用QGF荧光响应识别出TZ421井存在100 m古油层,表明早期油气充注规模大,但后期发生泄漏,导致油水界面上升到现今的3 620 m。利用QGF-E荧光响应识别出60m残余油层,说明发生多期古油层泄漏,第一期泄漏使油水界面上升到残余油水界面(3 680 m),第二期泄漏发生在近期,形成现今油水界面。现今凝析气层中的强QGF荧光响应表明凝析气顶形成于最后一期天然气充注。     

Quantitative modeling and mapping of blistering zone of the Magoksa Temple stone pagoda (13th century,Republic of Korea) by graduated heating thermography

Blistering occurring at the stone’s subsurface layer is easily overlooked compared to different deterioration types, so conservation treatments are not applied often. Therefore, non-destructive detection and mapping of blistering zones with the infrared thermography are very important for preservation of the original forms of stone monuments. In this study, the critical temperature and transitional zone of the blistering zone were established by drawing the temperature distribution curve and the mapping for blistering zone was completed by monochrome process and extraction of vector lines. Analysis of the blistering deterioration degree of the Magoksa Temple stone pagoda with the quantitative modeling yielded a total area and average rate of blistering zones of approximately 2.6 m² and 7.4%, respectively. Thus, there is a high probability of scaling on the stone pagoda (area of approximately 2.6 m²) if conservation treatment is not applied to the blistering zones as early as possible. Therefore, the blistering zones require joining and filling, and state changes of the blistering zones should be continuously monitored after completion of the intensive conservation treatments. Modeling will improve the reliability of deterioration maps by mapping for blistering zone; most deterioration maps to date have overlooked blistering zones.     

Distribution of stable isotopes in surface water along the Danube River in Serbia

Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes were analysed in water samples from the River Danube and its tributaries during a longitudinal survey performed in August 2005 on Serbian territory. Danube river water data ranged from-80 per thousand to-66 per thousand for delta2H, and from-11.2 per thousand to-9.3 per thousand for delta18O with delta values increasing downstream. The isotopic signatures of the adjacent tributaries (the Tisza, the Sava and the Velika Morava) sampled at the locations close to their confluence with the Danube (Titel, Ostruznica and Ljubicevski most, respectively) just about the time of the campaign were enriched (-67 per thousand and-63 per thousand for delta2H, and-9.3 per thousand and-8.9 per thousand for delta18O) with respect to the Danube water because of their catchment effects. Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope values were used in combination with measured physico-chemical and biological parameters to trace hydrological and transport processes in these river systems. The mixing relationships between the Danube main stream and its tributaries were estimated using the mass balance for isotopic composition and electrical conductivity as conservative parameters. Evidence of an incomplete mixing process at the Centa location, 8 km below the confluence of the Tisza river, with its participation of 88% was shown by its oxygen-18 content. The correlations between river water isotope composition and physico-chemical and biological parameters are discussed.     

[15N]Methacetin-und [15N]Ammoniumtest zur Leberfunktionsprüfung im Kindesalter

The stable isotope content of samples of precipitation and of the river water throughout the Piracicaba basin in Brazil was measured over a two-year period. The isotope values of precipitation follow a consistent pattern of relatively depleted values of both deuterium and oxygen 18 during the rainy summers and enriched ones during the dry winters, with all values aligned slightly above the Global Meteoric Water Line. The isotopic composition of the river water throughout the basin shows a remarkable spatial coherence and much smaller scatter of data than those of the precipitation. The isotope composition of river water is close to that of the precipitation in the rainy season, however, with a consistent lower d-excess value by 1‰–2‰. This is attributed to evaporative water loss in the basin, in part an expression of the recycling of water due to the anthropogenic activity in the region. The more divergent values are recorded during high-water stages in the rivers. In many cases, the floods during the beginning of the rainy season are characterized by an enrichment of the heavy isotopes and lower d-excess values when compared to the precipitation, with the opposite situation later in the rainy season. This is interpreted as resulting from the watershed/riverflow interaction pattern, and it thus suggests that the isotope composition can monitor the hydrologic situation in the basin and its changes.     

The Piracicaba River basin: isotope hydrology of a tropical river basin under anthropogenic stress

The stable isotope content of samples of precipitation and of the river water throughout the Piracicaba basin in Brazil was measured over a two-year period. The isotope values of precipitation follow a consistent pattern of relatively depleted values of both deuterium and oxygen 18 during the rainy summers and enriched ones during the dry winters, with all values aligned slightly above the Global Meteoric Water Line. The isotopic composition of the river water throughout the basin shows a remarkable spatial coherence and much smaller scatter of data than those of the precipitation. The isotope composition of river water is close to that of the precipitation in the rainy season, however, with a consistent lower d-excess value by 1/1000-2/1000. This is attributed to evaporative water loss in the basin, in part an expression of the recycling of water due to the anthropogenic activity in the region. The more divergent values are recorded during high-water stages in the rivers. In many cases, the floods during the beginning of the rainy season are characterized by an enrichment of the heavy isotopes and lower d-excess values when compared to the precipitation, with the opposite situation later in the rainy season. This is interpreted as resulting from the watershed/riverflow interaction pattern, and it thus suggests that the isotope composition can monitor the hydrologic situation in the basin and its changes.     

Nitrate degradation without 15N enrichment: a hydrochemical and isotopic study of a fractured rock aquifer including embedded lakes

Water samples from three quarry lakes and the surrounding fractured rock aquifer were investigated for delta18O and delta2H (H2O), delta15N and delta18O (NO3-), as well as anions and cations. Lake water and groundwater can be distinguished by their different chemical and isotopic composition. Because of evaporation processes, 18O and 2H are enriched in the lake water and can be used as natural tracers for the water dynamic of the lakes. The groundwater is characterised by high nitrate concentrations (up to 120 mg/l). Lake internal processes reduce the nitrate concentration in the quarry lakes. However, no enrichment of delta15N and delta18O in nitrate, typical for microbial nitrate degradation, is observed in the lake water. Because of the complex flow paths in the fractured rock aquifer and the intense chemical transformations at the interface between groundwater and lake water, isotopic and hydrochemical data of lake water and groundwater alone do not conclusively explain hydrological and hydrochemical processes of the investigated lake-groundwater system.     

淬火天然与合成紫黄晶显微中红外光谱研究

紫黄晶是珍贵的水晶变种，其紫-黄色区域分别具有特征的中红外吸收光谱，在不同温度具有不同变化规律，这些规律无法在单次、单点实验中加以总结。实验通过热处理和显微红外光谱技术，对不同温度淬火紫黄晶的紫-黄色区进行线扫描，分析一系列温度、空间变化下的中红外光谱，实验表明水对于紫黄晶的颜色影响不大，在加热过程中谱线会发生规律性变化。紫色区3 585和3 614 cm-1尖锐峰、3 400 cm-1附近宽泛峰同时变化表明宝石在受热过程以结构水变化为主，而受热后紫色区的特征峰减弱及黄区特征峰增强的现象可能与结构水中H+或其他阳离子的移动有关。同时发现对于热处理产生的黄晶，中红外光谱仍保持紫晶特征吸收光谱。