δ18O characteristics of lichens and their effects on evaporative processes of the subjacent soil

The study presents first data on the δ¹⁸O performance of poikilohydrous lichen ground cover, and its potential impact on the isotopic composition of water fluxes arising from subjacent soil layers. As a model organism, the globally distributed lichen Cladina arbuscula was studied under laboratory conditions as well as in the field. During a desiccation experiment, δ¹⁸O of the lichen's thallus water and of its respired CO₂ became enriched by ～7‰ and followed a similar enrichment pattern to that expected from homoiohydrous, vascular plants. However, the observed degree of enrichment was lower in comparison to vascular plants due to (i) the lichen's inherent lower evaporative resistances; and (ii) a stronger effect of the more depleted surrounding water vapour. In lichens growing in their natural habitat, this specific pattern may show substantial variations depending on prevailing microclimatic conditions. Within a field study, thallus water δ¹⁸O of lichens principally proved to become more depleted when close to equilibration with the surroundings. It thereby strongly depended on the absorption of surrounding water vapour. Moreover, the results indicate that lichen mats substantially reduce evaporation rates arising from subjacent soil layers, and may alter the isotopic signal of vapour diffusing away from these layers into more depleted values.     

Estimation of lake water—groundwater interactions in meromictic mining lakes by modelling isotope signatures of lake water

Abstract

A method is presented to assess lake water–groundwater interactions by modelling isotope signatures of lake water using meteorological parameters and field data. The modelling of δ¹⁸O and δD variations offers information about the groundwater influx into a meromictic Lusatian mining lake. Therefore, a water balance model is combined with an isotope water balance model to estimate analogies between simulated and measured isotope signatures within the lake water body. The model is operated with different evaporation rates to predict δ¹⁸O and δD values in a lake that is only controlled by weather conditions with neither groundwater inflow nor outflow. Comparisons between modelled and measured isotope values show whether the lake is fed by the groundwater or not. Furthermore, our investigations show that an adaptation of the Craig and Gordon model [H. Craig, L.I. Gordon. Deuterium and oxygen-18 variations in the ocean and the marine atmosphere. In Stable Isotopes in Oceanographic Studies and Paleotemperature, Spoleto, E. Tongiorgi (Ed.), pp. 9–130, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Laboratorio di Geologia Nucleare, Pisa (1965).] to specific conditions in temperate regions seems necessary.     

Note on the spring region of Gacka River (Croatia)†

We present the first results of a study of the Gacka River spring area, an important Croatian drinking water resource. Stable isotope data (obtained at the Stable Isotope Laboratory SILab in Rijeka) are used in combination with hydrological and meteorological data. The δ¹⁸O values give information on the mean catchment altitudes of the three main springs of Gacka River (Majerovo vrelo, Tonkovi?a vrelo and Pe?ina). Hydrological, meteorological and stable isotope data indicate good mixing of infiltrated and ground waters. The precipitation d-excess shows a seasonally varying influence of continental and maritime air masses.     

Paleoclimatology

The Lamas Basin is an area covering ～4400 km² situated on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey covered with highly karstified limestone and dolomitic limestone from the Miocene and Mesozoic age, respectively. Owing to the area’s low karstification basement, groundwater in the karst aquifer circulates deep from the surface towards the springs along the coast as well as to the submarine springs. This study aims working out the salinization level and recharge characteristics of the Lamas Basin using environmental isotopes techniques. In the study, the data collected previously to discover, in general terms, the groundwater characteristics within the area are reanalyzed to fulfil the purpose of the study. In conclusion, it is found that the down gradient karst springs discharging along the Mediterranean coast mostly contain groundwater contributions from higher altitudes with depleted δ¹⁸O and δ²H compositions. The δ¹⁸O-altitude effect was determined as approximately?0.12 ‰/100 m which may indicate sea-spray intrusion towards inland. As a result, the salinization level of coastal springs changes ranging between 1.2 % and 17.0 %. Owing to the seawater encroachment, Ca–HCO₃ water type changes to Na–HCO₃ or Na-Cl water by the cation exchange during the dry period. As the unique freshwater potential extends along the coastal area, the groundwater production should be exploited in a way that seawater encroachment is kept at minimum.     

Relationship between 18O enrichment in leaf biomass and stomatal conductance

Models that explain the oxygen isotope enrichment in leaf water (and biomass) treat the relationship between the kinetic fractionation that occurs during evapotranspiration and the stomatal conductance in an empirical way. Consequently, the isotopic enrichment is always predicted to decrease with increasing stomatal conductance, regardless of the experimental evidence to the contrary. We explain why and suggest an alternative method to reconcile theory and experiment. We support this with our experimental data on rice and groundnut plants.     

A Review of “Cytogenetic Analysis for Radiation Dose Assessment—A Manual”

Abstract

Technical reports series No. 405, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna 2001 127 pp., 16 figures, Publication date: January 2002     

Anomalous fluoride concentration in groundwater—is it natural or pollution? A stable isotope approach

Fluoride anomalies (up to 11 mg/l) have been detected in groundwater of the central region of Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil, in an area where fluorosis is endemic. Two hypotheses are investigated concerning the fluoride origin: lithochemical affiliation from regional rock or contamination by fertilisers application. These hypotheses are discussed based on the stable isotope data of water, nitrate, and sulphate, which indicates that the local precipitation is the main groundwater recharge source. The isotopic composition of groundwater sulphate is similar to that of fertiliser sulphate. However, a conclusive assignment of groundwater sulphate to fertiliser origin is not indicated because further possible sulphate sources fall into the same isotopic range. In contrast, the isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate suggests that there is no direct relationship to the use of NPK fertilisers. Hence, an origin of the high fluoride content in groundwater related to long-term rock–water interactions seems likely.     

A new concept for sensitive in situ stable isotope ratio infrared spectroscopy based on sample modulation

Diode-laser absorption spectroscopy finds increasing applications in the emerging field of stable isotope research. To meet the requirements of the water isotopes measurement challenge in environmental research, ways have to be found to cope with the present limitations of spectroscopic systems. In this article, we discuss an approach based on the Stark effect in molecular spectra to reduce the influence of time-dependent, unwanted background structures generally superimposed on the desired signal from the spectral feature under investigation. A road map to high-sensitivity isotopic ratio measurements of water isotopes is presented. On the basis of an Allan Variance analysis of measured data, the detection limits have been calculated as a function of the integration time. To achieve the required optical density of about 6×10^?7 for H₂ ¹⁷O measurements, the duty cycle has to be optimized and the implementation of a sample modulation within an optical multipass cell is a promising approach to increase the stability of spectroscopic instrumentation required for ecosystem research and airborne atmospheric platforms.     

Determination of δ2H and δ18O in saline oil-associated waters: the question of simple vacuum distillation of water samples prior to isotopic analyses

The paper deals with analytical and procedural aspects of δ¹⁸O and δ²H determination in saline oil-associated waters. The main objective of the study was to show experimentally the qualitative and quantitative applicability of the simple vacuum distillation of saline oil-associated waters while routine procedures of water isotopic analyses are applied. Additionally, two standard off-line techniques of δ²H determination in water – the zinc and the chromium method – have been compared. Each time a typical isotope salt effect has been tracked on the Dead Sea water. The results clearly show that application of the simple vacuum distillation improve the accuracy and reproducibility of δ²H determinations, especially in chromium off-line technique which appeared to be more sensitive to water salinity. The simple vacuum distillation does not improve the quality of δ¹⁸O determinations in the range of water salinities studied. Its application to high concentrated brines (for example, Dead Sea water) decreases the time of equilibration but still propagate the isotopic error connected with low water activity (in the case of ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio) and the incomplete water extraction from the remaining salts (in the case of ²H/¹H ratio); in consequence, its time-consuming application seems to be baseless.     

Stable isotope signatures of meteoric water in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin,Namibia: Seasonal characteristics,trends and relations to southern African patterns

ABSTRACT

The study area is the Namibian part of the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin (CEB), located in central northern Namibia. The CEB is home to 40 % of Namibia’s population, and most of the people live in rural areas. These people depend on both surface and groundwater resources which are limited in this dryland (mean annual rainfall ranging from 250 to 550?mm/a). The isotopic signatures of δ¹⁸O and δ²H from water samples (n?=?61) collected over a course of 9 years from various research projects and existing (but mainly unpublished) data of meteoric water of the CEB (10 sites) were evaluated and local meteoric water lines (LMWLs) developed. Further, the data is discussed in the context of seasonal characteristics and trends and compared to available data from the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) for the southern African region. Our results extend the portfolio of previously published LMWLs for southern Africa and provide a more precise baseline for any isotope-based study in that region. The slope of the LMWL from the GNIP stations correlates with latitude. This correlation cannot be found within the CEB. The dominant control on the isotopic signature of the CEB of precipitation is seasonal.     

Estimation of snow and glacier melt contribution to Liddar stream in a mountainous catchment,western Himalaya: an isotopic approach

Snow- and glacier-dominated catchments in the Himalayas are important sources of fresh water to more than one billion people. However, the contribution of snowmelt and glacier melt to stream flow remains largely unquantified in most parts of the Himalayas. We used environmental isotopes and geochemical tracers to determine the source water and flow paths of stream flow draining the snow- and glacier-dominated mountainous catchment of the western Himalaya. The study suggested that the stream flow in the spring season is dominated by the snowmelt released from low altitudes and becomes isotopically depleted as the melt season progressed. The tracer-based mixing models suggested that snowmelt contributed a significant proportion (5–66?%) to stream flow throughout the year with the maximum contribution in spring and summer seasons (from March to July). In 2013 a large and persistent snowpack contributed significantly (～51?%) to stream flow in autumn (September and October) as well. The average annual contribution of glacier melt to stream flow is little (5?%). However, the monthly contribution of glacier melt to stream flow reaches up to 19?% in September during years of less persistent snow pack.     

Isotope Studies of Hydrogen and Oxygen in Ground Ice - Experiences with the Equilibration Technique

Abstract

Equilibration technique suitable for a large amount ofsamples is described for hydrogen and oxygen isotope analyses of ground ice, especially ice wedges, including the sampling strategy and the analytical procedure as well as the calibration of the Finnigan MAT Delta-S mass spectrometer in June, 1999. Since for future analyses of ice wedges, a higher sampling resolution with limited sample volume is required, the limit of the equliibration technique for small water samples size of between 0.05 and 5 ml was checked. For water samples smaller than 1ml, corresponding to a molar ratio [H₂O]/[H₂] of smaller than 0.994, a balance correction has to be applied. The experimental errors due to partial evaporation during evacuation, the balance calcultion of the isotope equilibration process, the linearity as well as memory effects of the mass spectrometer for smaples with large differences in δ¹⁸O and δD are tackled in this paper. In the polar regions of Northern Siberia without Late Pleistocene and Holocene glaciation, ground ice is used as an archive for paleoclimate studies. First results of stable isotope measurements on ice wedges clearly show a shift towards heavier isotopes and thus warmer winter temperatures as well as a change in the source of the precipitation between Late Pleistocene and Holocene. These results indicate the high potential of ground ice for paleoclimate studies.     

Helicobacter Pylori in Vivo Diagnosis after Food Intake: Results of Simultaneous [15N]Urea Urine and [13C]Acetate Breath Tests

Abstract

The protocols for ¹³C and ¹⁵N H. pylori tests stipulate that the diagnostic agent should be taken on an empty stomach. It is presumed that food intake prior to the tests leads to less reliable test results due to a prolongation of the gastric residence time of the diagnostic agent urea. This might allow the bacteria to split a higher proportion of urea, resulting in an increased number of false positives. 12 probands received 150mg [¹⁵N]urea and 75 mg sodium [¹³C]acetate in 75 ml orange juice as a test drink. [¹⁵N]Urea served as an agent to diagnose gastric H. pylori colonization. The ¹⁵N tests were evaluated using a urine sample of the second hour after test start. [¹³C]Acetate served as a marker of the gastric emptying of water-soluble food including the urea under the influence of food intake. Breath air samples were taken to calculate the gastric emptying half life (EHL) and the apparent resorption time (RT) of the urea. The double tests were carried out four times within four weeks using identical test protocols but different     

Isotopic characteristics of meteoric waters in the Belgrade region

Abstract

The stable isotope composition of hydrogen (δ²H) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) in monthly precipitation and river water (Sava River and Danube) samples in the Belgrade area gathered between 1992 and 2005 are determined. The local meteoric water line δ²H=7.8 (±0.2) δ¹⁸O+7.3(±1.6) (r ²=0.98, n=60, σ=0.52) for the whole period of observation is close to the global meteoric water line. The amount-weighted mean δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of precipitation were?65±27 ‰ and?9.4±3.4 ‰, respectively. Good correlation between δ¹⁸O values (r>rsim0.67) and ambient temperature and relative humidity was obtained. Stream-water data ranged from?94 to?60 ‰ for δ²H and from?11.0 to ～5.7 ‰ for δ¹⁸O with highly statistically significant difference (p>0.01) between the Sava River and the Danube. In addition, the isotopic compositions of local precipitation and adjacent river water at monitoring sites were compared. Obtained data will give an opportunity to improve the knowledge of mixing stream water and local groundwater, and assessment of potential groundwater risks and pressures in the Belgrade basin.     

Identifying the mean residence time of soil water for different vegetation types in a water source area of the Yuanyang Terrace,southwestern China

The mean residence time of soil water (MRT_sw) for forestland and shrubland in a water source area of Yuanyang Terrace, southwestern China, was estimated using stable isotope tracer tests and the sine-wave regression model. Stable isotope analyses from precipitation and soil water were performed in 2015. The δ²H/δ¹⁸O relationship of precipitation resulted in δ²H?=?7.31δ¹⁸O?+?1.49, which is nearly identical to the local meteoric water line in Kunming, southwestern, China. The MRT_sw was simulated at five depth ranges (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, 80–100?cm) of the two vegetation types by precipitation δ¹⁸O input data and soil water δ¹⁸O output data. The results showed that the MRT_sw values of the forestland and shrubland both increased with soil depth. However, differences in the MRT_sw of the forestland (between day 53 and 94) and of the shrubland (between day 76 and 142) were discussed. Regarding the physical properties of the soil profiles from the sample plots, non-capillary porosity decreased with soil depth in the forestland (from 48.5 to 20.5?%), and was clearly higher than that in the shrubland (from 38.8 to 18.7?%). Therefore, non-capillary porosity (macropores) could be a factor that shortens the mean residence time of soil water.     

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.     

In Memory of Professor Carl Friedrich Weiss: (24 January 1901–28 October 1981)

Abstract

Radiological Protection for Medical Exposure to Ionizing Radiation. Safety Guide Safety Standards Series No. RS-G-1.5. International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna 2002, 75 pp.

Optimization of Radiation Protection in the Control of Occupational Exposure Safety Reports Series No. 21. International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna 2002, 66 pp.     

Seawater intrusion into groundwater aquifer through a coastal lake - complex interaction characterised by water isotopes 2H and 18O

The present study investigates the complex interactions among surface waters, groundwaters and a coastal lake in northeastern Greece, using their stable isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O, δ²H) in combination with hydrogeological and hydrochemical data. Seasonal and spatial trends of water isotopes were studied and revealed that all water bodies in the study area interact. It was also shown that the aquifer's increased salinity is not due to fossil water from past geological periods, but is attributed to brackish lake water intrusion into the aquifer induced by the extensive groundwater pumping for irrigation purposes. Quantification of the contribution of the lake to the aquifer was achieved using the simple dilution formula. The isotopic signatures of the seawater and the groundwaters are considerably different, so there is a very little possibility of direct seawater intrusion into the aquifer.     

Groundwater of the Crimean peninsula: a first systematic study using stable isotopes

ABSTRACT

Karst springs in the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains and the Crimean Piedmont show a restricted range of values (δ¹⁸O?=?–10.5 to –8.0 ‰, δ²H?=?–72 to –58 ‰), somewhat more negative than the weighted mean of meteoric precipitation. This suggests preferential recharge at higher elevations during winter months. Groundwater tapped by boreholes splits in three groups. A first group has isotopic properties similar to those of the springs. The second group shows significantly lower values (δ¹⁸O?=?–13.3 to –12.0 ‰, δ²H?=?–95 to –82 ‰), suggesting recharge during colder Pleistocene times. The third group has high isotope values (δ¹⁸O?=?–2.5 to +1.0 ‰, δ²H?=?–24 to –22 ‰); the data points are shifted to the right of the Local Meteoric Water Line, suggesting water–rock exchange processes in the aquifer. These boreholes are located in the Crimean Plains and discharge mineralized (ca. 25 g L^?1) thermal (65°C) water from a depth of 1600–1800 m. Groundwater associated with mud volcanoes on the Kerch peninsula have distinct isotope characteristics (δ¹⁸O?=?–1.6 to +9.4 ‰, δ²H?=?–30 to –18 ‰). Restricted δ²H variability along with variable and high δ¹⁸O values suggest water–rock interactions at temperatures exceeding 95 °C.