Journal article
Isotope hydrology and baseflow geochemistry in natural and human-altered watersheds in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA
Isotopes in environmental and health studies, Vol.51(2), pp.231-254
04/03/2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/105940
PMID: 25692981
Abstract
This study presents a stable isotope hydrology and geochemical analysis in the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the USA. Isotope ratios were used to estimate mean transit times (MTTs) in natural and human-altered watersheds using the FLOWPC program. Isotope ratios in precipitation resulted in a regional meteoric water line of δ
2
H = 7.42·δ
18
O + 0.88 (n = 316; r
2
= 0.97). Isotope compositions exhibited a strong temperature-dependent seasonality. Despite this seasonal variation, the stream δ
18
O variation was small. A significant regression (τ = 0.11D
−1.09
; r
2
= 0.83) between baseflow MTTs and the damping ratio was found. Baseflow MTTs ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 years (human-altered), 0.7 to 1.7 years (mining-altered), and 0.7 to 3.2 years (forested). Greater MTTs were represented by more homogenous aqueous chemistry whereas smaller MTTs resulted in more dynamic compositions. The isotope and geochemical data presented provide a baseline for future hydrological modelling in the inland PNW.
Metrics
7 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Isotope hydrology and baseflow geochemistry in natural and human-altered watersheds in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA
- Creators
- Ricardo Sánchez-Murillo - Chemistry Department, Universidad NacionalErin S Brooks - Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of IdahoWilliam J Elliot - USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research StationJan Boll - Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Idaho
- Publication Details
- Isotopes in environmental and health studies, Vol.51(2), pp.231-254
- Academic Unit
- Biological Systems Engineering, Department of; Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Identifiers
- 99900546719001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article