Isotopes in Hydrology: Building a Scientific Basis for Water Resource Management

Isotopes of light elements (O, H, C) are powerful tracers of the water cycle, often providing unique information on hydrological, climatological and ecological processes. Isotope applications in hydrology are based on the general concept of tracing the distribution or "fingerprints" of naturally occurring, environmental isotopes at different spatial and temporal scales. Isotopes in global precipitation are used for understanding climate-water cycle relationships. Applications in groundwater hydrology are the most widespread as groundwater provides more than half of the world's freshwater supply. Fossil groundwater sustains a significant portion of the current food production by irrigated agriculture, as well as contributes to dry-weather flow of rivers. Groundwater also is a more reliable source of freshwater under changing climatic conditions. Yet, comprehensive aquifer assessments are lacking in many parts of the world. Isotopes and fundamental aspects of aquifer hydrogeology, including recharge, groundwater-surface water interactions, and the extent and distribution of fossil groundwater remain poorly characterized. In this presentation, I will discuss some of these issues with a focus on age dating of groundwater by using carbon-14, and noble gas isotopes.

Argonne Physics Division Seminar Schedule