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| Titel |
Identifying recharge pattern using stable isotopes of rainfall in semi arid subtropical northwest Australia |
| VerfasserIn |
S. Dogramaci, G. Skrzypek, W. Dodson, P. Grierson |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2012
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 14 (2012) |
| Datensatznummer |
250059315
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The water resources in the semi-arid subtropical Hamersley Basin, is currently subject to
increasing pressure from altered hydrology associated with mining activities as well as water
abstraction for regional development. Sustainable water management across the Basin
therefore must be underpinned by an understanding of the factors that constrain water supply
in arid zones. This study used stable isotopic composition of rainwater, groundwater,
and surface water to demonstrate the importance of evaporation of rain droplets
during rainfall events. We clearly show the importance of the so-called “rain out”
effect at the regional scale. We also developed a local meteoric line to determine the
recharge dynamics to the aquifers in the Hamersley Basin. We found that δ2H and
δ18O values for rainfall events >20 mm were consistent with fresh groundwater,
suggesting that groundwater recharge primarily occurs during intense and high volume
rainfall events. The chemical composition and δ2H and δ18O values of rain, surface
and groundwater were also used to develop a model for the chemical evolution of
water from rainfall to fresh groundwater and ultimately highly saline groundwater. |
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