Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 1453-1463

Journal: Journal of Mountain Science

Volume number: 13

Issue number: 8

ISSN: 1672-6316

eISSN: 1993-0321

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3076-3

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
To evaluate isotopic tracers at natural abundances by providing basic isotope data of the hydrological investigations and assessing the impacts of different factors on the water cycle, a total of 197 water samples were collected from the Laohugou Glacial catchment in the Shule River basin northwestern China during the 2013 ablation seasons and analyzed their H- and O-isotope composition. The results showed that the isotopic composition of precipitation in the Qilianshan Station in the Laohugou Glacial catchment was remarkable variability. Correspondingly, a higher slope of delta (18) O-delta D diagram, with an average of 8.74, is obtained based on the precipitation samples collected on the Glacier No.12, mainly attributed to the lower temperature on the glacier surface. Because of percolation and elution, the isotopic composition at the bottom of the firn is nearly steady. The delta (18) O/altitude gradients for precipitation and melt water were -0.37aEuro degrees/100 m and -0.34aEuro degrees/100 m, respectively. Exposed to the air and influenced by strong ablation and evaporation, the isotopic values and the delta (18) O vs delta D diagram of the glacial surface ice show no altitudinal effect, indicating that glacier ice has the similar origins with the firn. The variation of isotopic composition in the melt water, varying from -10.7aEuro degrees to -16.9aEuro degrees (delta (18) O) and from -61.1aEuro degrees to -122.1aEuro degrees (delta D) indicates the recharging of snowmelt and glacial ice melt water produced at different altitudes. With a mean value of -13.3aEuro degrees for delta 18O and -89.7aEuro degrees for delta D, the isotopic composition of the stream water is much closer to the melt water, indicating that stream water is mainly recharged by the ablation water. Our results of the stable isotopic compositions in natural water in the Laohugou Glacial catchment indicate the fractionations and the smoothing fluctuations of the stable isotopes during evaporation, infiltration and mixture.

Harvard Citation style: Wu Jin-kui, Ding Yong-jian, Yang Jun-hua, Liu Shi-wei, Chen Ji-zu, Zhou Jia-xin, et al. (2016) Spatial variation of stable isotopes in different waters during melt season in the Laohugou Glacial Catchment, Shule River basin, Journal of Mountain Science, 13(8), pp. 1453-1463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3076-3

APA Citation style: Wu Jin-kui, Ding Yong-jian, Yang Jun-hua, Liu Shi-wei, Chen Ji-zu, Zhou Jia-xin, & Qin Xiang (2016). Spatial variation of stable isotopes in different waters during melt season in the Laohugou Glacial Catchment, Shule River basin. Journal of Mountain Science. 13(8), 1453-1463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3076-3