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ENVIRONMENTAL ISOTOPES FOR RESOLUTION OF HYDROLOGY PROBLEMS
Citation:
Sidle*, W C. ENVIRONMENTAL ISOTOPES FOR RESOLUTION OF HYDROLOGY PROBLEMS. Wieroma, G.B. (ed.), ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Hingham, MA, 52(3):389-410, (1998).
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The use of environmental isotopes as tracers in the hydrosphere is increasing as analytical instrumentation improves and more applications are discovered. There exists still misconceptions on the role of isotopes in resolving hydrology problems. Naturally occurring isotopes in the environment describe hydrological processes, estimate ages, fingerprint sources and pathways, yet are not subject to the regulatory restraints of artificial isotope injections nor the limited extent of many chemical tracers, particularly dyes and particulates. A short review is presented for practicing hydrologists on the basis for employing stable and radioactive isotopes and a synopsis of recent isotope hydrology applications is provided. Special focus is presented on the emergent role of water isopopes in wet-weather flow research in urban watesheds. A brief technical approach for an experimental site in the Mill Creek Watershed, OH is outlined.
