dc.contributor.author
Scheihing, Konstantin W.
dc.contributor.author
Moya, Claudio E.
dc.contributor.author
Struck, Ulrich
dc.contributor.author
Lictevout, Elisabeth
dc.contributor.author
Tröger, Uwe
dc.date.accessioned
2019-05-27T09:33:21Z
dc.date.available
2019-05-27T09:33:21Z
dc.identifier.uri
https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/24652
dc.identifier.uri
http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/refubium-2415
dc.description.abstract
A collection of 514 stable isotope water samples from the Atacama Desert is being reassessed geostatistically. The evaluation reveals that adjacent Andean catchments can exhibit distinct δ18O and δ2H value ranges in meteoric waters, despite similar sample altitudes of up to 4000 m above sea level (a.s.l.). It is proposed that the individual topographic features of each catchment at the western Andean Precordillera either inhibit or facilitate vapor mixing processes of easterly and westerly air masses with different isotopic compositions. This process likely causes catchment-specific isotope value ranges in precipitations (between −7‰ and −19‰ δ18O) that are being consistently reflected in the isotope values of groundwater and surface waters of these catchments. Further, due to evaporation-driven isotopic fractionation and subsurface water mixing, isotope samples of the regional Pampa del Tamarugal Aquifer plot collectively parallel to the local meteoric water line. Besides, there is no evidence for hydrothermal isotopic water-rock interactions. Overall, the observed catchment-dependent isotope characteristics allow for using δ18O and δ2H as tracers to delineate regionally distinct groundwater compartments and associated recharge areas. In this context, δ18O, δ2H and 3H data of shallow groundwater at three alluvial fans challenge the established idea of recharge from alluvial fans after flash floods.
en
dc.rights.uri
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject
isotope fractionation
en
dc.subject
vapor mixing
en
dc.subject
recharge mechanisms
en
dc.subject
alluvial fan
en
dc.subject
Pampa del Tamarugal
es
dc.subject.ddc
500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::550 Geowissenschaften, Geologie::550 Geowissenschaften
dc.title
Reassessing Hydrological Processes That Control Stable Isotope Tracers in Groundwater of the Atacama Desert (Northern Chile)
dc.type
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.articlenumber
3
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.doi
10.3390/hydrology5010003
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.journaltitle
Hydrology
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.number
1
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.volume
5
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.url
https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology5010003
refubium.affiliation
Geowissenschaften
refubium.resourceType.isindependentpub
no
dcterms.accessRights.openaire
open access
dcterms.isPartOf.issn
2306-5338