Spatial Variation and Controlling Factors of H and O Isotopes in Lancang River Water, Southwest China

Yang, Kunhua; Han, Guilin; Zeng, Jie; Liang, Bin; Qu, Rui; Liu, Jinke; Liu, Man

doi:10.3390/ijerph16244932

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Spatial Variation and Controlling Factors of H and O Isotopes in Lancang River Water, Southwest China

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Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(24), 4932; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244932

Received: 28 October 2019 / Revised: 3 December 2019 / Accepted: 4 December 2019 / Published: 5 December 2019

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Abstract

Climate changes and other human activities have substantially altered the hydrological cycle with respect to elevation. In this study, longitudinal patterns in the stable isotopic composition (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) of Lancang River water, originating from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, are presented, and several controlling factors in the wet season are hypothesized. Lancang River water δ²H (−145.2‰ to −60.7‰) and δ¹⁸O (−18.51‰ to −8.49‰) were low but close to those of the Global Meteoric Water Line. In the upper reaches of the river, δ²H decreased longitudinally, potentially due to groundwater inputs and melting ground ice in the headwater zone and to an increasing proportion of glacier meltwater with decreasing elevation. In the middle reaches of the river, δ²H values increased slowly moving downstream, likely due to shifts in precipitation inputs, as evidenced by the isotopic composition of tributaries to the main stream. In the lower reaches of the river, the isotopic composition was relatively invariant, potentially related to the presence of large artificial reservoirs that increase the water resident time. The results reveal different hydrological patterns along an alpine river in central Asia associated with both natural and anthropogenic processes. Understanding the degree and type of human interference with the water cycle in this region could improve water management and water security. View Full-Text

Keywords: hydrogen isotope, oxygen isotope; groundwater; glacier; dams; water cycle; Lancang River; Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

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MDPI and ACS Style

Yang, K.; Han, G.; Zeng, J.; Liang, B.; Qu, R.; Liu, J.; Liu, M. Spatial Variation and Controlling Factors of H and O Isotopes in Lancang River Water, Southwest China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 4932. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244932

AMA Style

Yang K, Han G, Zeng J, Liang B, Qu R, Liu J, Liu M. Spatial Variation and Controlling Factors of H and O Isotopes in Lancang River Water, Southwest China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(24):4932. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244932

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang, Kunhua, Guilin Han, Jie Zeng, Bin Liang, Rui Qu, Jinke Liu, and Man Liu. 2019. "Spatial Variation and Controlling Factors of H and O Isotopes in Lancang River Water, Southwest China" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 24: 4932. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244932

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Spatial Variation and Controlling Factors of H and O Isotopes in Lancang River Water, Southwest China

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