Front Cover 1
The Terrestrial Environment, A 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 10
Preface 6
List of Contributors 8
INTRODUCTION 14
Definitions 17
Standards 24
References 30
CHAPTER 1. THE ISOTOPES OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN IN PRECIPITATION 34
Introduction 34
Tritium in atmospheric waters 35
Stable isotope distribution in atmospheric waters: data 42
Models of the isotope fractionation during evaporation and condensation of water in the atmosphere 46
In-storm variation of isotopic composition, cloud models and hailstone studies 50
Stable isotope distribution in atmospheric waters: the global model 53
References 57
CHAPTER 2. CARBON-14 IN HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDIES 62
Introduction 62
The abundance of 14C 62
The 14C age determination 65
14C dating in groundwater 66
Summary 83
References 84
CHAPTER 3. ENVIRONMENTAL ISOTOPES IN GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY 88
Introduction 88
Basic principles 89
Groundwater recharge 95
Relations between surface- and groundwaters 111
Mechanism and components of the run-off 115
Leakage between aquifers 121
Isotope hydrology of fractured rocks 126
Mechanism of salinization 134
Groundwater dating 138
Conclusions 145
References 147
CHAPTER 4. ENVIRONMENTAL ISOTOPES IN ICE AND SNOW 154
Introduction 154
Isotope content of a snow cover in accretion 155
Isotope distribution during the reduction of a temperate snow cover 161
Isotope variations in the transition of snow to glacier ice 167
Snow and ice isotope hydrology 176
Historical glaciology 182
References 187
CHAPTER 5. ISOTOPIC EVIDENCE ON ENVIRONMENTS OF GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS 192
Introduction 192
Isotope hydrology of geothermal systems 193
Geothermometry 208
Isotopic dating of geothermal waters 220
Origin of chemical constituents 224
Solid phase studies 227
Summary 229
Appendix — Methods of collection and analysis 230
References 232
CHAPTER 6. SULPHUR AND OXYGEN ISOTOPES IN AQUEOUS SULPHUR COMPOUNDS 240
Introduction 240
Isotope fractionation 240
Geochemistry and isotope distribution of aqueous sulphur compounds 247
Field studies of groundwater systems 254
Summary 267
References 268
CHAPTER 7. URANIUM DISEQUILIBRIUM IN HYDROLOGIC STUDIES 272
Introduction 272
Isotopic fractionation of 234U 274
Mixing studies: continental waters 279
Mixing and uranium balances: marine waters 283
Aquifer interactions 285
Age dating 289
Summary 290
Appendix — Analytical techniques for 234U and 238U analysis 291
References 292
CHAPTER 8. OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN ISOTOPE EFFECTS IN LOW-TEMPERATURE MINERAL-WATER INTERACTIONS 296
Introduction 296
Isotopic fractionations between minerals and water 297
Isotope effects during weathering and soil formation 307
Isotopic studies of marine sedimentation, halmyrolysis, authigenesis and early diagenesis 311
Evaporite formation 321
Later diagenetic processes 323
Serpentinization of ultramafic rocks 330
Effect of mineral-water interaction on the isotopic composition of pore water 332
References 334
CHAPTER 9. THE ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION OF REDUCED ORGANIC CARBON 342
Introduction 342
Photosynthesis and the carbon isotopic composition of plants 342
The carbon isotopic composition of organic matter in sediments 357
The carbon isotopic composition of fossil fuels 373
The carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric compounds 397
References 406
CHAPTER 10. NITROGEN-15 IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 420
Introduction 420
15N in nature 423
Isotope fractionations 426
15N in organic matter and soils 430
15N in nitrates 433
15N in the hydrosphere 437
References 442
CHAPTER 11. SULPHUR ISOTOPES IN OUR ENVIRONMENT 448
Introduction 448
Terrestrial sulphur isotope abundances and cycling of mobile sulphur compounds 448
Elucidation of sources, mixing, and dispersion of sulphur compounds 453
Sulphur isotope fractionation during transformations of atmospheric and aqueous sulphur compounds 466
Sulphur isotope fractionation in the pedosphere 474
Sulphur isotopes elucidate uptake of industrial sulphur compounds by vegetation 476
Evaluation of anthropogenic and natural sources of sulphur compounds 478
Summary 479
References 480
CHAPTER 12. ENVIRONMENTAL ISOTOPES AS ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL INDICATORS 486
Introduction 486
The carbon and oxygen isotope composition of freshwater shells 487
Freshwater lakes and sediments 497
Deuterium in organic matter as paleoclimatic indicators 508
References 513
References Index 518
Subject Index 545