scholarly journals Technical note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 5821-5834
Author(s):  
Jana von Freyberg ◽  
Julia L. A. Knapp ◽  
Andrea Rücker ◽  
Bjørn Studer ◽  
James W. Kirchner
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Protection Method ◽  
Cost Efficient

Abstract. Automated field sampling of streamwater or precipitation for subsequent analysis of stable water isotopes (2H and 18O) is often conducted with off-the-shelf automated samplers. However, when water samples are stored in the field for days and weeks in open bottles inside autosamplers, their isotopic signatures can be altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing. We therefore designed an evaporation protection method which modifies autosampler bottles using a syringe housing and silicone tube, and we tested whether this method reduces evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing in water samples stored for up to 24 d in 6712 full-size portable samplers (Teledyne ISCO, Lincoln, USA). Laboratory and field tests under different temperature and humidity conditions showed that water samples in bottles with evaporation protection were far less altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing than samples in conventional open bottles. Our design is a cost-efficient approach to upgrade the 1 L sample bottles of the ISCO autosamplers, allowing secure water sample collection in warm and dry environments. Our design can be readily adapted (e.g., by using a different syringe size) to fit the bottles used by many other field autosamplers.

scholarly journals Technical Note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana von Freyberg ◽  
Julia L. A. Knapp ◽  
Andrea Rücker ◽  
Bjørn Studer ◽  
James W. Kirchner
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Protection Method ◽  
Cost Efficient

Abstract. Automated field sampling of streamwater or precipitation for subsequent analysis of stable water isotopes (2H and 18O) is often conducted with off-the-shelf automated samplers. However, water samples stored in the field for days and weeks in open bottles inside autosamplers undergo isotopic fractionation and vapor mixing, thus altering their isotopic signature. We therefore designed an evaporation protection method which modifies autosampler bottles using a syringe housing and silicone tube, and tested whether this method reduces evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing in water samples stored for up to 24 days in ISCO autosamplers (Teledyne ISCO., Lincoln, US). Laboratory and field tests under different temperature and humidity conditions showed that water samples in bottles with evaporation protection were far less altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing than samples in conventional open bottles. Our design is a cost-efficient approach to upgrade the 1-litre sample bottles of ISCO 6712 Full-size Portable Samplers, allowing secure water sample collection in warm and dry environments. Our design can be readily adapted (e.g., by using a different syringe size) to fit the bottles used by many other field autosamplers.

Supplementary material to "Technical Note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana von Freyberg ◽  
Julia L. A. Knapp ◽  
Andrea Rücker ◽  
Bjørn Studer ◽  
James W. Kirchner
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Protection Method ◽  
Supplementary Material

scholarly journals Exploring water cycle dynamics by sampling multiple stable water isotope pools in a developed landscape in Germany

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 3873-3894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Orlowski ◽  
Philipp Kraft ◽  
Jakob Pferdmenges ◽  
Lutz Breuer
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Age Dynamics ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Spatially Distributed ◽  
Water Isotope

Abstract. A dual stable water isotope (δ2H and δ18O) study was conducted in the developed (managed) landscape of the Schwingbach catchment (Germany). The 2-year weekly to biweekly measurements of precipitation, stream, and groundwater isotopes revealed that surface and groundwater are isotopically disconnected from the annual precipitation cycle but showed bidirectional interactions between each other. Apparently, snowmelt played a fundamental role for groundwater recharge explaining the observed differences to precipitation δ values. A spatially distributed snapshot sampling of soil water isotopes at two soil depths at 52 sampling points across different land uses (arable land, forest, and grassland) revealed that topsoil isotopic signatures were similar to the precipitation input signal. Preferential water flow paths occurred under forested soils, explaining the isotopic similarities between top- and subsoil isotopic signatures. Due to human-impacted agricultural land use (tilling and compression) of arable and grassland soils, water delivery to the deeper soil layers was reduced, resulting in significant different isotopic signatures. However, the land use influence became less pronounced with depth and soil water approached groundwater δ values. Seasonally tracing stable water isotopes through soil profiles showed that the influence of new percolating soil water decreased with depth as no remarkable seasonality in soil isotopic signatures was obvious at depths > 0.9 m and constant values were observed through space and time. Since classic isotope evaluation methods such as transfer-function-based mean transit time calculations did not provide a good fit between the observed and calculated data, we established a hydrological model to estimate spatially distributed groundwater ages and flow directions within the Vollnkirchener Bach subcatchment. Our model revealed that complex age dynamics exist within the subcatchment and that much of the runoff must has been stored for much longer than event water (average water age is 16 years). Tracing stable water isotopes through the water cycle in combination with our hydrological model was valuable for determining interactions between different water cycle components and unravelling age dynamics within the study area. This knowledge can further improve catchment-specific process understanding of developed, human-impacted landscapes.

scholarly journals Temporal dynamics of tree xylem water isotopes: In-situ monitoring and modelling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Seeger ◽  
Markus Weiler
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Length Distribution ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Root Tips ◽  
Water Age ◽  
Isotopic Signatures

Abstract. We developed a setup for a fully automated, high frequency in-situ monitoring system of the stable water isotopes Deuterium and 18O in soil water and tree xylem. The setup was tested for 12 weeks within an isotopic labelling experiment during a large artificial sprinkling experiment including three mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees. Our setup allowed for one measurement every 12–20 minutes, enabling us to obtain about seven measurements per day for each of our 15 in-situ probes in the soil and tree xylem. While the labelling induced an abrupt step pulse in the soil water isotopic signature, it took seven to ten days until the isotopic signatures at the trees' stem bases reached their peak label concentrations and it took about 14 days until the isotopic signatures at 8 m stem height levelled off around the same values. During the experiment, we observed the effects of several rain events and dry periods on the xylem water isotopic signatures, which fluctuated between the measured isotopic signatures observed in the upper and lower soil horizons. In order to explain our observations, we combined an already existing root water uptake (RWU) model with a newly developed approach to simulate the propagation of isotopic signatures from the root tips to the stem base and further up along the stem. The key to a proper simulation of the observed short term dynamics of xylem water isotopes, was accounting for sap flow velocities and the flow path length distribution within the root and stem xylem. Our modelling framework allowed us to identify parameter values that relate to root depth, horizontal root distribution and wilting point. The insights gained from this study can help to improve the representation of stable water isotopes in trees within ecohydrological models and the prediction of transit time distribution and water age of transpiration fluxes.

scholarly journals Effects of climatic seasonality on the isotopic composition of evaporating soil waters

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Benettin ◽  
Till H. M. Volkmann ◽  
Jana von Freyberg ◽  
Jay Frentress ◽  
Daniele Penna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Isotopic Composition ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Meteoric Water ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Dual Isotope ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Biased Estimates ◽  
By Products

Abstract. Stable water isotopes are widely used in ecohydrology as tracers of the transport, storage, and mixing of water on its journey through landscapes and ecosystems. Evaporation leaves a characteristic signature on the isotopic composition of the water that is left behind, such that in dual-isotope space, evaporated waters plot below the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) that characterizes precipitation. Soil and xylem water samples can often plot below the LMWL as well, suggesting that they have also been influenced by evaporation. These soil and xylem water samples frequently plot along linear trends in dual-isotope space. These trendlines are sometimes termed evaporation lines and their intersection with the LMWL is sometimes interpreted as the isotopic composition of the precipitation source water. Here we use numerical experiments based on established isotope fractionation theory to show that these trendlines are often by-products of the seasonality in evaporative fractionation and in the isotopic composition of precipitation. Thus, they are often not true evaporation lines, and, if interpreted as such, can yield highly biased estimates of the isotopic composition of the source water.

scholarly journals Exploring water cycle dynamics through sampling multitude stable water isotope pools in a small developed landscape of Germany

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1809-1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Orlowski ◽  
P. Kraft ◽  
L. Breuer
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Water Isotope

Abstract. Conducting a dual stable water isotope (δ2H and δ18O) study in the developed landscape of the Schwingbach catchment (Germany) helped to unravel connectivity and disconnectivity between the different water cycle components. The two-year weekly to biweekly measurements of precipitation, stream, and groundwater isotopes revealed that surface and groundwater are decoupled from the annual precipitation cycle but showed bidirectional interactions between each other. Seasonal variations based on temperature effects were observed in the precipitation signal but neither reflected in stream nor in groundwater isotopic signatures. Apparently, snowmelt played a fundamental role for groundwater recharge explaining the observed differences to precipitation δ-values. A spatially distributed snapshot sampling of soil water isotopes in two soil depths at 52 sampling points across different land uses (arable land, forest, and grassland) revealed that top soil isotopic signatures were similar to the precipitation input signal. Preferential water flow paths occurred under forested soils explaining the isotopic similarities between top and subsoil isotopic signatures. Due to human-impacted agricultural land use (tilling and compression) of arable and grassland soils, water delivery to the deeper soil layers was reduced, resulting in significant different isotopic signatures. However, the land use influence smoothed out with depth and soil water approached groundwater δ-values. Seasonally tracing stable water isotopes through soil profiles showed that the influence of new percolating soil water decreased with depth as no remarkable seasonality in soil isotopic signatures was obvious at depth > 0.9 m and constant values were observed through space and time. Little variation in individual isotope time series of stream and groundwater restricted the use of classical isotope hydrology techniques e.g. mean transit time estimation or hydrograph separation. Still, tracing stable water isotopes through the water cycle was valuable for determining interactions between different water cycle components and gaining catchment specific process understanding in a developed, human-impacted landscape.

Origin of the waters sourced by trees in a pre-Alpine forested catchment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Zuecco ◽  
Chiara Marchina ◽  
Amin Anam ◽  
Michael Engel ◽  
Jay Frentress ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Vacuum Distillation ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Forested Catchment ◽  
Cryogenic Vacuum ◽  
Suction Lysimeters

<p>Stable water isotopes have proven to be useful tracers to determine the origin of water taken up by plants, quantify the relative contributions of water sources to stream runoff and investigate water flow paths. However, the presence of different water pools in a catchment and soil water allocation complicates our understanding of water cycling, and calls for research on processes governing soil water movement and storage, as well as interactions between soil and plants.</p><p>In this study, we used isotopic data from a forested catchment in the Italian pre-Alps to i) investigate the spatial and temporal variability of the isotopic signature of various water sources, and ii) determine which waters are used by beech and chestnut trees in the study area.</p><p> </p><p>Ecohydrological and hydrometeorological monitoring took place in the 2.4-ha Ressi catchment (Northern Italy). Elevations range from 598 to 721 m a.s.l., while average slope is 31°. Average annual precipitation is about 1695 mm, while average annual temperature is 9.7 °C. The entire catchment is covered by deciduous forest, with beech, chestnut, hazel and maple as the main tree species.</p><p>Water samples for isotopic analysis were taken monthly from bulk precipitation, approximately bi-weekly from stream water, groundwater and soil water by two suction lysimeter cups in the riparian zone. Bulk soil water samples and twigs for xylem water extraction by cryogenic vacuum distillation were collected starting in June, 2017. All water samples were analysed by laser spectroscopy, except xylem water that was analysed by mass spectrometry.</p><p> </p><p>Stream water, groundwater and soil water extracted by suction lysimeters were isotopically similar to precipitation and aligned to the local meteoric water line. Bulk soil water obtained by cryogenic vacuum distillation showed an evaporation signature, especially on the hillslope where soil moisture was lower and soil water had been extracted by suction lysimeters only during or just after a large rainfall event. This indicates that soil water sampled by suction lysimeters and extracted by cryogenic vacuum distillation is stored differently in the soil layers due to the different soil tension, and hillslopes tend to store less mobile soil water compared to the riparian zone. At greater depths, bulk soil water extracted by cryogenic vacuum distillation was slightly less evaporated and less enriched in heavy isotopes compared to soil water extracted from shallower layers. The isotopic composition of xylem water had a large temporal and tree-species variability, with chestnut xylem water samples more enriched in heavy isotopes than samples obtained from beech trees. Xylem water was more similar to soil water obtained by cryogenic vacuum distillation, suggesting that in the study area trees likely use more bulk soil water than the mobile soil water, groundwater and stream water.</p><p> </p><p>Keywords: stable water isotopes; soil water; xylem water; forested catchment.</p>

scholarly journals Untangling hydrological pathways and nitrate diffusive sources by chemical appraisal in a stream network of a reservoir catchment

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 2289-2322
Author(s):  
M. A. Yevenes-Burgos ◽  
C. M. Mannaerts
Keyword(s):  
Stream Flow ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Water Runoff ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Stream Network ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Nitrate Concentrations

Abstract. Stable water isotopes and water hydrochemistry of a catchment in the Alentejo region, south Portugal, were analysed to investigate source origins of water and nitrate flows towards a reservoir. The 353 km2 headwater catchment of Roxo river, is strongly influenced by agricultural impacts, and high variations in water and chemical inflows into an important drinking and irrigation water supply (108 m3) are observed. This leads to regular disputes on water quantity and quality amongst local authorities and population. Three sampling campaigns in different seasons were used to address the temporal and spatial variations in stream and groundwater hydrochemistry and water isotopic signatures. A total of 27 sampling points from the stream network, shallow groundwater and reservoir were used. Isotopic signatures and chemistry of precipitation were obtained from local data of the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) and the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAWSIS) network. Other meteorological, hydrological and environmental datasets were obtained from local authorities. The stable water isotopes deuterium (δ2H), oxygen-18 (δ18O) together with chloride (Cl–) and sulphate (SO42–) were used as environmental tracers in the hydrological pathways. Water pathways were then related with nitrate concentrations to elucidate potential relationships between the water and nutrient sources. Interpretation of isotope signatures showed a high degree of isotope enrichment in both surface (stream flow) and shallow groundwater. For the entire period, most of stream waters were located right of the global meteoric water line or GMWL and plotted along a local evaporation line (LEL) established for the study area. The LEL showed slopes similar to stream systems in other dry environments. Monthly stream flow and precipitation, seasonal isotope compositions and major ion chemistry data were used for an evaluation of the relative contribution of water sources using an end-member mixing analysis. An extensive PCA or principal component analysis preceded the mixing analysis. Contributions of the three water end-members in the catchment: groundwater, surface runoff and precipitation to stream flow could be identified based on their 2H, 18O and Cl– signatures. Also two hydro chemical data outliers for Cl– and NO3– from two sample points were identified by the analysis and could be related to local waste water outfalls, giving the method also diagnostic value for pollution source allocation. The shallow groundwater source could be related to stream nitrate concentrations during the wet seasons, indicating a linkage between hydrological flow paths, nitrate sources and season. Conversely, weak links between precipitation, and surprisingly also surface water runoff and nitrate levels were found. In this catchment, we found a consistent pattern of the particular groundwater end member, being main source of nitrate to the stream water and reservoir, based on conservative mixing of the different water sources.

scholarly journals Effects of climatic seasonality on the isotopic composition of evaporating soil waters

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2881-2890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Benettin ◽  
Till H. M. Volkmann ◽  
Jana von Freyberg ◽  
Jay Frentress ◽  
Daniele Penna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Isotopic Composition ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Meteoric Water ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Dual Isotope ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Biased Estimates ◽  
By Products

Abstract. Stable water isotopes are widely used in ecohydrology to trace the transport, storage, and mixing of water on its journey through landscapes and ecosystems. Evaporation leaves a characteristic signature on the isotopic composition of the water that is left behind, such that in dual-isotope space, evaporated waters plot below the local meteoric water line (LMWL) that characterizes precipitation. Soil and xylem water samples can often plot below the LMWL as well, suggesting that they have also been influenced by evaporation. These soil and xylem water samples frequently plot along linear trends in dual-isotope space. These trend lines are often termed “evaporation lines” and their intersection with the LMWL is often interpreted as the isotopic composition of the precipitation source water. Here we use numerical experiments based on established isotope fractionation theory to show that these trend lines are often by-products of the seasonality in evaporative fractionation and in the isotopic composition of precipitation. Thus, they are often not true evaporation lines, and, if interpreted as such, can yield highly biased estimates of the isotopic composition of the source water.

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