Isotoophüdroloogiat

Isotoophüdroloogiat is the study of water using isotopes. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. In water, the most commonly studied isotopes are hydrogen and oxygen. The natural abundance of different isotopes of hydrogen (protium, deuterium, and tritium) and oxygen (oxygen-16, oxygen-17, and oxygen-18) varies depending on geographical location, climate, and the water cycle processes it has undergone.

By analyzing the isotopic composition of water samples, scientists can trace the origin and movement of water. This technique is valuable in hydrology for understanding groundwater recharge, surface water-groundwater interactions, and the sources of precipitation. It can also help distinguish between different water bodies and determine the age of water. Furthermore, isotoophüdroloogiat is applied in environmental studies to track pollution sources, understand past climate conditions through ice cores and lake sediments, and investigate water resource management issues. The analysis typically involves mass spectrometry, which precisely measures the ratio of different isotopes present in a sample.