Tracers in Hydrology

by Leibundgut, Christian; Maloszewski, Piotr; Kü; lls , Christoph

• ISBN13: 9780470747148
• ISBN10: 0470747145
• Edition: 1st
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-09-29
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Tracers in Hydrology and Water Research is a comprehensive overview of the application of natural and artificial tracers in hydrology and environmental research. Taking a unique approach by providing the reader with a systematic and state of the art description of natural and artificial tracers, the book also covers key analytical techniques and applications, and modern tracer methods in the context of systematic hydrology. Tracers have become a primary tool for process investigation, qualitative and quantitative system analysis and integrated resource management. This book will outline the fundamentals of the subject, and examine the latest research findings, clearly showing the entire process of tracer application through the inclusion of numerous integrated case studies.

As many techniques derive from different scientific disciplines (chemistry, biology, physics), the effort of compilation and integration into modern hydrology and environmental science research and application requires substantial continuity and experience, which certifies this group of authors.

This book will be an invaluable reference not only for students and researchers within the field of Hydrology and Hydrogeology but also for engineers and other tracer techniques applying users.

Table of Contents

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

1 Introduction.

2 The Integrated Concept of Tracers in Hydrology.

2.1 System approach.

2.2 Definition of tracers.

2.3 Modelling in the context of integrated tracerhydrology.

2.4 Fields of application.

3 Environmental Tracers.

3.1 Introduction.

3.2 Stable isotopes of water.

3.3 Stable isotopes in soil.

3.4 Stable isotopes in surface and groundwater.

3.5 The use of environmental isotopes for hydrological system analysis.

3.6 Nitrogen isotopes and origin assignment.

3.7 Age dating.

4 Artificial Tracers.

4.1 Fluorescent tracers.

4.2 Salt tracers.

4.3 Drifting particles as tracers.

4.4 Radioactive tracers.

4.5 Other tracers.

5 Mathematical Modelling of Experimental Data.

5.1 Artificial tracer (ideal) under saturated flow conditions.

5.2 Tracer experiments under unsaturated flow conditions.

5.3 Tracer experiments in streams and rivers.

5.4 Environmental tracer data.

5.5 The goodness-of-fit of a model.

6 Technical Instructions.

6.1 Planning and execution of a tracer study.

6.2 Estimation of tracer injection mass.

6.3 Gauging discharge.

6.4 Chloride method for groundwater recharge estimation.

6.5 Hydrograph separation using the end member mixing analysis (EMMA).

7 Case Studies.

7.1 Groundwater.

7.2 Case studies in the unsaturated zone and in soils.

7.3 Surface water.

7.4 Glaciers.

7.5 Catchment scale.

Colour Plate Section.

References.

Index.