Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Stable isotope compositions of water are usually investigated to trace the flow of meteoric water from precipitation through the soil matrix to ground water, stream water and plants. This tracer data can much reduce model uncertainty and give further details on water
and solute movement. Still, the distribution of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes through the soil matrix and the isotope exchanges between the soil water and other soil compartments (living organisms, minerals, exchange capacity, organic matter) are still poorly studied. In this study different soil water types were extracted through gravity, centrifugation and cryogenic vacuum distillation in a laboratory experiment. The drainage water, capillary water and tightly bound water, i.e. soil water below the pressure of pF4.2, were analysed for H and O stable
isotopes. The isotopic signatures of deuterium (