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14-01-2020 | Report

Controls over hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of surface water and groundwater in the Mun River catchment, northeast Thailand: implications for the water cycle

Authors: Kunhua Yang, Guilin Han

Published in: Hydrogeology Journal | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Stable isotopic composition (δ²H, δ¹⁸O) of river water, groundwater, and paddy water in the Mun River catchment, northeast Thailand, were determined to investigate the hydrological processes and the impacts of natural and anthropogenic activities on the water cycle. Quantities of δ²H (−93.9 to −25.4‰) and δ¹⁸O (−12.24 to −2.22‰) in river water in the wet season follow the trend: upper reaches > middle reaches ≈ lower reaches. Trends for δ²H (−52.3 to −22.0‰) and δ¹⁸O (−6.37 to −1.36‰) in the dry season are: upper reaches ≈ middle reaches > lower reaches. In the dry season, groundwater (δ²H: −57.5 to −34.6‰, δ¹⁸O: −8.24 to −4.40‰) shows a lighter isotopic composition, and paddy water (δ²H: −18.2‰, δ¹⁸O: −0.72‰) shows the highest isotopic composition. Spatial variation of δ¹⁸O and deuterium excess suggests that groundwater exchanges with surface water frequently. Rainfall and river water recharge groundwater in the wet season, and groundwater flows back to the river in the dry season, especially in the middle reaches. This process is most likely related to impoundment of the rivers by large dams. On the other hand, the lowest values of stable isotopes of river water are coincident with the extreme flooding that was produced by Tropical Storm Sonca in July 2017. This study contributes to a better understanding of hydrological processes in the Mun River catchment and provides a perspective on the application of stable isotopes to other large tropical monsoon catchments around the world.

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Title: Controls over hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of surface water and groundwater in the Mun River catchment, northeast Thailand: implications for the water cycle
Authors: Kunhua Yang
Guilin Han
Publication date: 14-01-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Hydrogeology Journal / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 1431-2174
Electronic ISSN: 1435-0157
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-02106-9

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