SGER: Exploratory Research in Isotope Hydrology

通过应用水中氢和氧的同位素比测量，我们对水文循环的理解得到了很大的提高。然而，由于传统同位素测量技术的限制，在了解水文循环方面的进一步进展受到限制，这些技术涉及零星的样品收集间隔和相对较长的保存和分析时间。具有传统实验室测量的准确性和精确性的实时同位素监测仪器的可用性，可导致在了解水文循环以及实际应用方面的重大根本性进展，例如实时监测水质;堤坝、水坝、垃圾填埋场、威尔斯或管道的泄漏;火山灾害;以及影响人类健康的其他现象。密封不当的油井威尔斯的泄漏有可能污染用于公共供应的地下沃茨。其中一口井位于怀俄明州的格雷布尔附近，从井塞泄漏的水可能正流向一个被称为戴维斯牧场的牧场。建议租赁一台洛斯加托斯研究用液态水同位素分析仪，用于测量为戴维斯牧场供水的泉水和地表沃茨的同位素组成。这项调查的一个附带好处是，以确定是否洛斯加托斯研究液态水同位素分析仪是令人满意的实时环境水研究。地球科学界对这一仪器非常感兴趣，因为它的成本大约是目前用于进行同样测量的常规仪器的五分之一，而且它可能位于现场，这将大大超过现有同位素测量设备的能力。智力优势：本研究的学术价值在于探索了同位素比值测量在水文学中应用的新途径。更广泛的影响：该项目将进行探索性研究，可能对验证用于液态水实时同位素测量的新型仪器的应用产生重大影响。新的仪器方法可能会改变同位素测量在水文调查中的使用方式。此外，如果证明这种仪器在这些应用方面是成功的，那么它将使同位素能力得到更广泛的利用，因为它降低了成本，简化了操作，并具有实地部署的能力。

Our understanding of the hydrologic cycle has been enhanced substantially by the application of isotope ratio measurements of hydrogen and oxygen in water. Further progress in understanding the hydrologic cycle is limited, however, by the constraints imposed by conventional isotopic measurement techniques, which involve sporadic sample collection intervals and relatively long holding and analysis times. The availability of instrumentation for real-time isotope monitoring, having the accuracy and precision of conventional laboratory-based measurements, could lead to significant fundamental advances in understanding the hydrologic cycle as well as practical applications such as real-time monitoring of water quality; leakage of levees, dams, landfills, wells, or pipes; volcanic hazards; and other phenomena with impact on human health. Leakage from improperly sealed oil wells has the potential to contaminate ground waters used for public supply. One such well is located near Greybull, Wyoming, and water leaking past well plugs may be flowing to a ranch, known as the Davis Ranch. It is proposed that a Los Gatos Research Liquid-Water Isotope Analyzer be leased and used to measure the isotopic composition of springs and surface waters providing water to the Davis Ranch. A side benefit of this investigation will be to determine if the Los Gatos Research Liquid-Water Isotope Analyzer is satisfactory for real-time environmental water studies. This instrument is of great interest to the geosciences community because its cost is about one-fifth that of current instrumentation used conventionally to accomplish the same measurements, and because it potentially might be located on site, which would substantially exceed the capabilities of existing isotopic measurement equipment. Intellectual Merit: The intellectual merit of this research lies in its exploration of a novel approach to the application of isotope ratio measurements in hydrology. Broader Impact: This project will perform exploratory research that could have significant impact in terms of validating the application of a new type of instrumentation for real-time isotopic measurements of liquid water. The new instrumental approach could potentially transform the way in which isotopic measurements are used in hydrologic investigations. In addition, if the instrumentation is demonstrated to be successful for such applications, then it will make isotopic capabilities much more widely available because of its reduced cost and simpler operation, as well as its capability for field deployment.