Hydrogeochemical and environmental isotope investigation of groundwater recharge mechanisms in the Virginia City Highlands, Nevada
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Authors
Koltermann, Howard H.
Issue Date
1984
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Isotope , Hydrology , Streams , Storms , Geochemical , Ground-water , Mackay Theses and Dissertations Grant Collection
Alternative Title
Abstract
Stable isotope data and conventional hydrologic data indicate groundwater recharge occurs primarily through stream channels and areas of little soil cover overlying fractured bedrock between the months of October to March. Most light summer storms do not contribute to the area's recharge. Tritium, geochemical data, and stable isotope of soil and groundwaters indicate poor groundwater mixing and relatively little recharge. Slope of 2.5 for the groundwater stable isotope line (GWL) indicates relatively fast non-equilibrium fractionation. Locations of groundwaters along the GWL reflect relative amounts of evaporation prior to recharge; end members of the GWL indicate specific recharge mechanisms. Large coniferous mesophytes are used as lysimeters for sampling the long term stable isotope composition of soil waters. Non-equilibrium fractionation components are established from the GWL. Estimates of fractionation factors based on free Pinion pine xylem and needle waters provide a cross check for using mean temperature fractionation factor values.
Description
Online access for this thesis was created in part with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). To obtain a high quality image or document please contact the DeLaMare Library at https://unr.libanswers.com/ or call: 775-784-6945.
Citation
Publisher
University of Nevada, Reno
License
In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)