Practical Isotope Hydrology

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Basis for applications of various isotopes in hydrology. 3. Isotope applications in surface water hydrology. 4. Isotope applications in groundwater hydrology. 5. Need for enhanced application of isotope hydrology and how to achieve it. Index.

"The book highlights, with practical examples, the potential of isotope techniques in water resources development and management. It starts with a description of isotope characteristics as well as their relevance as tracers in studies on various stages of the hydrological cycle. The book covers applications of both environmental isotopes and injected tracers to surface water and groundwater bodies as well as their interrelationships. In view of the importance of identification of groundwater recharge and recharge processes, due emphasis is given to this aspect of application of environmental isotopes. Role of isotopes in understanding groundwater contamination from natural pollutants like inland salinity, arsenic and nitrate is discussed with examples.

Key features:

Detailed information about environmental isotopes such as the isotopes of the water molecule (2H, 3H, 18O) and those of dissolved salts (13C, 14C, 34S), as well as injected radioisotopes like 82Br, 131I, 60Co.
Applications of environmental isotopes in surface water hydrology including stream flow component separation (base flow, run-off, snowmelt), hydrodynamics of lakes (mixing, retention, sub-surface inflow and outflow), lake sedimentation, percolation tank efficacy and seepages in reservoirs, canals and tunnels.
Case studies on recharge processes like in arid Western Rajasthan including one on a buried channel suspected to be of ancient River Sarasvati, on seawater intrusion and on pollution from natural arsenic in West Bengal.
The book is useful to scientists, researchers, students and teachers in the field of hydrology."