Article
Water Resources
Doerthe Tetzlaff, James Buttle, Sean K. Carey, Matthew J. Kohn, Hjalmar Laudon, James P. McNamara, Aaron Smith, Matthias Sprenger, Chris Soulsby
Summary: Comparing stable isotopes of xylem water and soil water in northern/cold regions, it was found that xylem water is depleted compared to soil waters, with a strong overlap between isotopes in xylem water from angiosperms and soil water, but not in gymnosperms. The composition of xylem water can be better explained by considering soil water composition over longer antecedent periods.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Christian Marx, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Reinhard Hinkelmann, Chris Soulsby
Summary: Stable isotopes were used to assess ecohydrological partitioning in different urban green spaces in Berlin, with a focus on the role of near-surface soils in determining water flows and cycling. Grassland soils were found to be wetter than soils under urban tree cover, indicating greater interception losses and transpiration from trees. Soil water isotopes showed distinct responses to precipitation inputs and evaporation, with the effects most pronounced under individual trees and grasslands. Mixing models revealed that grass likely recycled shallow, younger soil water in transpiration, while trees relied more on deeper, older sub-soil and groundwater sources. These preliminary results highlight the need for a better understanding of water movement and cycling in urban green spaces' shallow critical zone.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
S. Klemme, F. Genske, P. A. Sossi, J. Berndt, C. J. Renggli, A. Stracke
Summary: The new experimental results reveal fractionation of Cr isotopes during degassing of silicate melts. Lighter isotope Cr-52 is enriched in the gas phase and residual melt becomes enriched in the heavier Cr-53 isotope. This study provides important clues for understanding the recording of chromium isotope loss by evaporation in terrestrial magmas.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Julien Bouchez, Friedhelm von Blanckenburg
Summary: The stable isotope ratio of strontium at Earth's surface is mainly affected by biological uptake and storage in plant litter. Strontium removal in plant litter is more significant than recycling, while dissolved strontium export is highest at sites with faster erosion rates.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yusuke Fukami, Teruhiko Kashiwabara, Hiroshi Amakawa, Takazo Shibuya, Akira Usui, Katsuhiko Suzuki
Summary: This study presents the concentrations and stable isotope compositions of Te in ferromanganese crusts collected from the slope of two seamounts in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The Te concentration decreases sharply with depth at shallow regions, while the Te isotope composition exhibits two trends depending on water depth. These variations may be related to co-precipitation processes with Fe and oxidation involving Mn, as well as changes in dissolved oxygen concentration in seawater. The Te isotope compositions in ferromanganese crusts could potentially be used as a proxy for changes in the oxygen minimum zone of paleoceans.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Liuwei Wang, Yuanliang Jin, Dominik J. Weiss, Nina J. Schleicher, Wolfgang Wilcke, Longhua Wu, Qingjun Guo, Jiubin Chen, David O'Connor, Deyi Hou
Summary: Stable isotope measurements hold great potential for identifying metal sources in soil, with specific isotopic signals serving as key prerequisites for source allocation. In particular, zinc and cadmium isotopes are valuable for identifying combustion-related industrial sources, while uncertainties may arise from biogeochemical low-temperature fractionation of other elements. Isotope-based source identification, in combination with other analytical approaches, can offer more accurate results for understanding the temporal changes of metal accumulation in soil systems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Patrick J. Frings, Marcus Oelze, Franziska Schubring, Daniel A. Frick, Friedhelm von Blanckenburg
Summary: Metal and metalloid stable isotope ratios are important proxies for weathering, element cycling, and export in the Critical Zone. By studying sites with varying erosion rates and regolith residence times, it was found that three key parameters influence these isotope ratios, particularly in the case of silicon. The research also highlights how the composition of clay minerals plays a significant role in expressing fractionation factors related to silicon isotope ratios.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wei Xiang, Bingcheng Si, Min Li, Han Li, Yanwei Lu, Minghua Zhao, Hao Feng
Summary: The study on deep soil water stable isotopes in China's Loess Plateau revealed that the lc-excess in deep soils varied among sites, reflecting differences in heavy water isotopes enrichment. The lc-excess in deep soil water was significantly correlated to climate conditions on the land surface and retained long-term evaporation effects. The study introduced a new method to estimate evaporation loss fraction (f) and suggested that deep soil could serve as an archive for long-term soil evaporation loss.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Markus C. Leuenberger, Shyam Ranjan
Summary: Since 1971, water isotope measurements have been conducted at various locations in Switzerland by the Climate and Environmental Physics Division at the University of Bern. The study investigates the effects of meteorological parameters such as temperature, turbulence factor, and humidity on the water isotopes through the analysis of isotope ratios.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lina C. Perez-Angel, Julio Sepulveda, Camilo Montes, Jamila J. Smith, Peter Molnar, Catalina Gonzalez-Arango, Kathryn E. Snell, Nadia Dildar
Summary: This study evaluates the efficacy of stable isotopes in precipitation and plant waxes as proxies for paleoaltimetry and paleohydrology in the northern tropical Andes. Results show a correlation between stable isotope composition and elevation on the eastern flank but not on the western flank. Factors such as mixing of moisture sources, evaporation processes, and differences in vegetation communities may contribute to this discrepancy. Caution should be taken in interpreting paleoelevation and paleoclimate estimates in the western flank.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Sidan Lyu, Jing Wang
Summary: The study shows that lc-excess can indicate soil evaporation loss, and factors such as precipitation and soil water infiltration need to be considered when estimating soil evaporation loss. During drought periods, soil evaporation loss is mainly influenced by soil temperature, while during non-drought periods, it is mainly affected by relative soil water content.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dongdong Qiu, Guofeng Zhu, Xinrui Lin, Yinying Jiao, Siyu Lu, Jiatong Liu, Jiawei Liu, Wenhao Zhang, Linlin Ye, Rui Li, Qinqin Wang, Longhu Chen
Summary: The large-scale construction of artificial forests in arid oasis areas can prevent wind and fix sand, increase vegetation, and improve the landscape. However, it may also lead to increased water consumption due to the strong evapotranspiration in these areas. Hence, the benefits of ecology, landscape, and water resource utilization need to be evaluated.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Fernanda Alvarez-Amado, Mauricio Rosales, Linda Godfrey, Camila Poblete-Gonzalez, Eduardo Morgado, Mauricio Espinoza, Alonso Hidalgo-Gajardo, Diego Volosky, Joaquin Cortes-Aranda
Summary: The Atacama region in Northern Chile is known for its extremely dry desert and significant lithium reserves. This study suggests that ignimbrites, a type of volcanic rock, may be the main source of lithium in the region due to their high lithium concentrations. The study also highlights the importance of volcanic eruptions and subsequent water-rock interactions in determining the distribution and isotopic composition of lithium.
JOURNAL OF GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adam N. Wlostowski, Noah Molotch, Suzanne P. Anderson, Susan L. Brantley, Jon Chorover, David Dralle, Praveen Kumar, Li Li, Kathleen A. Lohse, John M. Mallard, Jennifer C. McIntosh, Sheila F. Murphy, Eric Parrish, Mohammad Safeeq, Mark Seyfried, Yuning Shi, Ciaran Harman
Summary: This study characterizes the hydrologic dynamics of 15 catchments in the U.S. Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) network, finding links between precipitation form, soil structure, and hydrologic characteristics.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liyuan Sang, Guofeng Zhu, Yuanxiao Xu, Zhigang Sun, Zhuanxia Zhang, Huali Tong
Summary: Agricultural reservoirs in arid regions increase water stresses and threaten the sustainability of water resources. Limited research on their effects hampers a comprehensive assessment of sustainable water use. This study uses stable isotopes to evaluate the impact of agricultural reservoirs on hydrology, showing that they alter local hydrologic patterns, increasing evaporation and enriching the water near the reservoir. The cumulative effect of multiple reservoirs profoundly alters hydrologic processes, leading to evaporation-led water loss in inland river basins.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoqiang Yang, Michael Rode, Seifeddine Jomaa, Ines Merbach, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, Dietrich Borchardt
Summary: Diffuse nitrogen pollution from agriculture exerts high pressures on groundwater and aquatic ecosystems. Integrated analysis and targeted measures based on interdisciplinary data and methods can help mitigate the impacts of this pollution, especially under the cumulative effects of changing climate and fertilizer-use intensities.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Water Resources
Aaron Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Marco Maneta, Chris Soulsby
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Item Withdrawal
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Pei Zhao, Matthias Sprenger, Rahim Barzegar, Xiangyu Tang, Jan Adamowski
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Shirin Karimi, Jan Seibert, Hjalmar Laudon
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of three different HBV model structures on 14 heterogeneous boreal catchments, showing that the three-bucket structure performs better in larger catchments while a single reservoir structure is sufficient for lake-influenced catchments with lower elevation. Although estimates of mean catchment storage varied between different model structures, the ranking between catchments largely agreed across the different structures.
HYDROLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Water Resources
Hjalmar Laudon, William Lidberg, Ryan Allen Sponseller, Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Florian Westphal, Lars Ostlund, Camilla Sandstrom, Jarvi Jarveoja, Matthias Peichl, Anneli M. Agren
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Skerlep, S. Nehzati, R. A. Sponseller, P. Persson, H. Laudon, E. S. Kritzberg
Summary: Increasing iron concentrations in freshwaters across northern Europe have led to browning, affecting aquatic organisms and drinking water production. The contribution of different sources to stream iron concentrations is not well understood. This study investigated the role of riparian and mire soils in regulating iron patterns in a boreal stream network over 18 years. Results showed that riparian soils were major contributors to increasing freshwater iron concentrations, and drought events led to prolonged release of iron from organic soils, with potential long-term effects on stream iron concentrations.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Review
Forestry
Hjalmar Laudon, Eliza Maher Hasselquist
Summary: Continuous-cover forestry (CCF) is being considered as a potential alternative to clear-cut harvesting in boreal forests to improve water quality and quantity, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. This study reviews the empirical evidence for the benefits of CCF on drained forested peatlands, discusses potential risks and uncertainties, and highlights unanswered questions before large-scale implementation. The ability to maintain forest production on drained peatlands depends on water regulation of groundwater table, and CCF could provide an alternative approach to manage groundwater without disturbing the existing artificial channel network. While CCF could lower the risk of flooding and droughts and enhance water quality and carbon sequestration, uncertainties remain regarding natural regeneration, soil damage, and the effects of climate change.
TREES FORESTS AND PEOPLE
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Shirin Karimi, Jason Leach, Reinert Huseby Karlsen, Jan Seibert, Kevin Bishop, Hjalmar Laudon
Summary: Boreal catchments consist of different land covers, which result in different runoff responses to rainfall events. This study investigates the impact of peatlands on flood attenuation at both local and stream network scales. The results show that peatlands can attenuate floods in certain rainfall events, but in other events, the flood levels in peatland-dominated areas are similar to forest-dominated areas.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Natalie Orlowski, Michael Rinderer, Maren Dubbert, Natalie Ceperley, Markus Hrachowitz, Arthur Gessler, Youri Rothfuss, Matthias Sprenger, Ingo Heidbuechel, Angelika Kubert, Matthias Beyer, Giulia Zuecco, Colin McCarter
Summary: Tracing and quantifying water fluxes in the hydrological cycle is crucial for understanding the current state of ecohydrological systems and their vulnerability to environmental change. This opinion paper reflects the outcome of a discussion among hydrologists, plant ecophysiologists and soil scientists on open questions and new opportunities for collaborative research on the topic water fluxes in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum especially focusing on environmental and artificial tracers. Interdisciplinary collaboration will help to overcome research gaps that overlap across different earth system science fields and help to generate a more holistic view of water fluxes between soil, plant and atmosphere in diverse ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johannes Larson, Jorgen Wallerman, Matthias Peichl, Hjalmar Laudon
Summary: Boreal forests have large carbon pools, with the organic layer being the largest carbon pool. The size of the soil carbon pool is positively related to simulated soil moisture conditions, while the tree carbon pool is influenced by moisture levels.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Virginia Mosquera, Hjalmar Laudon, Meredith Blackburn, Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Ryan A. Sponseller
Summary: Flow regulates the concentrations of different solutes differently, with organic solutes mainly limited by transport capacity and inorganic solutes mainly limited by their sources. The relationships between solute concentration and flow are influenced by catchment structure, and these changes can affect the concentrations and resource ratios of solutes in streams, with subsequent impacts on aquatic ecological processes.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mehdi Rahmati, Alexander Graf, Christian Poppe Teran, Wulf Amelung, Wouter Dorigo, Harrie-Jan Hendricks Franssen, Carsten Montzka, Dani Or, Matthias Sprenger, Jan Vanderborght, Niko E. C. Verhoest, Harry Vereecken
Summary: Despite previous reports of lengthening growing seasons in Europe due to global warming, recent evidence shows that the trend has reversed in the past decade. Early greening still occurs, but at slower rates, while a shift in the timing of dormancy has caused a decrease in season length. This is primarily due to higher atmospheric water demand in summer, which suppresses transpiration.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Anna Lupon, Stefan Willem Ploum, Jason Andrew Leach, Lenka Kuglerova, Hjalmar Laudon
Summary: Preferential groundwater flow paths can influence dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and export in the fluvial network. However, the mechanisms by which DRIPs influence longitudinal patterns of stream DOC concentrations are still poorly understood.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Matthias Sprenger, Pilar Llorens, Francesc Gallart, Paolo Benettin, Scott T. Allen, Jerome Latron
Summary: This study investigates the partitioning of precipitation in the Can Vila catchment using stable isotopes, and quantifies the dynamics of water evapotranspiration and streamflow. The results show that the multi-objective calibration approach can accurately simulate the isotope ratios of both stream water and xylem water. The findings support recent ecohydrological studies that highlight the heterogeneity of water storage and fluxes, as well as the use of relatively old water by trees.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jessica Landgraf, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Maren Dubbert, David Dubbert, Aaron Smith, Chris Soulsby
Summary: Root water uptake is a crucial process, but its spatial and temporal dynamics are still poorly understood. This study used continuous in situ monitoring of stable water isotopes to investigate the sources of root water uptake. The results showed that 90% of root water uptake was derived from the upper soil, especially during wet periods. However, the isotopic composition of xylem water was not comparable to that of soil water, suggesting a limited role in root water uptake.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)