The effect of saline groundwater exchange, evaporation and variable river flows and on stable isotopes (18O and 2H) and major ion concentrations along the Darling River, NSW, Australia

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dc.contributor.authorMeredith, KTen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHughes, CEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHollins, SEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHankin, SIen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-08T03:14:43Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-03-08T03:14:43Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2009-04-22en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-03-05en_AU
dc.description.abstractAustralia's longest river, the Darling River, faces extreme pressure from drought and over extraction of water from its catchment. The lack of detailed baseline hydrochemical and isotopic data for the Darling River has prompted research aimed at using hydrological tracers to assess water gains and losses within the Darling River Drainage Basin. This study uses temporal hydrochemical and stable isotope data (18O and 2H) that has been monitored from gauging stations along the Barwon-Darling catchment over a five-year period from 2002 to 2007 as part of the Global Network for Isotopes in Rivers (GNIR) monitoring programme. Stream flow data, monthly δ18O and δ2H values and major ion chemistry is presented. Individual flow events were found to be isotopically distinct but the LELs that develop after these events have a very similar slope indicating similar climatic conditions across this region. During low flow conditions, salt concentrations increase systematically, δ18O and δ2H become enriched and d-excess becomes more negative indicating significant evaporation. Flow events input isotopically depleted fresh waters to the system and the d-excess returns towards the local meteoric water line. The major ions increase in concentration at a greater rate at Louth than they do at upstream at Bourke or downstream at Wilcannia, despite similar decreases in flow rates for all three sites. The hydrological response of the river to drought has had detrimental affects on the surface water system because it provides a pathway for saline groundwater to discharge into the river system. © Author(s) 2009en_AU
dc.description.sponsorship© Author(s) 2009en_AU
dc.identifier.citationMeredith, K. T., Hughes, C. E., Hollins, S. E., Cendón, D. I., & Hankin, S. (2009). The effect of saline groundwater exchange, evaporation and variable river flows and on stable isotopes (18O and 2H) and major ion concentrations along the Darling River, NSW, Australia. Paper presented to the EGU General Assembly 2009, Vienna, Austria, 19-24 April 2009. Retrieved from https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2009/EGU2009-14019.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate24 April 2009en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameEGU General Assembly 2009en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceVienna, Austriaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate19 April 2009en_AU
dc.identifier.otherEGU2009-14019en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2009/EGU2009-14019.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/10493en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherEuropean Geosciences Unionen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectRiversen_AU
dc.subjectContaminationen_AU
dc.subjectTracer techniquesen_AU
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectWatershedsen_AU
dc.subjectSaltsen_AU
dc.titleThe effect of saline groundwater exchange, evaporation and variable river flows and on stable isotopes (18O and 2H) and major ion concentrations along the Darling River, NSW, Australiaen_AU
dc.typeConference Presentationen_AU
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