Groundwater isotopic signals in the Perth Basin: links to recharge variations and climatic conditions for Western Australia

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dc.contributor.authorMeredith, KTen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHollins, SEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPigois, JPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSchafer, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorKoomberi, Hen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-25T02:01:07Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-10-25T02:01:07Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2013-09-20en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-01-22en_AU
dc.description.abstractPerth Basin aquifers contain large volumes of groundwater that support ecosystems and an ever increasing demand for irrigation and potable water supply for Western Australia. Applying isotopic tools to groundwaters contained in regional aquifer systems can provide information on recharge intensity, source and past climatic conditions for the region. Large regional aquifer systems, contained within the Perth Basin, were investigated in this study to provide information on climate interaction over the past ~30 ka. The development of regional scale databases containing groundwater age and isotopic records are not common in Australia and are generally more site specific. Therefore, this database from the Perth Basin provides us with a unique opportunity to study and interpret a low-resolution palaeo-archive of groundwater recharge signals for the West of Australia. Groundwater ages (14CDIC) and Stable Water isotope (SWI: δ18/16O and δ2H) data are presented for the Perth Basin. We compare this data with the cyclone impacted recharge areas of the Pilbara region in the far north of Western Australia. We have gathered all known age and SWI data from the Perth Basin and have focused more specifically on the central (near Gingin) and northern (near Geraldton) Perth Basin. Groundwater ages for the Perth Basin span the radiocarbon dating period from 0 to ~35 ka. SWI results plot to the left of the Global and Perth Meteoric Water Lines but when compared with groundwaters from the Pilbara region, are much more enriched indicating different recharge events replenishing the Perth Basin aquifers compared to the north of Western Australia. Cyclic patterns in SWI over the past 35 ka are observed but generally all data plot around -20.0 ± 5.0 % for δ2H (n = >200). Interestingly, the similarity in values over the past 35 ka is not what is observed in other regional aquifers throughout the world such as in Europe and Africa. Groundwater isotopic signatures are compared with higher resolution archives such as rainfall records to interpret the observed groundwater signal. The isotopic signals contained in these extensive groundwater systems may provide information on past climates and more importantly provide understanding on how climate change is likely to influence recharge of these vast groundwater resources.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationMeredith, K., Cendon, D., Hollins, S., Pigois, J. P., Schafer, D., & Koomberi, H. (2013). Groundwater isotopic signals in the Perth Basin: links to recharge variations and climatic conditions for Western Australia. Paper presented to IAH 2013 Perth Australia : "Solving the groundwater challenges of the 21st century", International Association of Hydrogeologists 40th International Conference, Perth, Western Australia, 15-20 September 2013, (pp. 206).en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate20 September 2013en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameIAH 2013 Perth Australia : 'Solving the groundwater challenges of the 21st century', International Association of Hydrogeologists 40th International Conferenceen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplacePerth, Western Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate15 September 2013en_AU
dc.identifier.otherSession Two B, 332en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination206en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13922en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherInternational Association of Hydrogeologistsen_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectWestern Australiaen_AU
dc.subjectGroundwater rechargeen_AU
dc.subjectClimatesen_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectDataen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectEcosystemsen_AU
dc.titleGroundwater isotopic signals in the Perth Basin: links to recharge variations and climatic conditions for Western Australiaen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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