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Tracing stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) from meteoric water to groundwater in the Densu River basin of Ghana

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Abstract

This study represents the first attempt to study soil water δ18O profiles in Ghana using a mechanical auger. In this paper, the characteristics of δ18O and δ2H in rain water, surface water, soil water and groundwater have been used to understand the transformation mechanism of rain water to groundwater. Rain waters were sampled in Koforidua and Accra. Surface water and groundwater were sampled from the Densu River and selected boreholes in the basin, respectively. Soil waters were taken from three typical sites, namely, Potroase (POT), Teacher Mante (TM) and Ayikai Doblo (AD) in the northern, middle and southern zone from 0.00- to 6-m depth. The soil water was extracted using vacuum distillation method. The distribution of the stable isotopes of rain water is influenced by rainfall amount with minimal temperature effect. In general, the soil water is of meteoric origin undergoing fractionation-controlled evaporation. In the middle zone, the soil water shows some evidence of recharge from enriched source. The three profiles show similar trend of enriched values in the upper depths with gradual depletions of δ18O with depth. The POT profile showed relatively more depleted values suggesting a fast infiltration. In all the three profiles, soil waters below 3 m were found to contribute to groundwater recharge with piston flow as the dominant mechanism. The study also revealed that there is a significant contribution of enrich source to the groundwater system leading to the dilution of the infiltrating water by the large aquifer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the Director of National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for making funds available for this work. We also thank all the Technicians of the Chemistry Department, GAEC, and Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Munich, Germany, for helping us during the sampling campaigns as well as the analysis. Finally, to our anonymous reviewers, we wish to thank you for making time to review our work and offering valuable suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Chemistry and Environmental Research Centre, National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80, Kwabenya-Accra, Ghana

    Dickson Adomako, Abass Gibrilla & Samuel Yao Ganyaglo

  2. Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Piotr Maloszewski

  3. National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, 247 667, India

    Shive Prakash Rai

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  1. Dickson Adomako
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  2. Abass Gibrilla
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  4. Samuel Yao Ganyaglo
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Correspondence to Abass Gibrilla.

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Adomako, D., Gibrilla, A., Maloszewski, P. et al. Tracing stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) from meteoric water to groundwater in the Densu River basin of Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 187, 264 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4498-2

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