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Isoscapes pp 89–111Cite as

Applications of Stable Isotopes for Regional to National-Scale Water Quality and Environmental Monitoring Programs

Abstract

Isotopes are a potentially powerful component of monitoring and assessment programs aimed at quantifying and mitigating alterations to environments from human activities. In particular, isotopic techniques have proved useful for tracing sources and sinks of various pollutants in large river basins, wetlands, and airsheds. Many of these studies have been conducted at the regional to national scale by building on existing large-scale water, air, and ecological monitoring programs managed by federal and state agencies, and demonstrate the usefulness of isotopes as a complement to standard chemical and hydrological mass balance methods. This chapter presents an overview of how nitrate, particulate organic matter, and water isotopes can be used to interpret spatial patterns and temporal changes in pollution sources, biogeochemical processes, and ecosystem function in watersheds, at the regional to national scale. Examples from several recent and ongoing studies are presented. From the insights developed using varied sampling strategies and isoscapes, we suggest guidelines for future studies in biologically active and human-impacted rivers.

Keywords

  • Isotopic Composition
  • Monitoring Program
  • Biogeochemical Process
  • National Atmospheric Deposition Program
  • National Atmospheric Deposition Program

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 434, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Carol Kendall, Megan B. Young & Steven R. Silva

Authors
  1. Carol Kendall
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  2. Megan B. Young
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  3. Steven R. Silva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol Kendall .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Texas A&M University System, Garner Field Rd. 1619, Uvalde, 78801, U.S.A.

    Jason B. West

  2. Dept. Earth & Atmospheric Science, Purdue University, Stadium Mall Drive 550, West Lafayette, 47907-2051, U.S.A.

    Gabriel J. Bowen

  3. Dept. Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720, U.S.A.

    Todd E. Dawson

  4. Dept. Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720, U.S.A.

    Kevin P. Tu

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Kendall, C., Young, M.B., Silva, S.R. (2010). Applications of Stable Isotopes for Regional to National-Scale Water Quality and Environmental Monitoring Programs. In: West, J., Bowen, G., Dawson, T., Tu, K. (eds) Isoscapes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3354-3_5

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