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Stable water isotope climate archives in springs from the Olympic Mountains, Washington

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Abstract

The 18O and 2H (HDO) compositions are summarized for sampled springs (n = 81) within the Elwha watershed (≈692 km2) on the northern Olympic Peninsula. Samples, collected during 2001–2009, of springs (n = 158), precipitation (n = 520), streams (n = 176), and firn (n = 3) assisted the determinations for meteoric composition of recharge waters. The local mean water line (LMWL) is defined as δ2H = 8.2δ18O − 9.3 for the watershed. Recharge history is surmised from groundwater ages ranging from 5 ± 3 years (apparent 85Kr) to 9,490 ± 420 14C cal years BP. About 56% of the springs were recharged over the last 1,000 years while 13% of springs were recharged over 5,000 years ago. Spring HDO values fluctuate between −11.8 to −15.6‰ δ18O and −90.9 to −119.4‰ δ2H. Deuterium excess values predominate around 4–6‰. The HDO proxy records from springs suggest a pronounced paleoclimate shift in air masses near 5,000 year BP on the Peninsula.

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Acknowledgments

This article is published posthumously. Sadly, Dr. William C. Sidle passed away on March 14, 2010. Bill’s enormous contribution to EPA’s mission cannot be overstated. Please direct all inquiries on this work to Christopher A. Impellitteri (impellitteri.christopher@epa.gov). Cooperation of the US National Park Service, US Forest Service, and many private land owners are appreciated. Special thanks are given to the field crews for sampling and on-site analyses in challenging terrain throughout the seasons. Special thanks to R. Kolmar (Ohio State University), and W. Huang-Lee (Princeton University). Any opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not, necessarily, reflect the official positions and policies of the USEPA. Any mention of commercial products or trade names does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the USEPA.

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  1. National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA

    W. C. Sidle

  2. Groundwater Research Co, P.O. Box 136B, Port Angeles, WA, 98363, USA

    V. Cvetic

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  1. W. C. Sidle
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Correspondence to W. C. Sidle.

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Sidle, W.C., Cvetic, V. Stable water isotope climate archives in springs from the Olympic Mountains, Washington. Environ Earth Sci 62, 569–580 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0548-9

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