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A review of isotope applications in catchment hydrology

Abstract:

Isotope methods were introduced into catchment hydrology research in the 1960s as complementary tools to conventional hydrologic methods for addressing questions of where water goes when it rains, what pathways it takes to the stream and how long water resides in the catchment (McDonnell, 2003). Despite slow incorporation into routine research applications, the last decade has seen a rapid increase in isotope-based catchment studies. These have been mainly carried out in small well-instrumented experimental catchments, on the order of 0.01 to 100 km2 and located typically in headwater areas (Buttle, 1998). In contrast, little has been done in terms of application and transfer of these concepts and methodologies to large (>100s to 1000s of km 2), less instrumented basins. Much potential also waits to be realized in terms of how isotope information may be used to calibrate and test distributed rainfall-runoff models and to aid in the quantification of sustainable water resources management. In this chapter, we review the major applications of isotopes to catchment studies, and address a variety of prospective new directions in research and practice. Our discussion is based primarily on catchments in temperate to wet zones. © 2005 IEA.