Global meteoric water line

The Global Meteoric Water Line is an equation defined by the geochemist Harmon Craig [1] [2] that states the average relationship between hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios in natural terrestrial waters, expressed as a worldwide average.

\delta\mathrm D = 8.0\cdot\delta^{18}\mathrm O + 10{}^{0\!}\!/\!_{00}

A meteoric water line can also be calculated for a given area, and used as a baseline within that area. Kinetic fractionation will cause the isotope ratios to vary between localities within that area.[3] This relationship is used within the field of isotope hydrology. Craig's original assertion is that the isotopic enrichments, relative to ocean water, display a linear correlation over the entire range for waters which have not undergone excessive evaporation'.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary notice: pioneer of geochemistry: Harmon Craig". Scripps News. 18 March 2003.
  2. ↑ Karl Turekian (2006). "Harmon Craig 1926-2003" (PDF). Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences (Washington, DC): 1–14.
  3. ↑ "SAHRA Glossary of Terms".
  4. ↑ Harmon Craig (26 May 1961). "Isotopic variations in meteoric waters". Science 133 (3465): 1702–1703. Bibcode:1961Sci...133.1702C. doi:10.1126/science.133.3465.1702. PMID 17814749.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, January 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.