Stable isotope enrichment in paleowaters of the southeast atlantic coastal plain, United States

Journal Article · Thu Dec 23 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.262.5142.2016· OSTI ID:5178733

Plummer, L N ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)

Paleowaters from the Floridan aquifer system in the southeastern Atlantic coastal plain have higher D/H and [sup 18]O/[sup 16]O ratios than local Holocene groundwater. Maximum [delta][sup 18]O enrichments in groundwater having adjusted radiocarbon ages of 20,000 to 26,000 years are 0.7 to 2.3 per mil. The trend in isotopic enrichment in paleowaters is the reverse of that normally observed in continental glacial age groundwater. Dissolved nitrogen and argon concentrations indicate, however, that the average recharge temperature was 5.3[degrees]C cooler than that today. The data indicate cool conditions in the southeast Atlantic coastal plain during the last glacial maximum, with recharge limited primarily to late summer tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

• OSTI ID: 5178733
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 262:5142; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
540210 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DEUTERIUM
EARTH PLANET
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN 1
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN 16
OXYGEN 18
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
PLANETS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
STABLE ISOTOPES
WATER