Kumar, Manoj and Ramanathan, A. L. and Mukherjee, Abhijit and Sawlani, Ravi and Ranjan, Shyam (2019) Delineating sources of groundwater recharge and carbon in Holocene aquifers of the central Gangetic basin using stable isotopic signatures. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 55 (3). 254-271. ISSN 1025-6016

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Abstract

Stable isotopes of water (delta H-2, delta O-18) and delta C-13(TIC) were used as a tool to trace the recharge processes, natural carbon (organic and inorganic) source and dynamics in the aquifers of the central Gangetic basin, India. Stable isotope (delta H-2, delta O-18) record of groundwater (n = 105) revealed that the groundwater of Piedmont was recharged by meteoric origin before evaporation, while aquifers of the older and younger alluvium were recharged by water that had undergone evaporation loss. River Ganges and its tributaries passing through this area have very little contribution in recharging while ponds play no role in the recharging of adjacent aquifers. The connectivity of shallow aquifers of aquitard formation (comprised of clay/sandy clay with thin patches of fine grey sand), i.e. 25-60 m below ground level (bgl) with the main upper aquifer (at a depth of >120 m bgl) was found to be higher in older and younger alluvium. Negative values of delta C-13(TIC) (median -9.6 parts per thousand; range -13.2 to -5.4 parts per thousand) and high TIC (median 35 mM; range 31-46 mM) coupled with low TOC (median 1.35 mg/L; range 0.99-1.77 mg/L) indicated acceleration in microbial activity in the younger alluvium, especially in the active floodplain of river Ganges and its proximity.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to M/s Taylor & Francis.
Subjects:	Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry Environmental Science > Water Resources Research Environmental Science > Water Resources Research Environmental Science > Water Resources Research Environmental Science > Water Resources Research
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Mr. Yogesh Joshi
Date Deposited:	05 Feb 2020 11:20
Last Modified:	05 Feb 2020 11:20
URI:	http://npl.csircentral.net/id/eprint/4142

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