Isotopic temporal and spatial variations of tropical rivers in Thailand reflect monsoon precipitation signals
Corresponding Author
Jeerapong Laonamsai
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
Department of Water Resources, Water Crisis Prevention Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand
Correspondence
Jeerapong Laonamsai, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kurokami 2-39-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorKimpei Ichiyanagi
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorSupapap Patsinghasanee
Department of Water Resources, Water Crisis Prevention Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jeerapong Laonamsai
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
Department of Water Resources, Water Crisis Prevention Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand
Correspondence
Jeerapong Laonamsai, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kurokami 2-39-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorKimpei Ichiyanagi
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorSupapap Patsinghasanee
Department of Water Resources, Water Crisis Prevention Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Stable isotopic compositions (δ18O and d-excess) from 25 rivers in Thailand were analysed monthly during 2013–2015. Results indicated that monsoon precipitation fundamentally influences the river isotopes. The overland flow supplied from monsoon precipitation and human-altered flow regimes produces considerable isotopic variability. Spatial and temporal variations were observed among four principal geographical regions. The seasonality of monsoon precipitation in mountainous Thailand produced large variations in isotopic compositions because most rainfall occurred during the southwest monsoon, and dry conditions prevailed during the northeast monsoon. The northern and northeastern regions are mountainous, highland areas. Low δ18O values were found in these regions, likely because of altitude effects on precipitation. Conversely, monsoonal precipitation continually supplies rivers in southern Thailand all year round, producing higher and more consistent δ18O values than in the other regions. The Chao Phraya plain in the central region experienced enrichment of δ18O river runoff related to evaporation in irrigation systems. Larger catchment areas and longer residence times resulted in more pronounced evaporation effects, producing lower values of d-excess and local river water line slopes compared with precipitation. The isotopic differences between river waters and precipitation were utilized to determine river recharge elevations and water transit time. The methods presented here can be used to explore hydrological interactions in other tropical river basins.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Supporting Information
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| hyp14068-sup-0001-SupInfo.docxWord 2007 document , 2.5 MB | Table S1 General details of monitoring sites, including isotopic compositions and climate variables Table S2 The sinusoidal curve fitting of δ18O in each water component and the mean water transit time of each catchment Table S3 The sinusoidal curve fitting δ2H of in each water component and the mean water transit time of each catchment Figure S1 Seasonal variation of rainfall amount for each region Figure S2 Scatter plot of the river δ18O and water temperature Figure S3 Scatter plot of the river δ18O and discharge Figure S4 Linear relationships between δ2H and δ18O of river waters (LRWL) and the local meteoric water line (LMWL) for each catchment |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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