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Cited by 57Groundwater and Isotope GeochemistryKarst Systems and HydrogeologyWater Quality and Resources Studies

Stable and Radioisotope Systematics Reveal Fossil Water as Fundamental Characteristic of Arid Orogenic‐Scale Groundwater Systems

Open access
Moran, Brendan J., Boutt, David F., Munk, Lee Ann·2019·Water Resources Research
DOI 10.1029/2019wr026386
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Abstract

In arid and semiarid regions, persistent hydrological imbalances illuminate the considerable gaps in our spatiotemporal understanding of fundamental catchment‐scale governing mechanisms. The Salar de Atacama basin is the most extreme example of groundwater‐dominated continental basins and therefore is an ideal place to probe these unresolved questions. Geochemical and hydrophysical observations indicate that groundwaters discharging into the basin reflect a large regional system integrated over 10 2 –10 4 year timescales. The groundwater here, as in other arid regions, is a critical freshwater resource subject to substantial demand from competing interests, particularly as development of its world‐class lithium brine deposit expands. Utilizing a uniquely large and comprehensive set of H and O isotopes in water, we demonstrate that much of the presumed recharge area on the Altiplano‐Puna plateau exhibits isotopic signatures quite distinct from waters presently discharging within the endorheic Salar de Atacama watershed. δ 18 O values of predicted inflow source waters are 3.6‰ to 5.6‰ higher than modern plateau waters, and 3 H data from 87 discrete samples indicate that nearly all of this inflow is composed of premodern recharge (i.e., fossil water). Under plausible conditions, these distinctions cannot be explained solely by natural variability in modern meteoric inputs or by steady state groundwater flow. We present a conceptual model revealing the extensive influence of transient draining of fossil groundwater storage augmented by regional interbasin flow from the Andes. Our analysis provides robust constraints on fundamental mechanisms governing this arid continental groundwater system and a framework within which to address persistent uncertainties in similar systems worldwide.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1029/2019wr026386

Cites

125 of 125 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Modern water (days-10 yrs old) is critical to sustaining many wetlands in the Andean plateau of Catamarca.

    “yet modern water (days-10 yrs. old) is critical to sustaining many wetlands (Moran et al. 2019a, b)”

    From The arid Andean plateau waterscapes and the lithium triangle: flamingos as flagships for conservation of high-altitude wetlands under pressure from mining development (2022) · cites this paper as Moran et al. 2019a, b

    The Discussion reports that surface-water bodies near Salar de Atacama contain about 30% modern water, and the Methods classify some of these waters as wetlands. But the study is set in northern Chile, not Catamarca; it does not establish that water days to 10 years old is critical to sustaining many wetlands there. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In the Andean plateau of Catamarca Province, Argentina, there is strong connectivity but also a marked disconnect between recharge and discharge areas.

    “Similar work across several topographic watersheds in the Andean plateau of Catamarca Province in Argentina using stable isotope and geochemical data show strong connectivity but also a marked disconnect between recharge and discharge areas”

    From The arid Andean plateau waterscapes and the lithium triangle: flamingos as flagships for conservation of high-altitude wetlands under pressure from mining development (2022) · cites this paper as Moran et al. 2019a, b

    The paper reports that some sub-basins have direct geochemical connections to downgradient inflow areas while others appear disconnected (section 4.1, page unavailable). But its Hydrogeologic Setting (section 2, page unavailable) identifies the study area as the Salar de Atacama basin, not Catamarca Province, Argentina. The connectivity finding is supported; the attributed location is not. (LLM, conf=0.89)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Most of the water discharging to large basin floors in the Andean plateau of Catamarca is composed of fossil water.

    “most of the water discharging to large basin floors is composed of fossil water”

    From The arid Andean plateau waterscapes and the lithium triangle: flamingos as flagships for conservation of high-altitude wetlands under pressure from mining development (2022) · cites this paper as Moran et al. 2019a, b

    The Tritium results (section 4.1; page unavailable) report that nearly all waters discharging along the Salar de Atacama basin margin have tritium values indistinguishable from zero, supporting a predominantly pre-modern source there. The paper studies the Salar de Atacama basin, not basin floors in Catamarca, so it does not establish the claim for that location or for large basin floors generally. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Interbasin groundwater flow plays an important role in the modern hydrologic balance in the Salar de Atacama basin.

    “there is evidence showing that interbasin groundwater flow does play an important role in the modern hydrologic balance”

    From The arid Andean plateau waterscapes and the lithium triangle: flamingos as flagships for conservation of high-altitude wetlands under pressure from mining development (2022) · cites this paper as Moran et al. 2019a, b

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

2 of the 127 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Aron, F., González, G., Veloso, E., & Cembrano, J. (2008). Architecture and style of compressive Neogene deformation in the eastern-southeastern border of the Salar de Atacama Basin (22 30'-24 15'S): A structural setting for the active volcanic arc of the Central Andes. In 7th International Symposium on Andean Geodynamics (ISAG 2008, Nice) (pp. 52-55)
  2. Fontes, J C, & Molinari, J. (1975). Isotopic study of the upper watershed of the Rio Abancan (Province of Catamarca, Argentina). Rev. Geogr. Phys. Geol. Dyn.; (France); Journal Volume: 7:5
  3. Risacher, F., Alonso, H., Salazar, C. (1999). Geoquímica de aguas en cuencas cerradas: I, II y III Regiones-Chile. 1. Ministerio de Obras Públicas, pp. 209.

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Authors
Moran, B. J., Boutt, D. F., & Munk, L. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
  • Department of Geological Sciences University of Alaska‐Anchorage Anchorage AK USA
Corresponding author
Moran, Brendan J.
ORCID
Venue
Water Resources Research
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published
2019-12
Volume
55
Issue
12
Pages
11295-11315
ISSN
  • 0043-1397 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-7973
DOI
10.1029/2019wr026386
OpenAlex
W2995514473
Cited by
57
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
FWCI
3.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 27 d)
Locations
  • Water Resources Research (publishedVersion)
  • EarthArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Earth-Surface Processes › Karst Systems and Hydrogeology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Water Quality and Resources Studies
Keywords
fossil groundwater, Salar de Atacama, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, tritium, groundwater recharge, Altiplano-Puna plateau, interbasin groundwater flow, endorheic basin, lithium brines, groundwater storage

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