Articles | Volume 30, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-5005-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-5005-2026
Technical note
 | 
10 Aug 2026
Technical note |  | 10 Aug 2026

Technical note: Water vapor sampling for stable isotope analysis: systematic testing of sampling conditions and development of a robust protocol

Alberto Iraheta, Elise Malsch-Fröhlich, Malkin Gerchow, and Matthias Beyer

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Cited articles

Allen, S. T. and Kirchner, J. W.: Potential effects of cryogenic extraction biases on plant water source partitioning inferred from xylem-water isotope ratios, Hydrol. Process., 36, e14483, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14483, 2022. 
Bagheri Dastgerdi, S., Behrens, M., Bonne, J.-L., Hörhold, M., Lohmann, G., Schlosser, E., and Werner, M.: Continuous monitoring of surface water vapour isotopic compositions at Neumayer Station III, East Antarctica, The Cryosphere, 15, 4745–4767, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4745-2021, 2021. 
Barbeta, A., Burlett, R., Martín-Gómez, P., Fréjaville, B., Devert, N., Wingate, L., Domec, J.-C., and Ogée, J.: Evidence for distinct isotopic compositions of sap and tissue water in tree stems: consequences for plant water source identification, New Phytol., 233, 1121–1132, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17857, 2022. 
Benetti, M., Reverdin, G., Aloisi, G., and Sveinbjörnsdóttir, Á.: Stable isotopes in surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean: indicators of ocean–atmosphere water fluxes and oceanic mixing processes, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 122, 4723–4742, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JC012712, 2017. 
Beyer, M., Kühnhammer, K., and Dubbert, M.: In situ measurements of soil and plant water isotopes: a review of approaches, practical considerations and a vision for the future, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4413–4440, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4413-2020, 2020. 
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Short summary
We present a simple and practical method for sampling water vapor for stable isotope analysis. Tests conducted under various conditions demonstrate that using 250-mL glass bottles, a flow rate of 100 to 125 milliliters per minute, and storage for up to 24 h at a temperature of 20 to 25 °C yields the most stable results. The method is cost-effective, non-destructive, and suitable for remote locations.
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