Status: this discussion paper is a preprint. It has been under review for the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS). The manuscript was not accepted for further review after discussion.
Water stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) in the Peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico
Eduardo Cejudo1,Gilberto Acosta-Gonzalez1,Rosa Maria Leal-Bautista1,and Hector Estrada-Medina2Eduardo Cejudo et al.Eduardo Cejudo1,Gilberto Acosta-Gonzalez1,Rosa Maria Leal-Bautista1,and Hector Estrada-Medina2
1CONACYT - Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Water Sciences Unit. Calle 8, No. 39, Mz 29, SM 64 Cancun, Quintana Roo, 77524. Mexico
2Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Departamento de Manejo y Conservación de Recursos Naturales Tropicales, CCBA. Km 15.5 Carr. Mérida-Xmatkuil. Mérida, Yucatán, A.P. 4-116. Mexico
1CONACYT - Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C., Water Sciences Unit. Calle 8, No. 39, Mz 29, SM 64 Cancun, Quintana Roo, 77524. Mexico
2Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Departamento de Manejo y Conservación de Recursos Naturales Tropicales, CCBA. Km 15.5 Carr. Mérida-Xmatkuil. Mérida, Yucatán, A.P. 4-116. Mexico
Received: 24 Jan 2020 – Discussion started: 12 Mar 2020
Abstract. The hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of water is a very important tool to estimate water balance, groundwater recharge, and evaporation. Water isotopes have been used to increase our understanding of the distribution and amounts of renewable and non-renewable groundwater. Isotopic data from precipitation and groundwater is available in much of Mexico but there is little information from the Peninsula of Yucatan, an area heavily relying in groundwater in which current estimates of groundwater availability are uncertain. In this paper, we compiled published and unpublished δ2H and δ18O data in meteoric (waters derived from precipitation), ground- and pore-waters, to obtain a regional meteoric water line (RMWL) expressed by the equation δ2H = 8.1846 δ18O + 10.289. The data suggest that precipitation originates in convective systems, low-pressure events, moisture from frontal events, and from re-condensed moisture. The evaporation lines from groundwater suggest mixing of water with different isotopic composition, but also provide clues to recent meteoric water rapid recharge, likely from rain events of great intensity. We present a groundwater isoscape of the Peninsula of Yucatan and finally address the lack of conciliation between hydrogeology and groundwater management.
Water stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) in the Peninsula of Yucatan, MexicoE. Cejudo, G. Acosta-González, R. M. Leal-Bautista, and H. Estrada-Medina https://doi.org/10.17632/wnz7my6y5r.1
Eduardo Cejudo et al.
Viewed
Total article views: 872 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML
PDF
XML
Total
BibTeX
EndNote
555
292
25
872
28
26
HTML: 555
PDF: 292
XML: 25
Total: 872
BibTeX: 28
EndNote: 26
Views and downloads (calculated since 12 Mar 2020)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 12 Mar 2020)
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 738 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 736 with geography defined
and 2 with unknown origin.
The Peninsula of Yucatan in Mexico relies completely on groundwater. We can use the isotopic data from the water for estimating groundwater recharge for better water management, but we have not get there. We collected all the available data from this region for identifying the information need to be obtained. We now know that the north of the peninsula has more information, but other areas need to be studied before we can make the calculations to help determine water availability.
The Peninsula of Yucatan in Mexico relies completely on groundwater. We can use the isotopic...