Deep lake water balance by dual water isotopes in Yungui Plateau, southwest China

Precipitation and Lake Water Evaporation Recorded by Terrestrial and Aquatic n‐Alkane δ2H Isotopes in Lake Khar Nuur, Mongolia

“…During this early growing season, melt water and episodic runoff from winter precipitation contribute to the lake water which is used for aquatic n-alkane synthesis at the shorelines, and the δ 2 H C23 signal becomes consequently more negative. Such distinctly negative δ 2 H values along the shorelines due to input of isotopically negative runoff from melt water and/or precipitation were also found in modern lake water isotope analyzes in other regions (Li et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2019;Yi et al, 2008). These studies therefore support our findings at Lake Khar Nuur.…”

“…The recent δ 2 H signal of terrestrial n ‐alkanes was evaluated in several topsoil and modern plant studies (e.g., Hepp et al., 2020; Lemma et al., 2021; Strobel et al., 2020; Struck et al., 2020), whereas the aquatic n ‐alkanes were studied along a transect of lakes in Europe (Sachse et al., 2004), and in lakes in North America (Hou et al., 2007; Y. Huang et al., 2004) and the Tibetan Plateau (Aichner et al., 2010; Xia et al., 2008). The spatial distribution of water isotopes in lake water was also studied, for example, in Chinese lakes (Li et al., 2021). However, little is known about whether and how the δ 2 H signal of terrestrial and aquatic n ‐alkanes varies spatially in lakes and how hydrological and morphological differences in a lake and the lake's catchment might modulate the δ 2 H signals.…”

“…and the Tibetan Plateau (Aichner et al, 2010;Xia et al, 2008). The spatial distribution of water isotopes in lake water was also studied, for example, in Chinese lakes (Li et al, 2021). However, little is known about whether and how the δ 2 H signal of terrestrial and aquatic n-alkanes varies spatially in lakes and how hydrological and morphological differences in a lake and the lake's catchment might modulate the δ 2 H signals.…”