New CRP on Isotopes in Precipitation and Paleoclimatic Archives in Tropical Areas
Posted
7
feb
2013
A new Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on Stable Isotopes in Precipitation and Paleoclimatic Archives in Tropical Areas to Improve Regional Hydrological and Climatic Impact Models is to be implemented by the IAEA from 2013-2016. CRPs provide an opportunity to work with and learn from colleagues around the world on common isotopic research topics. The final product is an IAEA technical document, and peer reviewed papers or symposia proceedings wherever possible. For more details and application forms, please consult the IAEA website Coordinated Research Activities.
For further information please contact Dagnachew Legesse Belachew.
Announcement: 9th IAEA Tritium Intercomparison (TRIC2012)
Posted
14
dec
2012
The Isotope Hydrology Laboratory (IHL) is conducting the 9th International Tritium Intercomparison (TRIC2012) for the performance assessment of tritium (3H) assays in water at low level environmental concentration levels. We invite all laboratories using conventional liquid scintillation and gas proportional decay counting, as well as newer mass-spectrometry-3He accumulation methods to participate. For technical details and to register your laboratory, please visit the TRIC2012 website.
For further information please contact the TRIC team tric@iaea.org
New Software: Laboratory Information Management System for Water Isotope Laser Spectroscopy
Posted
02
nov
2012
The Isotope Hydrology Laboratory (IHL) has partnered with the USGS to develop a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for water oxygen and hydrogen isotopes specifically for users of new laser absorption spectrographs (LIMS for Lasers). Laser spectroscopy has recently revolutionized the analysis of the stable isotopes of water through easy-to-use and robust instrumentation; however the data has not been so easy to work with due to inter-sample memory artefacts, uncontrolled instrumental drift, overwhelming amounts of data, and improper user calibration of results. These problems are overcome by the adoption of LIMS for Lasers, which automates many of these processes, and using systematic approaches has the effect of improving quality assurance, increasing laboratory efficiency, and decreasing laboratory errors. The software is available cost-free from the IAEA - Water Resources Programme and USGS websites.
For further information please contact Len Wassenaar
Isotope Hydrology Laboratory - Final WICO 2011 Report
Posted
15
MAY
2012
The final WICO 2011 report is now available for download. The report provides the outcome of a world-wide proficiency test for 137 laboratories conducting routine analysis of δ2H and δ18O in water by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS). This test revealed that >90 % of laboratory submissions provided acceptable results within ± 2 ‰ for δ2H and ± 0.2 ‰ for δ18O of the established reference values for test waters, and no difference in outcomes based on IRMS vs. LAS technology was found.
However, when including each laboratory's stated precision as an assessment criterion, over 30 % of laboratories had overstated their precision or had very poor precision. The primary cause of outliers appeared to be improper calibration or compromised storage of laboratory standard and primary reference waters, so the importance of proper storage and handling of lab standards cannot be understated. The poor practice of single standard normalization was also identified as a problem for some laboratories. We recommend laboratories strive to report long-term precisions based upon control standards. A synthesis of the WICO report is currently in press in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry.
For further information please contact Len Wassenaar.
Resources
Atlas of Isotope Hydrology
Morocco
The sustainablity of groundwater resources for drinking water supplies, agriculture, and industry is a prime concern in countries dominated by arid and semi-arid climates such as Morocco. Full text
STI/PUB/1480, 2010, ISBN 978-92-0-111010-7,
English.
Atlas of Isotope Hydrology
The Americas
It was completed in 2009, and it focuses on about
19 000 isotope records from 150 projects in 23 IAEA Member States in the Americas where environmental isotopes were used to assess water resources between 1968 and 2008. Full text
STI/PUB/1423, 2009, ISBN 978-92-0-110009-2,
English. 110.00 Euro.
Atlas of Isotope Hydrology
Asia and the Pacific
It was released in 2008, and focuses on about 105 projects in 16 Member States carried out between 1973 and 2007, and includes maps, statistics and data plots created from nearly 16 000 isotope records. Full text
STI/PUB/1364, 2008, ISBN 978-92-0-111008-4,
English. 110.00 Euro.
Atlas of Isotope Hydrology
Africa
It was the first atlas made, and was released in 2007. It involved the gathering of nearly 10 500 isotope records from about 80 IAEA projects in 26 African countries from 1973 to 2007. Groundwater provides nearly 2/3 of drinking water on the continent. Full text
STI/PUB/1302, 2007, ISBN 978-92-0-107207-8,
English. 110.00 Euro.
Monographs
Handbooks in isotope hydrology and specialized publications on concrete hydrological applications of isotope techniques dating from the 1970s until today.
Find all monograph publications in PDF.
Symposia
Proceedings from conferences on isotope hydrology, water resources, and environmental change — including oral and poster presentations — dating back to 1963.
Find all symposium publications in PDF.
IAEA-Tecdocs
The IAEA Technical documents summarizing results of Coordinated Research Projects and technical cooperation projects involving the use of isotope techniques in hydrology.
Find all technical document publications in PDF.
Water & Environment News
The Isotope Hydrology newsletter - produced twice a year- contains the latest information as well as project insights. The hard copy is for distribution to individuals and institutions in IAEA Member States free of charge upon request, subject to availability.
All of the published issues of the newsletter are available here on-line in PDF format.
Global Network of Isotope in Precipitation
This joint IAEA/WMO programme – monitoring isotopes in precipitation for the past 50 years – provides information for hydrological and other applications.
Climate Change and the Atom
Developing the right response to climate change requires that we understand the science behind it. Isotopes in marine sediments, ice cores and other paleoclimatic archives can help reconstruct the
world´s climate history, including impact on the hydrological cycle.
Water Resources Programme Leaflet
This Leaflet explains ‘Solutions Through Science’ and how this motto is applied by the Water Resources Programme.
Water Resources Programme Brochure
The IAEA has been a pioneer in developing isotope hydrology as a powerful and effective scientific approach. Find out how the programme supports Member States in water resources management.
Liquid-Water Stable Isotope Analyser
Laser based instruments have the potential to bring about a paradigm shift in isotope applications. This contains a document describing extensive laboratory testing performed by the IAEA, a 45 minute video demonstrating how to assemble an analyser, as well as other resources. Watch the tutorial video
Related Resources
Overview of Laboratory Isotope Analysis Methods for Water Resources Studies
Proper preparation and analysis of isotope samples are essential for the interpretation and development of a sound assessment of water resources and potential water supplies. Watch the tutorial video
Related Resources
Introduction to Water Sampling and Analysis for Isotope Hydrology
This video is meant to guide practitioners and researchers in hydrological work in their activities, to efficiently gather information and thus enhance knowledge of particular water supplies. Watch the tutorial video
Related Resources
