Contributions of the International Atomic Energy Agency to the development and practice of isotope hydrology

摘要: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has played a crucial role in promoting and expanding the use of isotopes hydrology over last five decades to gain unique insights into functioning terrestrial atmospheric water cycles. In this essay, an historical perspective IAEA activities is provided, along with some achievements recent initiatives. When was formally established 1957, radioactive fallout from thermonuclear testing, particularly tritium, its impact on human health environment posed serious societal concerns. This led initiate global project measure tritium concentrations precipitation. Brian Payne, first Head Isotope Hydrology Section IAEA, convened scientific advisory committee 1959 define scope hydrological aspects monitoring three eminent scientists — Fritz Begemann, Erik Eriksson Hans E. Suess emphasized that, based contemporary publications, stable oxygen hydrogen precipitation would be useful for studying many watercycle processes, including water-residence time evaporation losses lakes reservoirs, groundwater age aquifer dynamics, continental balance, hot spring water, mixing oceans (e.g. Friedman 1953; Epstein Mayeda Dansgaard Urey et al. 1951; Libby 1953). IAEA’s efforts began 1960, were later expanded scale 1961 by collaboration World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). network became known as IAEA-WMO Global Network Isotopes Precipitation (GNIP). number operational GNIP stations varied years. Originally 161 operation. By 1963–1964 there maximum about 220 stations, currently 185 53 countries contribute samples. 50 years existence, database gained 120,000 monthly records more than 900 meteorological worldwide. (1964) conducted comprehensive analysis isotope data proposed key relationships between climate. particular, correlations surface air temperature amount interpreting palaeoclimate preserved proxy archives such ice cores, lake sediments, groundwater, tree rings speleothems. Stable continue extensively utilized climate research. Most general circulation models have been simulate (Joussaume 1984; Jouzel 1997; Hoffmann 2000) provide means validate these models. A publications reported statistical evaluations distributions (e.g., Yurtsever Gat 1981; Rozanski 1991, 1993; Aggarwal 2010). Figure 1 shows all past present, map interpolated (1961–2004) using active inactive stations. continuous operation also critical hydrology, hydrogeology, hydrometeorology. addition precipitation, rivers, yielded invaluable information dynamic cycle residence different hydrologic reservoirs hydrograph separation stream flow. Similarly, characterizing streams, rivers lakes, geographic temporal origin recharge effect balance systems, especially wetlands prone areas. Due very nature methodology, hydrology’s emphasis Received: 4 March 2010 /Accepted: 28 August Published online: 24 September