Migration of recharge waters downgradient from the Santa Catalina Mountains into the Tucson basin aquifer, Arizona, USA

摘要: Aquifers in the arid alluvial basins of southwestern U.S. are recharged predominantly by infiltration from streams and playas within water entering along margins basins. The Tucson basin southeastern Arizona is such a basin. Santa Catalina Mountains form northern boundary this receive more than twice as much precipitation (ca. 700 mm/year) does itself 300 mm/year). In study environmental isotopes were employed to investigate migration basinward through shallow joints fractures. Water samples obtained springs runoff wells foothills Mountains. Stable (δD δ18O) thermonuclear-bomb-produced tritium enabled qualitative characterization flow paths velocities. Stable-isotope measurements show no direct altitude effect. Tritium values indicate that although few discharge pre-bomb water, most waters 1960s or later.