Isotope content and temperature of precipitation in southern Nevada, August 1983-August 1986

Abstract

From August 1983 through August 1986, 429 precipitation samples of 112 precipitation events were collected at 12 stations in southern Nevada. Some of these samples were analyzed for oxygen-18, deuterium, and tritium. The results of these analyses as well as the air temperature and the precipitation measured at the collection sites are tabulated in this report. The sampling program provides a data base for future interpretive studies on the timing and origin of groundwater recharge in the Yucca Mountain region, of southern Nevada.

Interbasin flow in the Great Basin with special reference to the southern Funeral Mountains and the source of Furnace Creek springs, Death Valley, California, U.S.

“…dD values range from about À102 to À101 per mil at the Furnace Creek springs, and from about À111 to À110 per mil at springs in the Grapevine Springs area. In contrast, dD values in local precipitation, collected in the mid-1980's at the station referred to as Andy, ranged from about À116 to À15.5 per mil (Milne et al, 1987). The cumulative dD for the period between 1991 and 1997 was À75 per mil for the station at Death Valley (Friedman et al, 2002).…”

Hydrologic resources management program and underground test area operable unit fy 1997

“…Most groundwaters from Pahute Mesa range in 6"O from -14.7 to -15.1%0, with 6D values between -110 and -120%0 (Figure 1). Although Pahute Mesa snowfall has a weighted mean 6180 value similar to the groundwater t-14.7%0), it has a higher 6D value (-104%0) (data from Milne et al, 1987). Local rainfall is significantly higher in both F180 and 6D (see Figure 1).…”

Using fossil spring deposits in the Death Valley region, USA to evaluate palaeoflowpaths

“…Using a modern mean annual air temperature of 18.38C for the Amargosa Farms NV weather station (WRCC, www.wrcc.dri.edu) leads to estimated mean annual air temperatures of 14 to 9.68C during times of discharge. Milne et al (1987) report the d 18 O of precipitation from stations in the Death Valley Region at elevations ranging from 760 to 2145 m. In order to minimise the effect of elevation corrections on the isotopic composition of precipitation, we have used 80 analyses from stations less than 1500 m in elevation. Like Miner (2004), we assumed that warm-weather precipitation would be lost to evapotranspiration, so only coldweather isotope data were used, including all data for snow as well as rainfall from October 1 to March 30 in any given year.…”

“…Using the winter precipitation data of Milne et al (1987), it is possible to estimate a separate mean elevation correction of À0.006 AE 0.002% m À1 , based upon individual storms where data from at least four and as many as 10 stations are reported and where the square of the correlation coefficient between d 18 O values and elevation is at least 0.5. Applying this correction raises the range of elevation corrected d 18 O values at 550 m to À7.0%.…”