The Stable Isotope Hydrology of Sable Island, NS, Canada

Abstract

We investigated the stable isotope hydrology of Sable Island, NS, Canada over a four year period from September, 2017 until August, 2021. The δ 2 H and δ 18 O values of integrated monthly precipitation were weakly seasonal and ranged from -66 to -17 per mil and from -9.7 to -3.1 per mil, respectively. Fitting these monthly precipitation data resulted in a Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) defined by: δ 2 H = 7.28 ± 0.22×δ 18 O + 7.95 ± 1.38 per mil. Amount weighted annual precipitation had δ 2 H and δ 18 O values of -37 ± 12 per mil and -6.1 ± 1.6 per mil, respectively. Deep groundwater had more negative δ 2 H and δ 18 O values than mean annual precipitation, suggesting recharge occurs mainly in the winter, while shallow groundwater had δ 2 H and δ 18 O values more consistent with mean annual precipitation or mixing of freshwater with local seawater. Surface waters had more positive values and showed evidence of isolation from the groundwater system. The stable isotopic compositions of plant(leaf) water, on the other hand, indicate plants use groundwater as their source. Fog had δ 2 H and δ 18 O values that were significantly more positive than those of local precipitation, yet had similar 17 O-excess values. Our results establish an important framework for ongoing isotopic studies of feral horses and other wildlife on Sable Island.

Stabilizing high aspect ratio x-ray gratings with top layer resist grid

“…The second layer was afterward irradiated using x-ray irradiation and developed via the standard x-ray LIGA process. The following fabrication steps are based on a patent 21 . The grating is first bent to the desired radius with a polymer holder for electroplating.…”