Estimating the turnover time of groundwater reservoirs by the helium- 3/tritium method in the era of declining atmospheric tritium levels: opportunities and limitations in the time bracket 1990-2000

I. Carmi, J. R. Gat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the period of high atmospheric tritium levels, tritium was used successfully to estimate the residence time of groundwater systems. With the gradual decline of atmospheric tritium, the age determination has become ambiguous, since one cannot distinguish between young waters and older ones in which the high tritium values are decayed. However, measurement of both tritium and of its decay product, 3He, extends the usefulness of the method. The possibilities and limitations in this application of the "dating method' up to the turn of this century are discussed for a range of flow and mixing conditions within an aquifer. The practical problem of loss of helium during recharge and discharge of the aquifer is also considered. -Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)249-253
Number of pages5
JournalIsrael Journal of Earth Sciences
Volume43
Issue number3-4
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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