72
Peter Stille and Graham Shields
- G
9 Spring 89 "~ Rhine
Z~
o Autumn 88J
9 SprincJ 89 "1 9
-
Tributaries
Autumn 88J
Rain ~ncJ...~.oundwater
A
A
~
9
9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A a
~ - ~ - - -A-"13' ~
- A . . . .
i n - - - -
Fig. 4.20. G180 values in the n ver Rhine and in its tributaries. (Biihl et al. 199 I)
(Switzerland), a major tributary of the Rhine. Rain and groundwater from preAlpine, or low lying regions, show a relative enrichment in ~5zsO of about 8%c,
something that is seen reflected in almost all tributaries of this region. Mass
balance calculations allow us to establish that 30 to 50 % of Rhine water has its
origin in Alpine meltwater. This is true even of Rhine water from the lower valley
and has been confirmed by various hydrologic investigations. What stands out are
the extremely 'heavy' GIsO values for the WeseI-Datteln- Harem canal. The reason
for this is that heated, cooling water from a high temperature nuclear reactor (this
leads to a strong fractionation of O isotopes) is piped into this canal. With the
exception of this canal, the determined ~lsO values show a natural development
down river without signs of anthropogenic influence as Alpine waters become
progressively mixed with lowland water.
4.3.2 Strontium Isotopes
Sr isotopes as well as sodium and potassium contents clearly reflect anthropogenic
influence. (Figs. 4.21, 4.22). A particularly strong rise in Na and K concentrations
and s~Sr/S6Sr ratios can be observed between localities 7 and 8, that is between
Fessenheim and Breisach (Fig. 4. ! 9). These increases show the influence of water
from open cast mines or "pit water" and water used in the excavation process, "pit
nnse water", from the Alsatian potassium mines flowing into the Rhine.
Peter Stille and Graham Shields
- G
9 Spring 89 "~ Rhine
Z~
o Autumn 88J
9 SprincJ 89 "1 9
-
Tributaries
Autumn 88J
Rain ~ncJ...~.oundwater
A
A
~
9
9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A a
~ - ~ - - -A-"13' ~
- A . . . .
i n - - - -
Fig. 4.20. G180 values in the n ver Rhine and in its tributaries. (Biihl et al. 199 I)
(Switzerland), a major tributary of the Rhine. Rain and groundwater from preAlpine, or low lying regions, show a relative enrichment in ~5zsO of about 8%c,
something that is seen reflected in almost all tributaries of this region. Mass
balance calculations allow us to establish that 30 to 50 % of Rhine water has its
origin in Alpine meltwater. This is true even of Rhine water from the lower valley
and has been confirmed by various hydrologic investigations. What stands out are
the extremely 'heavy' GIsO values for the WeseI-Datteln- Harem canal. The reason
for this is that heated, cooling water from a high temperature nuclear reactor (this
leads to a strong fractionation of O isotopes) is piped into this canal. With the
exception of this canal, the determined ~lsO values show a natural development
down river without signs of anthropogenic influence as Alpine waters become
progressively mixed with lowland water.
4.3.2 Strontium Isotopes
Sr isotopes as well as sodium and potassium contents clearly reflect anthropogenic
influence. (Figs. 4.21, 4.22). A particularly strong rise in Na and K concentrations
and s~Sr/S6Sr ratios can be observed between localities 7 and 8, that is between
Fessenheim and Breisach (Fig. 4. ! 9). These increases show the influence of water
from open cast mines or "pit water" and water used in the excavation process, "pit
nnse water", from the Alsatian potassium mines flowing into the Rhine.