Controls on the hydrogen isotope composition in the pore water from the Dajiuhu Peatland, central China

Abstract

The hydrogen isotope composition of leaf wax n-alkanes (δ²H_alk) has been used to reconstruct hydroclimate conditions, yet the factors that influence it are not fully understood, particularly the control of soil pore water δ²H. This study monitored the temporal and vertical variations of peat pore water δ²H (δ²H_pw) from 2015 to 2019 in the Dajiuhu peatland, central China. Results showed that δ²H_pw was highly variable in the surface layers (0−10 cm; avg. −47‰, 1σ = 11‰) and remained almost constant in deeper depths (below 50 cm; avg. −56‰, 1σ = 2‰). The δ²H_pw of the 0−10 cm layer was strongly correlated with the preceding month’s precipitation δ²H (δ²H_p) in the adjacent area (r = 0.7, p < 0.01), indicating that δ²H_p is the main factor affecting the temporal variations of δ²H_pw in the upper layers. Moreover, the surface (0−10 cm) peat pore water slightly deviated from the local meteoric water line, suggesting that evaporation may also have an effect on the δ²H_pw. These findings emphasize the importance of precipitation isotope composition in interpreting the δ²H_alk in peat deposits under subtropical climates.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

pore water / hydrogen isotope composition / spatiotemporal variability / soil evaporation / leaf wax n-alkane / peat deposit

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