Environmental isotopes

are naturally produced tracers, which act as “fingerprints” to track the movement of water along its path through the water cycle: from precipitation and infiltration, to runoff and evapotranspiration.

Isotope hydrology techniques

have been widely used in catchment hydrology to investigate rainfall-runoff processes, transit and residence times, origin of water and dynamics, surface water-groundwater interactions, evaporation of surface waters, sources of pollution and (bio)geochemical processes, and climate change impact.

Isotope hydrology techniques include the measurement of stable and radioactive isotopes (e.g., 18O, 2H, 3H, 15N, 222Rn) in water, which enables scientists to better assess the quantity, quality and sustainability of water resources and inform stakeholders.

Here, we present actions and applications of isotope hydrology techniques in Greece and elsewhere undertaken by HCMR and collaborating institutes.

Actions

Monitoring of the National Network of Isotopes in Rivers in Greece

Understanding water dynamics and pollution stresses in river catchments is a necessary task for managing efficiently water resources and provide appropriate mitigation and remediation measures.

Assessment of water dynamics in Schinias-Marathon coastal wetland and its implications to the local ecosystem

Coastal wetlands are vital for provision of a wide range of ecosystem services, including the support of fauna biodiversity, and thus the protection and the proper management of water resources is crucial for their sustainability.

Tracing nitrate sources of pollution in the urbanized catchment of Kifissos River

River waters flowing in urban catchments are susceptible to water quality degradation due to multiple contamination sources. The Kifissos River is an urban river that belongs in a catchment in the western part of Athens metropolitan area.

Assessment of the ecological role, functioning and biodiversity values of rivers/streams that flow in Prespa Lakes

The Prespa Lakes (Great and Small Prespa Lakes) are a group of freshwater lakes located in the southwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula undergoing water level decrease since the 1990’s and thus understanding of the hydrological systems’ dynamics is of major importance.

Efficient and continuous monitoring

of river catchments is a necessary task for designing and applying management and mitigation measures to ensure long-term protection of the water resources.

The aim of this site is to provide data and information on isotope hydrology and water pollution of the aquatic environment based on stable isotopes’ monitoring and assessment.