Development of a local meteoric water line for southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and south-central Montana

• DOI: 10.3133/sir20045126
• Publication Date: 2018-08-15T18:40:06Z
• Authors: Lyn Benjamin; LeRoy L. Knobel; L. Flint Hall; L. DeWayne Cecil; Jaromy R. Green
• Keywords: δ18O

Linear-regression analysis was applied to stable hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) isotope data in 72 snow-core precipitation samples collected during 1999-2001 determine the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) for southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, south-central Montana. On basis of (1) residuals from regression model, (2) comparison study-area deuterium-excess (d-excess) values with global range d-excess values, (3) outlier by means Chauvenet's Criterion, four were excluded final dataset. Regression results 68 remaining yielded a LMWL defined equation ?H = 7.95 18O + 8.09 (r? 0.98). This will be useful as reference point future studies this area that use isotopes H O sources ground-water recharge, water-mineral exchange, evaluate surface-water groundwater interaction, analyze many other geochemical hydrologic problems.