Deuterium, Oxygen-18 and Tritium in Precipitation, Surface and Groundwater in the Far East of Russia

AbstractThis is the first report describing the parallel measurement of deuterium (δD), tritium (3H), and oxygen-18 (δ18O) in precipitation, seawater, surface and groundwater in relation to the Russian Far East. δD and δ18O demonstrate that the studied waters have a meteoric origin, and variations are the result of water-rock-gas interactions. All studied waters reveal obvious “latitudinal” and “continental” effects: there is a universal decrease in δ18О and δD from the south to the north, and from the ocean inland. The background level of 3H is 20 TU in Amursky region's rivers, 13 TU in Primorsky region's rivers, and 5.5 TU in one of the Kuril Islands. The majority of studied groundwaters have short residence times