Spatiotemporal pattern and influencing factors of stable isotopes in different waters on the transition zone between the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Chengdu plain

Abstract

Based on the water samples collected from Minjiang river, the spatiotemporal pattern of stable isotopes in different waters and the influencing mechanisms were investigated in the article. Our findings suggested that the stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in waters exhibited obvious spatiotemporal variations influenced by temperature and precipitation amount since precipitation is an important recharge source for Minjiang river water and that the ‘latitude effect’ was observed in the river water whereas the ‘elevation effect’ was obscured. The results of this study will be helpful in understanding the hydrological cycle and promoting the scientific management of water resources in basins at east transition of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.