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Stable isotope enrichment in paleowaters of the southeast Atlantic coastal plain, United States

January 1, 1993

Paleowaters from the Floridan aquifer system in the southeastern Atlantic coastal plain have higher D/H and 18O/16O ratios than local Holocene ground water. Maximum δ18O enrichments in ground water having adjusted radiocarbon ages of 20,000 to 26,000 years are 0.7 to 2.3 per mil. The trend in isotopic enrichment in paleowaters is the reverse of that normally observed in continental glacial age ground water. Dissolved nitrogen and argon concentrations indicate, however, that the average recharge temperature was 5.3°C cooler than that today. The data indicate cool conditions in the southeast Atlantic coastal plain during the last glacial maximum, with recharge limited primarily to late summer tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

Publication Year 1993
Title Stable isotope enrichment in paleowaters of the southeast Atlantic coastal plain, United States
DOI 10.1126/science.262.5142.2016
Authors Niel Plummer
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Science
Index ID 70017920
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Toxic Substances Hydrology Program