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Noble gases and stable isotopes in a shallow aquifer in southern Michigan: Implications for noble gas paleotemperature reconstructions for cool climates
Author(s) -
Hall Chris M.,
Castro Maria Clara,
Lohmann Kyger C.,
Ma Lin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl023582
Subject(s) - noble gas , aquifer , groundwater recharge , water table , groundwater , geology , stable isotope ratio , hydrology (agriculture) , spring (device) , atmosphere (unit) , environmental science , earth science , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , chemistry , geography , mechanical engineering , physics , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering , quantum mechanics
Noble gas data from the Glacial Drift, the shallowest aquifer in southern Michigan confirm findings by Ma et al. (2004) that modern noble gas temperatures (NGTs) are systematically below the current mean annual air temperature (MAAT) which, in turn, is similar to the ground temperature of these recharge waters. By tracking noble gas concentrations as well as stable isotope ratios through an autumn, winter, spring and into summer, we show that although water in this aquifer is modern, noble gases do not track the atmosphere on a short time scale. Specifically, excess 3 He and 4 He indicate that the gas environment at the water table is integrating conditions over years or decades rather than weeks or months. Our results are interpreted using various NGT interpretational models and possible mechanisms for the production of low apparent NGTs are discussed.