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Recycling of water in the Amazon Basin: An isotopic study
Author(s) -
Salati Eneas,
Dall'Olio Attilio,
Matsui Eiichi,
Gat Joel R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr015i005p01250
Subject(s) - amazon rainforest , amazon basin , structural basin , hydrometeorology , hydrology (agriculture) , precipitation , drainage basin , environmental science , water balance , geology , geography , geomorphology , meteorology , ecology , geotechnical engineering , biology , cartography
The oxygen‐18 content of precipitation in the Amazon basin is characterized by a very small inland gradient, 0.75 × 10 −3 ‰ km −1 . This is a consequence of the large contribution of reevaporated moisture to the basin's water balance. A distinct seasonal and regional pattern of stable isotope composition has been recognized and shows the basin to be inhomogeneous from the hydrometeorological point of view. The occasional appearance of very low δ values is believed to be related to the position of the ITCZ rather than to interbasin processes.