Tracing water fluxes in ecosystems by stable water isotopes – a methodological perspective

Abstract:

Stable water isotopes are a powerful tool for tracing water fluxes in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. They are increasingly used by various disciplines to better understand the functioning and processes occurring at the soil-plant-atmosphere system. Here, we present and evaluate isotope methods applied to trace water through the critical zone. While new in-situ methods allow measurements at high spatial and temporal resolution, studies applying tracer methods are still tackling complex interactions between soil processes, plant physiology, and variable atmospheric drivers. As such, methodological developments and changes are happening quickly and have a strong bearing on process understanding and interpretation of findings.