Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysis
<p>Methodological advancements have been made in in situ observations of water stable isotopes that have provided valuable insights into ecohydrological processes. The continuous measurement capabilities of laser-based analyzers allow for high temporal resolutions and non-destructive minimally...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/27/3701/2023/hess-27-3701-2023.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797654441463119872 |
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| author | B. Herbstritt B. Gralher B. Gralher S. Seeger M. Rinderer M. Rinderer M. Weiler |
| author_facet | B. Herbstritt B. Gralher B. Gralher S. Seeger M. Rinderer M. Rinderer M. Weiler |
| author_sort | B. Herbstritt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Methodological advancements have been made in in situ observations of water stable isotopes that have provided valuable insights into ecohydrological processes. The continuous measurement capabilities of laser-based analyzers allow for high temporal resolutions and non-destructive minimally invasive study designs of such in situ approaches. However, isotope analyzers are expensive, heavy, and require shelter and access to electrical power, which impedes many in situ assays. Therefore, we developed a new inexpensive technique to collect discrete water vapor samples in the field via diffusion-tight inflatable bags that can later be analyzed in the lab. In a series of structured experiments, we tested different procedural settings, bag materials, and closure types for diffusion tightness during storage as well as for practical handling during filling and extraction. To facilitate reuse of sampling bags, we present a conditioning procedure using ambient air as primer. In order to validate our method, direct measurements through hydrophobic in situ probes were compared to repeated measurements of vapor sampled with our bags from the same source. All steps are summarized in a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP). This procedure represents the preparation and measurement of calibration and validation vapor standards necessary for processing of unknown field-collected vapor samples in the foreseen application. By performing pertinent calibration procedures, accuracy was better than 0.4 ‰ for <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i><sup>18</sup></span>O and 1.9 ‰ for <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i><sup>2</sup></span>H after 1 d of storage. Our technique is particularly suitable when used in combination with minimally invasive water vapor sampling in situ probes that have already been employed for soils and tree xylem. It is an important step towards minimally invasive monitoring of stable isotope distributions and also time series in virtually undisturbed soils and trees without the need to have an analyzer in the field. It is therefore a promising tool for many applications in ecohydrology and meteorology.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:59:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a13c0f8d981c4ce19a34049b87253a8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:59:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a13c0f8d981c4ce19a34049b87253a8a2023-10-20T12:52:10ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382023-10-01273701371810.5194/hess-27-3701-2023Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysisB. Herbstritt0B. Gralher1B. Gralher2S. Seeger3M. Rinderer4M. Rinderer5M. Weiler6Chair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyChair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyInstitute of Groundwater Management, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, GermanyChair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyChair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germanynow at: geo7 AG, Bern, SwitzerlandChair of Hydrology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany<p>Methodological advancements have been made in in situ observations of water stable isotopes that have provided valuable insights into ecohydrological processes. The continuous measurement capabilities of laser-based analyzers allow for high temporal resolutions and non-destructive minimally invasive study designs of such in situ approaches. However, isotope analyzers are expensive, heavy, and require shelter and access to electrical power, which impedes many in situ assays. Therefore, we developed a new inexpensive technique to collect discrete water vapor samples in the field via diffusion-tight inflatable bags that can later be analyzed in the lab. In a series of structured experiments, we tested different procedural settings, bag materials, and closure types for diffusion tightness during storage as well as for practical handling during filling and extraction. To facilitate reuse of sampling bags, we present a conditioning procedure using ambient air as primer. In order to validate our method, direct measurements through hydrophobic in situ probes were compared to repeated measurements of vapor sampled with our bags from the same source. All steps are summarized in a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP). This procedure represents the preparation and measurement of calibration and validation vapor standards necessary for processing of unknown field-collected vapor samples in the foreseen application. By performing pertinent calibration procedures, accuracy was better than 0.4 ‰ for <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i><sup>18</sup></span>O and 1.9 ‰ for <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i><sup>2</sup></span>H after 1 d of storage. Our technique is particularly suitable when used in combination with minimally invasive water vapor sampling in situ probes that have already been employed for soils and tree xylem. It is an important step towards minimally invasive monitoring of stable isotope distributions and also time series in virtually undisturbed soils and trees without the need to have an analyzer in the field. It is therefore a promising tool for many applications in ecohydrology and meteorology.</p>https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/27/3701/2023/hess-27-3701-2023.pdf |
| spellingShingle | B. Herbstritt B. Gralher B. Gralher S. Seeger M. Rinderer M. Rinderer M. Weiler Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysis Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysis |
| title_full | Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysis |
| title_fullStr | Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysis |
| title_short | Technical note: Discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab-based water stable isotope analysis |
| title_sort | technical note discrete in situ vapor sampling for subsequent lab based water stable isotope analysis |
| url | https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/27/3701/2023/hess-27-3701-2023.pdf |
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