Stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in the Truckee River-Pyramid Lake surface-water system, 2. A predictive model of δ¹⁸O and δ²H in Pyramid Lake

Authors

S. W. Hostetler, US Geological Survey
Larry Benson, U.S. Geological SurveyFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1994

Citation

Limnology & Oceanography, 39(2), 1994, 356-364

Comments

US gov't work.

Abstract

A physically based model of variations in δ¹⁸O and δ²H in Pyramid Lake is presented. For inputs, the model uses measurements of liquid water inflows and outflows and their associated isotopic compositions and a set of meteorological data (radiative fluxes, air temperature, relative humidity, and windspced). The model simulates change of lake volume, thermal and isotopic stratification, evaporation, and the isotopic composition of evaporation. A validation of the model for 1987-1989 and 1991 indicates that it can reproduce measured intra- and interannual variations of δ¹⁸O and δ²H. Three applications of the model demonstrate its ability to simulate longer term responses of δ¹⁸O to change in the hydrologic balance and hydrologic characteristics (opening and closing) of the lake.