title: First field-based observations of δ2H and δ18O values of event-based precipitation, rivers and other water bodies in the Dzungarian Gobi, SW Mongolia.
abstract: For certain remote areas like Mongolia, field-based precipitation, surface and ground water isotopic data are scarce. So far no such data exist for the Mongolian Gobi desert, which hinders the understanding of isotopic fractionation processes in this extreme, arid region. We collected 26 event-based precipitation samples, 39 Bij river samples, and 75 samples from other water bodies in the Dzungarian Gobi in SW Mongolia over a period of 16 months for hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope analysis. δ2H and δ18O values in precipitation show high seasonal variation and cover an extreme range: 175 ‰ for δ2H and 24 ‰ for δ18O values. The calculated local meteoric water line (LMWL) shows the isotopic characteristics of precipitation in an arid region. Individual water samples fall into one of three groups: within, above or below the 95 % confidence interval of LMWL. Data presented provide a basis for future studies in this region.
authors.affiliation: a Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology , University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burnik Šturm
authors.affiliation: b Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area Administration , Takhin Tal, Gobi Altai Province , Mongolia.|c School of Biology and Biotechnology , National University of Mongolia , Ulan Bator , Mongolia.
authors.forename: Oyunsaikhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ganbaatar
authors.affiliation: d Department of Evolutionary Ecology , Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Christian C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Voigt
authors.affiliation: a Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology , University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaczensky
mesh_terms: D003903:Deuterium / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008986:Mongolia; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D012914:Snow / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D003903:Deuterium
keywords: Central Asia; Gobi desert; deuterium excess; extreme environment; hydrogen-2; isotope hydrology; oxygen-18; water cycle