Tracing groundwater-surface water interactions in a volcanic maar lake
using stable isotopes and radon-222
Abstract
Groundwater-surface water interactions are important in controlling lake
water residence time, biogeochemistry, and water availability for
downstream communities in tropical volcanic catchments. To better
understand these complex seasonal interactions, a multi-tracer approach
including water and inorganic carbon stable isotopes (δ2H, δ18O,
δ13CDIC), hydrochemistry, and 222Rn was applied in Lake Hule, northern
Costa Rica. Seasonal isotope mass balance calculations using lake,
stream, precipitation, and groundwater isotope compositions were
supplemented with local hydrometeorological information. Evaporation to
inflow ratios (E/I) revealed a small variability between the dry
(December-April) and wet seasons (May-November), with relatively low
evaporation losses, 2.9±1.0 % and 3.2±1.8 %, respectively. Bayesian
end-member analysis indicated that annual inputs from groundwater,
precipitation, and runoff represented 61.3±8.1%, 24.4±8.4, and
14.3±5.9% of total inflow, respectively. Temporal variations of δ13CDIC
also confirmed the key role carbonate buffering plays in this lake and
indicated greater CO2 degassing from groundwater sources in the wet
season. This first tracer-aided assessment in a volcanic lake maar of
northern Costa Rica provides evidence of previously unknown
groundwater-surface water interactions and poses a promising tool for
estimating seasonal variability of groundwater discharge into natural
lakes across the volcanic front of Central America.