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Research Interests of Participating Faculty
John Suen, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Dr. Suen’s research group is currently installing a specialty
facility to analyze various isotope tracers (D/H, 13C,
15N, 18O, 34S) in water. Isotopic
techniques are being developed to assist water resources and
regulatory agencies in identifying sources and revealing the
development history of waters as well as water contaminants. Our
first focus is on nitrogen and oxygen isotopes of groundwater
nitrate. One of the current projects is focused on the nitrogen and
oxygen isotope ratios (δ15N, δ18O) of nitrate
found in groundwater in a study area located west of the city of
Kingsburg. It has been shown that nitrate isotope ratios delineate
distinct nitrate origins, for example, isotopic ratios of nitrate
derived from fertilizer, animal manure, natural sediments, etc.
However, groundwater mixing as well as various processes, such as
denitrification in the soil column, can change the isotopic ratios
of oxygen and nitrogen. Another project’s goal is to examine the
relationships among isotope ratios, groundwater ages, and
contamination levels. Collaborators include: US Geological Survey
(both Sacramento, and Menlo Park), Department of Water Resources,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of the University of
California.
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