An exploration of the origins, evolution, and fate of inorganic chemical constituents in meteoric waters on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i, USA

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dc.contributor.advisor Lautze, Nicole
dc.contributor.author Brennis, Theodore Martin
dc.contributor.department Earth and Planetary Sciences
dc.date.accessioned 2024-02-26T20:13:46Z
dc.date.issued 2023
dc.description.degree Ph.D.
dc.embargo.liftdate 2024-08-23
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/10125/107863
dc.subject Geochemistry
dc.subject Hydrologic sciences
dc.subject dissolved ions
dc.subject groundwater
dc.subject O'ahu
dc.subject precipitation
dc.subject soil moisture
dc.subject stable isotopes of water
dc.title An exploration of the origins, evolution, and fate of inorganic chemical constituents in meteoric waters on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i, USA
dc.type Thesis
dcterms.abstract This study examines the inorganic composition of rainfall on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, as part of a broader effort to apply natural conservative geochemical tracers to water resource management problems in the State. Pacific Islands grapple with unique water resource challenges due to environmental vulnerability, climate dynamics, and heavy groundwater reliance. Urbanization, population growth, and decreasing rainfall trends also stress Oʻahu's freshwater resources. To address these water resource challenges, understanding the links between meteoric, ground-, and surface waters is crucial. This research consists of three components that use the inorganic chemistry of precipitation to better understand such links. First, we analyzed major ion sources in Oʻahu's rainfall, which revealed that ocean sea spray is the primary dissolved ion source, with perturbations from Asian continental dust, local sediment, and agriculture as dictated by broader weather patterns. Second, we analyzed rainfall stable isotopes (18O and 2H), which indicated that there are distinct geographical, seasonal, and precipitation source-related influences. High-elevation spring sampling also indicated that there are significant fog contributions to groundwater recharge. Finally, we investigated how rainfall chemistry evolves as it infiltrates the soil and present a method to assess changes in the stable isotope composition of precipitation during infiltration. These studies illuminate several key meteorological and physiographic dynamics that affect precipitation chemistry on Oʻahu and provide a baseline from which to assess future fluctuations. They underscore the impact of microclimates and moisture source on the stable isotope composition of precipitation, and highlight the need for topographically diverse, event-based precipitation sampling. Results from the third study highlight the importance of understanding chemical changes to precipitation during the process of infiltration. Cumulatively, these findings lay groundwork for utilizing natural geochemical tracers to understand groundwater flow paths and recharge processes on Oʻahu.
dcterms.extent 209 pages
dcterms.language en
dcterms.publisher University of Hawai'i at Manoa
dcterms.rights All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dcterms.type Text
local.identifier.alturi http://dissertations.umi.com/hawii:11943
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Ph.D. - Earth and Planetary Sciences