AMHERST – University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers are asking for the public’s help to better understand how state waters are being affected by climate change.
Hydrologist David Boutt and his research team are asking citizens for water samples to help them establish a high-resolution map and database of natural chemical signatures – hydrogen and oxygen isotopes found in surface water, precipitation and groundwater, according to the University.
“If we better understand the sources of moisture and how isotopes are moving through our local water systems we can better understand how water is being affected in a changing climate,” Boutt said in a news release.
Once completed, the database would provide information on how responsive a watershed is to natural climate variability.
“Water that we see moving through the system now is a relic of the past. With isotopes we can develop a map to understand water’s residence time in ground and surface waters. Using isotopes, we can track the source of moisture coming into New England,” Boutt said in a news release. “When water evaporates into the atmosphere it picks up a signature. Using isotopes, we can assess if our rain is from the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic or the Arctic by measuring these isotopes. We can use all of this to help us understand where all the water is coming from.”
The samples will help them to better understand the isotopic composition of state waters and how groundwater is changing as a result of human activities. Participants will receive a brief report on the isotopic composition of their water compared to regional waters.
With the information, researchers will create a public baseline and online tool where regulators, homeowners, watershed associations and researchers can get information on a range of isotopic concentrations that tell them the residence time for each aquifer and information regarding water supply sustainability during drought.
Residents of western Massachusetts can contribute water samples to the project from wells or nearby streams by contacting Boutt at 413-545-2724 or by email dboutt@geo.umass.edu.