Dataset of 18O and 2H in streamflow across Canada: A national resource for tracing water sources, water balance and predictive modelling

Oxygen-18 and deuterium were measured in streamflow samples collected from 331 gauging stations across Canada during 2013 to 2019. This dataset includes 9206 isotopic analyses made on 4603 individual water samples, and an additional 1259 analysis repeats for quality assurance/quality control. We also include arithmetic and flow-weighted averages, and other basic statistics for stations where adequate data were available. Station data are provided including station code, name, province, latitude, longitude and drainage area. Flow data were extracted from the historical database of the Water Survey of Canada. Details on the preliminary application of these data are provided in “18O and 2H in streamflow across Canada” [1]. Overall, these data are expected to be useful when combined with precipitation datasets and analytical or numerical models for water resource management and planning, including tracing streamflow source, water balance, evapotranspiration partitioning, residence time analysis, and early detection of climate and land use changes in Canada.

This is the first Canada-wide baseline stable isotope dataset for rivers.

This dataset enables identification of water sources and distributions in streamflow and can help to resolve spatial and/or temporal variations in potential water sources including precipitaiton (snow, rain, mixed), groundwater, lakes and wetlands.

This dataset facilitates the estimation of water balance of catchment areas using the spatiotemporal distributions in precipitation as well as evaporation-transpiration partitioning, catchment residence times, and assessment of water-carbon cycle linkages, and nutrients.

Isotope data provide process evaluation targets and diagnostic tools for refining water-cycle modeling capabilities at the local, regional and continental scales. Improvements in model prediction can potentially advance representation of hydrological processes and pathways, forecasting of water availability including floods and droughts, and as an early warning of hydrologic changes occurring due to land use impacts and climate change.

Gibson, J. J., Eby, P., Stadnyk, T. A., Holmes, T., Birks, S. J., & Pietroniro, A. (2021). Dataset of 18O and 2H in streamflow across Canada: A national resource for tracing water sources, water balance and predictive modelling. Data in Brief, 34, 106723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2021.106723

Figure presents map of Canada showing the Water Survey of Canada river isotope monitoring network, 2013-2019, where size of station symbols is proportionate to the number of samples analyzed.

Journal DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2021.106723

PDF
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340921000093/pdfft?md5=b08fe40c22dcc6404dabbe3a500b3eb8&pid=1-s2.0-S2352340921000093-main.pdf

Excel spreadsheet
https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S2352340921000093-mmc1.xlsx