Natural Isotopes Identify Changes in Groundwater Flows Affecting Wetland Vegetation in the Drentsche Aa Brook Valley, The Netherlands

This study uses groundwater isotopes and ion composition to verify model simulations and ecohydrological studies in the Drentsche Aa nature reserve in The Netherlands, which is representative for the northwestern wetland areas in the Ice Marginal Landscape zone. At eight field sites, a total of 24 samples were analysed for their 13C, 14C, 2H, and 18O isotopes and ionic composition. The isotopes indicate that most of the fen peatlands in the area depend on the exfiltration of sub-regional groundwater flows, which confirmed the previous model simulations and ecohydrological studies. At three sit... Mehr ...