Isotopic composition of rainfall and ground-water recharge in the western province of Saudi Arabia

The oxygen-18 and deuterium isotopic compositions of rainfall from eight meteorological stations are discussed. The results show that the stable isotope distribution of the rainfall over the western province display a difference in isotopic ratios, which can be attributed to the altitude effect and water vapour sources, and to some extent, to rainfall amount. The changes of delta(18)O and deltaD contents with altitude are -0.08 and -0.38parts per thousand per 100 m respectively. Comparison of the isotopic analyses of rainfall and local ground-water and springs indicates that the monsoon derived rainfall that prevails during the autumn season plays a crucial role in alluvial aquifer recharge. Although Atlantic water vapour can arrive virtually throughout the area in winter months, its influence seems to be of minor importance to the water balance in the study area. (C) 2001 Academic Press.