Global meteoric water line

The Global Meteoric Water Line is an equation defined by the geochemist Harmon Craig ^[1] ^[2] that states the average relationship between hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios in natural terrestrial waters, expressed as a worldwide average.

$\delta \mathrm {D} =8.0\cdot \delta ^{18}\mathrm {O} +10{}^{0\!}\!/\!_{00}$

A meteoric water line can also be calculated for a given area, and used as a baseline within that area. Kinetic fractionation will cause the isotope ratios to vary between localities within that area.^[3] This relationship is used within the field of isotope hydrology. Craig's original assertion is that the isotopic enrichments, relative to ocean water, display a linear correlation over the entire range for waters which have not undergone excessive evaporation'.^[4]

References

↑ "Obituary notice: pioneer of geochemistry: Harmon Craig". Scripps News. 18 March 2003.
↑ Karl Turekian (2006). "Harmon Craig 1926-2003" (PDF). Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences. Washington, DC: 1–14.
↑ "SAHRA Glossary of Terms".
↑ Harmon Craig (26 May 1961). "Isotopic variations in meteoric waters". Science. 133 (3465): 1702–1703. Bibcode:1961Sci...133.1702C. doi:10.1126/science.133.3465.1702. PMID 17814749.

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