Groundwater dating with atmospheric halogenated compounds

Abstract

Anthropogenic atmospheric tracers have been extensively used in hydrologic tracer studies and in groundwater dating studies. CFCs and SF6 were the most extensively used tracers; however, many other environmental tracers (SF5CF3, CFC-13, PFCs, and HFCs) show potential as dating tools pending development of improved analytical methods. Dating of groundwater using the piston-flow model, lumped-parameter mathematical models, or reactive transport flow models requires the knowledge of recharge conditions (recharge temperature and pressure and vadose zone thickness) and aquifer properties that affect the dissolved tracer concentrations in the sample (adsorption, contamination, degradation).