• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.25-36
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• 2021

This study evaluated monthly, seasonal and altitudinal changes of oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of wet precipitation samples (n = 238) that were collected for last four years from 7 altitudes (from 265 to 1,500 m above sea level) in the Jeju Samdasoo watershed at the southeastern part of Jeju island, in order to examine the recharge characteristics of groundwater that is pumped out for the production of the Samdasoo drinking mineral water. Precipitation samples showed a clear seasonal change of O-H isotopic composition as follow, due to the different air masses and relative humidity: 𝛿D = 7.3𝛿¹⁸O + 11.3 (R² = 0.76) in the wet season (June to September), while 𝛿D = 7.9𝛿¹⁸O + 9.5 (R² = 0.91) in the dry season (October to May). In contrast, the stable isotope compositions of groundwater were nearly constant throughout the year and did not show a distinct monthly or seasonal change, implying the well-mixing of infiltrated water during and after its recharge. An altitudinal effect of the oxygen isotope compositions of precipitation was also remarkable with the decrease of -0.19‰ (R² = 0.91) with the elevation increase by 100 m. Based on the observed altitudinal change, the minimum altitude of groundwater recharge was estimated as 1,200 m above the sea level in the Jeju Samdasoo watershed.