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Technical note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers

von Freyberg, Jana; Knapp, Julia L.A.; Rücker, Andrea; Studer, Bjørn; Kirchner, James W.

Technical note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers Thumbnail


Authors

Jana von Freyberg

Andrea Rücker

Bjørn Studer

James W. Kirchner



Abstract

Automated field sampling of streamwater or precipitation for subsequent analysis of stable water isotopes (2H and 18O) is often conducted with off-the-shelf automated samplers. However, when water samples are stored in the field for days and weeks in open bottles inside autosamplers, their isotopic signatures can be altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing. We therefore designed an evaporation protection method which modifies autosampler bottles using a syringe housing and silicone tube, and we tested whether this method reduces evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing in water samples stored for up to 24 d in 6712 full-size portable samplers (Teledyne ISCO, Lincoln, USA). Laboratory and field tests under different temperature and humidity conditions showed that water samples in bottles with evaporation protection were far less altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing than samples in conventional open bottles. Our design is a cost-efficient approach to upgrade the 1 L sample bottles of the ISCO autosamplers, allowing secure water sample collection in warm and dry environments. Our design can be readily adapted (e.g., by using a different syringe size) to fit the bottles used by many other field autosamplers.

Citation

von Freyberg, J., Knapp, J. L., Rücker, A., Studer, B., & Kirchner, J. W. (2020). Technical note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24(12), 5821-5834. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5821-2020

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 13, 2020
Online Publication Date Dec 8, 2020
Publication Date 2020
Deposit Date Dec 9, 2020
Publicly Available Date Dec 9, 2020
Journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Print ISSN 1027-5606
Electronic ISSN 1607-7938
Publisher Copernicus Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 24
Issue 12
Pages 5821-5834
DOI https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5821-2020
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1255852

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