Using deuterium excess to determine water salinization mechanism

Since deuterium excess would decrease during evaporation and has little effects by isotopic composition of initial water, rather than the relationship between δ¹⁸O (or δ²H) and salinity, it is a potential tool for determining contribution of evapoconcentration and dissolution of mineral for a given water body. The relationship between residual water fraction and deuterium excess was deduced from the Rayleigh distillation equation in the paper. The contribution of evapoconcentration and dissolution of mineral for a given water body then can be determined by comparing deuterium excess and salinity between initial water and the evapoconcentrated water. The study is important for sustainable water-salt movement and management.