Natural tracers of water: (B) Stable isotopes, tritium and carbon isotopes

In this chapter, the basic principles and the possibilities offered by the stable iso- topes of water, deuterium ( 2 H or D), oxygen-18 ( 18 O), and tritium ( 3 H or T), as well as the carbon isotopes carbon-13 ( 13 C) and carbon-14 ( 14 C), are described in connection with the investigation of leaks from dams and reservoirs. Because these tools are not familiar to engineers and technical staff dealing with dam safety issues and the study of leakage problems, the theoretical background for their application is presented in the following sections.