Compound specific δD values of long chain n-alkanes derived from terrestrial higher plants are indicative of the δD of meteoric waters: evidence from surface soils in eastern China

Rao, Z., Zhu, Z., Jia, G., Henderson, A.C.G., Xue, Q. and Wang, S. (2009) Compound specific δD values of long chain n-alkanes derived from terrestrial higher plants are indicative of the δD of meteoric waters: evidence from surface soils in eastern China. Organic Geochemistry, 40(8), pp. 922-930. (doi: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2009.04.011)

Abstract

The stable carbon and hydrogen isotope composition of higher plant-derived long chain <i>n</i>-alkanes (δ¹³C_{<i>n</i>-alkanes} and δD_{<i>n</i>-alkanes}) from 45 surface soil samples (within well characterized vegetation zones) from eastern China (18°N–50°N) are reported. The weighted average δD_{<i>n</i>-alkanes} value for <i>n</i>-C₂₇, <i>n</i>-C₂₉ and <i>n</i>-C₃₁ in the samples and the annual average δD of meteoric water recorded at 12 weather stations proximal to the sampling sites show similar spatial variations. The δD of <i>n</i>-alkanes shows a gradual depletion in value with increasing latitude. The results demonstrate that, on a large spatial scale, the δD values of long chain <i>n</i>-alkanes derived from higher plants have the potential to record the δD of meteoric water, although many other factors can also influence the isotope values. There appears to be no apparent relationship between the δD of the <i>n</i>-alkanes extracted from the surface soil and the overlying vegetation type (i.e. forest/grassland or C₃/C₄ composition). Therefore, palaeoenvironmental studies utilizing δD_{<i>n</i>-alkanes} from higher plant-derived material in geological samples have the potential to provide additional information with regard to the past hydrological cycle.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Henderson, Dr Andrew
• Authors: Rao, Z., Zhu, Z., Jia, G., Henderson, A.C.G., Xue, Q., and Wang, S.
• Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Organic Geochemistry
• ISSN: 0146-6380
• ISSN (Online): 1873-5290
• Published Online: 04 May 2009