Hydrological control of river and seawater lithium isotopes

Fei Zhang (), Mathieu Dellinger, Robert G. Hilton, Jimin Yu, Mark B. Allen, Alexander L. Densmore, Hui Sun and Zhangdong Jin ()
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Fei Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Mathieu Dellinger: Durham University
Robert G. Hilton: Durham University
Jimin Yu: Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao)
Mark B. Allen: Durham University
Alexander L. Densmore: Durham University
Hui Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhangdong Jin: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Seawater lithium isotopes (δ7Li) record changes over Earth history, including a ∼9‰ increase during the Cenozoic interpreted as reflecting either a change in continental silicate weathering rate or weathering feedback strength, associated with tectonic uplift. However, mechanisms controlling the dissolved δ7Li remain debated. Here we report time-series δ7Li measurements from Tibetan and Pamir rivers, and combine them with published seasonal data, covering small ( 106 km2). We find seasonal changes in δ7Li across all latitudes: dry seasons consistently have higher δ7Li than wet seasons, by −0.3‰ to 16.4‰ (mean 5.0 ± 2.5‰). A globally negative correlation between δ7Li and annual runoff reflects the hydrological intensity operating in catchments, regulating water residence time and δ7Li values. This hydrological control on δ7Li is consistent across climate events back to ~445 Ma. We propose that hydrological changes result in shifts in river δ7Li and urge reconsideration of its use to examine past weathering intensity and flux, opening a new window to reconstruct hydrological conditions.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31076-y

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