Isotope Hydrochemistry of Lakes and Transient Ponds of East Antarctica with Varying Degree of Environmental Condition

In this chapter, the authors discuss the chemical and isotopic evolution of some lakes and transient ponds in East Antarctica situated in two different environmental settings. Samples were collected in pre-cleaned plastic bottles and physicochemical parameters were determined in situ and standard procedures were followed to find out the ionic composition. For isotopic measurements, water samples were collected in high-density polyethylene bottles and the ratios were determined in an off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy system. Gibb's classification was used to find out the origin of ions in the lake water, which, can differentiate between the three major sources such as evaporation/seawater, rock-water interaction/weathering, and precipitation. The kinetic fractionation effect at the ice-liquid boundary/evaporation of lake water determines the slope of the regression line of the lake water. Isotope data also affirmed the effect of evaporation from the shallow lakes during austral summer. In the Larsemann Hills in East Antarctica, weathering and reverse ion exchange processes were the source of ions.