Training Course on Advances in Data Processing and Interpretation Applied to Isotope Hydrology Studies

The IAEA has, among its mandates, the promotion and transfer of knowledge towards the adoption and routine use of nuclear and isotope techniques for the assessment of water resources. Capacity building is a key component of the IAEA’s mandate to ensure the self-reliance of Member States in the routine use of isotope hydrology as part of hydrological assessments. Generic and specialized training courses, technical workshops and development of e-learning materials are offered to build Member State capacity and expertise in isotope hydrology. In addition, teaching modules on isotope hydrology tools and methods are made available on the IAEA website to provide basic knowledge for integrating isotope hydrology tools as part of water resources assessment. Among the various capacity building modalities, the IAEA organizes specialized training courses on isotope data processing and interpretation, covering recent theoretical developments in the field of isotope hydrology and the completion of hands-on practical exercises.

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide a broad overview of isotope hydrology and how it applies to water resource management, and particularly groundwater management, as well as the latest advances in isotope hydrology to better understand and characterize atmospheric, surface and ground water bodies.

Topics

• Introduction to water management issues and isotope hydrology
   
  • Introduction to the hydrological cycle, interaction between surface water and groundwater systems, conceptual groundwater flow models and fundamentals of isotope hydrology
     
• Field and Analytical Considerations
   
  • Sampling strategies, monitoring strategies, overview of analytical methods and techniques available in isotope hydrology
     
• Evaluation of Isotope Data
   
  • Data processing and validation, statistical and spatial analysis of datasets and data presentation
     
• Overview of Isotope Tracers
   
  • Tracing water movement through the hydrological cycle using O, H, Radon-222, 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and tritium
  • Introduction to groundwater age dating using noble gases and radiocarbon
  • Tracking groundwater quality using nitrate isotopes
     
• Application of Isotope Hydrology
   
  • Groundwater recharge evaluation in different environments and under variable climate regimes
  • Catchment scale isotope hydrology and application of multi-isotope approaches

Participation and Registration

All persons wishing to participate in the event have to be designated by an IAEA Member State or should be members of organizations that have been invited to attend.

In order to be designated by an IAEA Member State, participants are requested to send the Participation Form (Form A) to their competent national authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA or National Atomic Energy Authority) for onward transmission to the IAEA by 12 July 2021. Participants who are members of an organization invited to attend are requested to send the Participation Form (Form A) through their organization to the IAEA by above deadline.

Selected participants will be informed in due course on the procedures to be followed with regard to administrative and technical matters.

Participants are hereby informed that the personal data they submit will be processed in line with the Agency’s Personal Data and Privacy Policy and is collected solely for the purpose(s) of reviewing and assessing the application and to complete logistical arrangements where required. Further information can be found in the Data Processing Notice concerning IAEA InTouch+ platform.