Abstract
In September, 1993, and May, 1994, surface water samples were collected from Hamilton Harbour at the western end of Lake Ontario to determine if hydrogen and oxygen isotopes could be used to estimate the volume of lake water entering the harbor through the Burlington Canal, a shipping canal at the harbor's eastern end. In addition, the survey sought to determine if the isotopic variations were significantly different to allow mapping of the lake water plume present within the harbor. The results of this preliminary survey show a west to east enrichment in stable oxygen and hydrogen ratios. This distribution results from mixing via the Burlington Canal of lake water at the eastern end of the harbor that is enriched in 18O and 2H, with harbor water that is depleted in 18O and 2H relative to lake water. The results suggest that variations in the isotopic signature between Lake Ontario and Hamilton Harbour waters differ significantly to allow the use of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to examine lake water-harbor water mixing relationships. A more detailed sampling will allow the amount of exchange across the Burlington Canal to be calculated, and the extent of the harbor's lake water plume to be determined.
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