Technical note: Efficiency of various evaporation barriers for use in automated water samplers for subsequent water isotope analysis 

Abstract. High temporal and spatial resolution water sampling of stream water or precipitation for subsequent stable water isotope analysis (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) is commonly conducted with self-made or commercial automated samplers. However, prolonged storage of water samples in open bottles inside autosamplers can lead to isotopic alterations caused by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing.

In this study, we tested the effectiveness of different evaporation barriers—dip-in tubes, ball valves, and siphons—under controlled laboratory conditions. Experiments were conducted using glass bottles with varying filling levels (50 mL to 250 mL in 250 mL bottles) and exposure times of up to 52 days. Our results demonstrate that all tested barriers effectively reduce isotopic alterations. Among these, the dip-in tube emerged as the simplest and most efficient solution, reliably preserving isotopic data even over extended storage durations. We also observed isotopic differences between the water in the dip-in tube and the main bottle. This phenomenon becomes particularly relevant when sample volumes are very low, as water from the dip-in tube may influence the overall isotopic composition of the sample. This finding highlights the need for careful consideration of bottle design, funnel size and sample handling, especially with low water volumes.

These findings provide valuable insights for the design of cost-effective, automated water sampling systems for stable isotope applications, emphasizing the importance of evaporation barriers to ensure reliable and accurate isotopic analyses.