GRAND SÉMINAIRE – Christine Vallet-Coulomb

Tilte: Stable isotopes for tracing water cycle pathways and fluxes in a changing climate

Abstract: In a context of increasing climate variability, where intensifying hydrological extremes combine with growing pressure on water resources, understanding water cycle dynamics is more crucial than ever — particularly in tropical Africa.

Stable isotopes of water provide a unique perspective on fluxes, exchanges, and residence times across hydrosystems, from atmospheric processes to subsurface flows. This seminar will illustrate, through selected examples, how isotopic tracers help decipher the pathways of water through the critical zone. Deployed within a long-term observation framework, these isotopic tools offer powerful means to assess water resources and to bridge fundamental science, sustained monitoring, and societal challenges.