Present Status and Future Prospects of Isotope Hydrology Research

Isotope hydrology, as an independent discipline, has made substantial development since the term "isotope hydrology" was brought forward in 1958. At present isotopic hydrological theories have been applied to various research fields such as hydrology, water recourses and environmental geology etc., and related research methods have also become mature. The paper introduces briefly several applications of isotope method in hydrology, and points out its unexampled superiority in solving some problems related to hydrology, environment and geology compared with traditional hydrological methods. By the method, variation process of hydrologic elements of water cycle can be illuminated form macroscopy and microscopy, and some hydrologic findings based on the experience analysis of measured data can also be validated. Furthermore, some Inherent laws of hydrologic phenomena may be founded by the study of isotope hydrology. Lastly, the paper highlights several new research directions and future prospects of isotope hydrology in China.