81Kr dating – A tool for finding and studying paleogroundwater

Abstract

The study of paleogroundwater on a timescale of several thousands to a million years is interesting both in terms of understanding the aquifer system itself and water resource management. It may also provide valuable information about paleoclimate. 81Kr is an ideal age tracer for paleogroundwater up to 1.3 million years old. Recent developments in the Atom Trap Trace Analysis method have made 81Kr dating available to the earth science community at large.