A comprehensive nationwide dataset of nitrate concentrations and dual nitrate isotopes in Chinese surface waters

Description

Nitrate concentration (NO3--N) and dual nitrate stable isotopes (δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- ) are important indicators for identifying nitrate sources, elucidating nitrogen cycling processes, and assessing anthropogenic influences in aquatic environments. In recent years, a large number of observational studies on nitrate in surface waters have been conducted across China. However, these data remain scattered among journal articles, academic theses, and supplementary materials, which limits their accessibility, integration, and reuse for analyses at regional and national scales. To address this gap, we developed a comprehensive dataset of nitrate concentrations and dual nitrate isotopes for surface waters in China. The dataset compiles data from 86 traceable source datasets published between 2006 and 2024 and contains a total of 3,294 records. Among these, 2,868 records constitute a Core Dataset with complete paired measurements of nitrate concentration NO3--N, δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- , whereas the remaining 426 records are retained in an Extended Dataset containing partial measurements. The dataset covers major river basins and diverse climatic regions across China and includes multiple surface-water types, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and wetlands. A rigorous quality control workflow was implemented during dataset compilation. This workflow included digital extraction of published data, standardization of nitrate concentration units and isotopic reference scales, verification of sampling coordinates using high resolution geospatial information, and removal of duplicate and anomalous records. Each record is linked to its original publication DOI to ensure transparency, traceability, and reproducibility. This dataset provides a standardized national compilation of nitrate concentrations and isotope observations in Chinese surface waters. It offers a valuable resource for nitrate source apportionment, assessment of anthropogenic impacts, and applications of Bayesian isotope mixing models and Earth system models.

Institutions

• Northwest Normal University

  Gansu, Lanzhou

Categories

Licence