Abstract: 【Purpose/significance】The analysis of the development and trend of a research field is essential for scholars to grasp the dy⁃namics of the domain,and for policy makers and managers to develop policy and effectively implement management【. Method/process】This study explores a combined approach including bibliometric analysis and geographical information system to evaluate global scien⁃tific activities of isotope hydrograph separation (IHS) field and mapping the current development trends【. Result/conclusion】Quantita⁃tive analysis of scientific production of isotope hydrograph separation suggested that there was an increasing trend in this field since 2000 especially after 2014.Water resources,geology,environmental sciences and ecology were the main subject categories in IHS do⁃main.The Chinse Academy of Sciences was the most productive institution.McDonnell JJ was the most productive and influential au⁃
thor in this field.USA,Canada,UK and China were the main IHS countries.International collaboration of IHS research was led by the countries from North America and Western Europe.Cooperation among IHS scholars mostly occurred in the same institutions or institu⁃tions from the same counties.The centroids of output and influence of IHS gradually migrated to the East Aria,and the migration of the influential centroid lagged behind that of the output centroid【. Innovation/limitation】This study provide valuable references for the dis⁃ciplinary construction of IHS field and associated studies,and for the mining and visualization of the development and trend of a spe⁃cial field.