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A 22 m sediment core was collected from the unsaturated zone (USZ) in the dunes south of Ashdod, Israel, in a low rainfall year, following an even lower-rainfall year. The mineralogy of was quartz with some clay and carbonate. The local climate is semi-arid. The roots of the sparse vegetation can reach similar to 8 m. The porosity was similar to 40-55%. The DIC ranged from 2 to 13 mmole C/L. Large variability is noted in the soil moisture, with a maximum at the high clay region at similar to 8 m. Oxygen isotopes enter the USZ with rain falling on the surface. There is O-18 enrichment in the top of the section due to evaporation during the summer. Below this depth delta O-18 values of similar to -5 parts per thousand prevail as in the local aquifer. CO2 and the carbon isotopes enter the USZ laterally by exhalation from roots. The delta C-13 varies from -5 parts per thousand to -23 parts per thousand, representing stages in carbon isotopic fractionation: CO2gas becomes dissolved CO2aqueous which then forms carbonic acid and HCO3-. The high delta C-13, Delta C-14, and DIC are found at the 8 m depth. These values along with high humidity are replicated at similar to 22m depth. They most probably represent recharge water from the previous rainy season at 8 m depth subsequently pushed down 12.8 +/- 0.8 m during the last winter.