Stable isotopes in the snow of the coastal areas of Antarctica

S. V. Kakareka, T. I. Kukharchyk, A. A. Ekaykin, Yu. G. Giginyak
2021 Doklady of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus  
The first results of study of stable isotopes of oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δD) in the snow samples taken on the islands of Marguerite Bay (Antarctic Peninsula), in the Vecherny Oasis (Enderby Land), and Larsemann Hills (Princess Elizabeth Land) by the participants of the 12th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition (January–March 2020) are presented. The concentration of water isotopes: deuterium (D) and oxygen-18 (18O) in the samples was determined using a laser isotope composition analyzer Picarro
more » ... 2130. A total of 32 snow samples were analyzed. The statistical parameters of the isotopic composition of snow were estimated, and the main differences in the content of δ18O and δD between the study areas were shown. A decrease in the content of heavy oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in the newly fallen snow to the old snow of the surface horizons is shown. The maximum values of δ18O and δD are typical for the Maritime Antarctica, decreasing towards the coastal zone and further – towards its continental part. The possible factors affecting the isotope content are described. It is shown that the monitoring of the isotope composition can be an integral part of the monitoring of climatic changes within the area of operation of the Belarusian Antarctic Expedition. The study of the isotopic composition of surface snow is important for the reconstruction of the paleoclimate of the marginal zone of the Antarctic ice sheet based on the ice cores study.
doi:10.29235/1561-8323-2021-65-4-495-502 fatcat:sj6hytv5ajbfjednma4nwx66n4