Antarctic Science
- Antarctic Science / Volume 14 / Issue 04 / December 2002, pp 333-342
- Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2002
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954102002000159 (About DOI), Published online: 28 January 2003
Seasonal observations of stable isotope variations in a valley catchment, Signy Island, South Orkney Islands
AbstractThe oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition of waters in a small valley at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, were monitored over three summers (1999 to 2001). These stable isotopes track water movement through the catchment, especially seasonal precipitation and snow melt. All samples fall close to the regional meteoric water line but factors other than air temperature cause year-to-year variability. Residence times are in the order of days thus the lake water provides an average of precipitation falling only a few days before, except in the winter when the lakes are effectively closed. Freezing of surface waters preserves the isotope signature of the underlying waters from the previous summer. In spring, meltwaters from winter snow are isotopically depleted having δ18O and δD as low as -13‰ and -100‰ (VSMOW). Ice- cover break-up in late December allows complete water column mixing. By February, the lakes are relatively enriched isotopically (δ18O -9‰) by summer precipitation. Precipitation isotopic composition at Halley Station, Brunt Ice Shelf, is similar, illustrating the broad-scale effects of the Weddell Sea cyclonic atmospheric circulation. These data form a useful reference data-set for the ground-based validation of atmospheric models and palaeoclimate reconstructions in this isolated sector of the South Atlantic Ocean. (Received March 6 2002)(Accepted July 12 2002) Key Words: Antarctica; climate; hydrology; monitoring; precipitation; water isotopes. Correspondence: c1 Corresponding author: p.noon@cranfield.ac.uk p1 Current address: Institute of Water and Environment, Cranfield University, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4DT, UK |
