Stable isotopic composition of atmospheric precipitation and natural waters in the vicinity of Barentsburg (Svalbard)

A. A. Skakun; K. B. Chikhachev; A. A. Ekaykin; A. V. Kozachek; D. O. Vladimirova; A. N. Veres; S. R. Verkulich; O. R. Sidorova; N. E. Demidov

doi:10.31857/S2076673420030046

Stable isotopic composition of atmospheric precipitation and natural waters in the vicinity of Barentsburg (Svalbard)

A. A. Skakun, K. B. Chikhachev, A. A. Ekaykin, A. V. Kozachek, D. O. Vladimirova, A. N. Veres, S. R. Verkulich, O. R. Sidorova, N. E. Demidov

https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673420030046

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Abstract

In 2016–2017, during Russian Arctic Expedition on Svalbard (RAE‑S) we have collected the samples of atmospheric precipitation, terrestrial waters, snow and ice on Spitsbergen island in the vicinity of Grønfjorden. The measurements of stable water isotope content (δ¹⁸O and δD) in the atmospheric precipitation has allowed to draw the Local Meteoric Water Line (δD = 6,93δ¹⁸O − 0,35) and to analyze the relationship between the isotopic content and condensation temperature. Aside from this, the d-excess values in precipitation (d_exc= δD − 8δ¹⁸O) was interpreted as a marker of the moisture source. It has been demonstrated that the isotopic content of the surface waters (lakes and rivers) clearly points to the dominating type of feeding (atmospheric, ground) of these hydrological objects. We have discovered the interannual variability of the isotopic composition of Lake Kongress water during 2 years and defined the sources of water in its tributes: 13 of them have atmospheric source and 9 – ground source. In general, isotopic content of water in the vicinity of Grønfjorden (mean values are: δ¹⁸O = −10,3 ‰, δD = −72,5 ‰) is higher than in other regions of Svalbard.

Keywords

atmospheric precipitation, isotopic composition, natural waters, Svalbard,

About the Authors

A. A. Skakun

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute; The Central (Pulkovo) Astronomical Observatory
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg

K. B. Chikhachev

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg

A. A. Ekaykin

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute; Institute of Earth Sciences, Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg

A. V. Kozachek

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute; Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Moscow

D. O. Vladimirova

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Moscow

A. N. Veres

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute; Institute of Earth Sciences, Saint Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg

S. R. Verkulich

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg

O. R. Sidorova

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg

N. E. Demidov

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg

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Supplementary files

For citation: Skakun A.A., Chikhachev K.B., Ekaykin A.A., Kozachek A.V., Vladimirova D.O., Veres A.N., Verkulich S.R., Sidorova O.R., Demidov N.E. Stable isotopic composition of atmospheric precipitation and natural waters in the vicinity of Barentsburg (Svalbard). Ice and Snow. 2020;60(3):379-394. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673420030046

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