Spatial and temporal variability in isotope composition of recent snow in the vicinity of Vostok station, Antarctica: implications for ice-core record interpretation

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Ekaykin, Alexey, Lipenkov, Vladimir Ya., Barkov, Narcisse, Petit, Jean Robert, Masson-Delmotte, Valérie
• Other Authors: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement Gif-sur-Yvette (LSCE), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Glaces et Continents, Climats et Isotopes Stables (GLACCIOS), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA))
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2002
• Subjects: [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces; environment; Annals of Glaciology; Antarc*; Antarctica; ice core; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03102725; https://hal.science/hal-03102725/document; https://hal.science/hal-03102725/file/ice-core-record-interpretation.pdf; https://doi.org/10.3189/172756402781816726

International audience Continuous, detailed isotope (dD and d 18 O) profiles were obtained from eight snow pits dug in the vicinity of Vostok station, Antarctica, during the period 19842 000. In addition, snow samples taken along the 1km long accumulation-stake profile were measured to determine spatial variability in isotope composition of recent snow. The stacked dD time series spanning the last 55 years shows only weak correlation with the mean annual air temperature recorded at Vostok station. Significant oscillations of both snow accumulation and snow isotope composition with the periods 2.5, 5, 20 and, possibly, ¹10 2 years observed at single points are interpreted in terms of drift of snowaccumulation waves of various scales on the surface of the ice sheet.