Isotopic and ionic changes in a snow cover at different altitudes: observations at Austre Okstindbreen in 1991

• Main Authors: Raben, P., Theakstone, W. H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1994
• Subjects: austre Okstindbreen; Okstindbreen; Annals of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/5f3648cb-65ba-4547-8861-94702168479c

Ionic and isotopic analyses of snow samples collected at four sites on the Norwegian glacier Austre Okstindbreen during two field seasons in 1991 showed that, before melting started, the snowpack was vertically inhomogeneous. Patterns of variation with depth of both ions and oxygen isotopes were maintained throughout the pre-melt period. Horizontal variations of ionic concentration were smaller than vertical ones. The stratigraphic pattern of ionic concentrations in the pack at lower altitudes reflected the influence of melting-refreezing processes, as well as original variations in the falling snow. Initially, there was no altitudinal trend in the mean δ18O values of the snowpack. Warming of the pack was accompanied by a tendency towards isotopic homogenisation. At the three sites at which snow remained in July, considerable 18O enrichment had occurred since the middle of June. -Authors