Spatial and Temporal Variability of Snow Isotopic Composition on Mt. Zugspitze, Bavarian Alps, Germany
Author:
Hürkamp Kerstin1, Zentner Nadine12, Reckerth Anne1, Weishaupt Stefan3, Wetzel Karl-Friedrich3, Tschiersch Jochen1, Stumpp Christine24
Affiliation:
1. Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Radiation Protection, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg , Germany 2. Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg , Germany 3. University of Augsburg, Institute of Geography, Alter Postweg 118, 86159 Augsburg , Germany 4. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Institute of Hydraulics and Rural Water Management, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna , Austria
Abstract
Abstract
High amounts of precipitation are temporarily stored in high-alpine snow covers and play an important role for the hydrological balance. Stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) in water samples have been proven to be useful for tracing transport processes in snow and meltwater since their isotopic ratio alters due to fractionation. In 18 snow profiles of two snowfall seasons, the temporal and spatial variation of isotopic composition was analysed on Mt. Zugspitze. The δ18O and δ2H ranged between -26.7‰ to -9.3‰ and -193.4‰ to -62.5‰ in 2014/2015 and between -26.5‰ to -10.5‰ and -205.0‰ to -68.0‰ in 2015/2016, respectively. Depth-integrated samples of entire 10 cm layers and point measurements in the same layers showed comparable isotopic compositions. Isotopic composition of the snowpack at the same sampling time in spatially distributed snow profiles was isotopically more similar than that analysed at the same place at different times. Melting and refreezing were clearly identified as processes causing isotope fractionation in surficial, initial base or refrozen snow layers. For the future, a higher sampling frequency with detailed isotopic composition measurements during melt periods are recommended to improve the understanding of mass transport associated with snowmelt.
Publisher
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Subject
Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes,Mechanical Engineering,Water Science and Technology
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