Earth’s Cryosphere, 2010, Vol. XIV, No. 1, p. 13-21

ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT OF δ¹⁸О AND δD IN PRECIPITATION AND SNOW COVER IN HIGH MOUNTAINS

Yu.K. Vasil’chuk, J.N. Chizhova

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Departments of Geology and Geography, 119991, Moscow, Vorobyovy Gory, Russia, Vasilch@geol.msu.ru

The altitudinal isotope gradient of snow cover of glaciers in different mountain regions is considered together with the main causes of infringement of altitude-isotope zonality. Generally observed values of gradient are discussed. It is shown that the altitudinal isotope effect in glaciers is expressed usually in winter snow, in summer the isotope composition of surface snow is independent of the altitude depending on the character of snow precipitation. In winter the snow falls as a cloud lifts up along a mountain slope. In summer it may often fall when a cloud stays at one height level or moves down a slope.

Key words: Glaciers, stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope, fresh snow, snow cover, altitudinal isotope gradient, seasonality.

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