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| Titel |
Spatial distribution of stable water isotopes in alpine snow cover |
| VerfasserIn |
N. Dietermann, M. Weiler |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1027-5606
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 17, no. 7 ; Nr. 17, no. 7 (2013-07-11), S.2657-2668 |
| Datensatznummer |
250018929
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/hess-17-2657-2013.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The aim of this study was to analyse and predict the mean stable water
isotopic composition of the snow cover at specific geographic locations and
altitudes. In addition, the dependence of the isotopic composition of the
entire snow cover on altitude was analysed. Snow in four Swiss catchments
was sampled at the end of the accumulation period in April 2010 and a second
time during snowmelt in May 2010 and analysed for stable isotope composition
of 2H and 18O. The sampling was conducted at both south-facing and
north-facing slopes at elevation differences of 100 m, for a total altitude
difference of approximately 1000 m. The observed variability of isotopic
composition of the snow cover was analysed with stepwise multiple linear
regression models. The analysis indicated that there is only a limited
altitude effect on the isotopic composition when considering all samples.
This is due to the high variability of the isotopic composition of the
precipitation during the winter months and, in particular in the case of
south-facing slopes, an enrichment of heavy isotopes due to intermittent
melting processes. This enrichment effect could clearly be observed in the
samples which were taken later in the year. A small altitudinal gradient of
the isotopic composition could only be observed at some north-facing slopes.
However, the dependence of snow depth and the day of the year were
significant predictor variables in all models. This study indicates the
necessity to further study the variability of water isotopes in the snow
cover to increase prediction for isotopic composition of snowmelt and hence
increase model performance of residence time models for alpine areas in order to
better understand the accumulation processes and the sources of water in the
snow cover of high mountains. |
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