The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic Catchment
Abstract This study provides a detailed characterization of spatiotemporal variations of stable water 18O and 2H isotopes in both snowpack and meltwater in a subarctic catchment. We performed extensive sampling and analysis of snowpack and meltwater isotopic compositions at 11 locations in 2019 and...
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Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Water Resources Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033101 |
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| author | Kashif Noor Hannu Marttila Björn Klöve Jeffrey M. Welker Pertti Ala‐aho |
| author_facet | Kashif Noor Hannu Marttila Björn Klöve Jeffrey M. Welker Pertti Ala‐aho |
| author_sort | Kashif Noor |
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| description | Abstract This study provides a detailed characterization of spatiotemporal variations of stable water 18O and 2H isotopes in both snowpack and meltwater in a subarctic catchment. We performed extensive sampling and analysis of snowpack and meltwater isotopic compositions at 11 locations in 2019 and 2020 across three different landscape features: (a) forest hillslope, (b) mixed forest, and (c) open mires. The vertical isotope profiles in the snowpack's layered stratigraphy presented a consistent pattern in all locations before snowmelt, and isotope profiles homogenized during the peak melt period; represented by a 1–2‰ higher δ18O value than prior to melting. Our data indicated that the liquid‐ice fractionation was the prime reason that caused the depletion of heavy isotopes in initial meltwater samples prior to the peak melt period. The liquid‐ice fractionation was influenced by snowmelt rate, with higher fractionation during slow melt. The kinetic liquid‐ice fractionation was evident only in close examination of meltwater lc‐excess values, not δ18O values alone. Meltwater was isotopically heavier and more variable than the depth‐integrated snowpack; the weighted mean of meltwater isotope values was higher by 0.62–1.33‰ δ18O than the weighted mean of snowpack isotope values in forest hillslope and mixed forest areas, and 1.51–6.37‰ δ18O in open mires. Our results reveal close to 3.1‰ δ18O disparity between the meltwater and depth‐integrated snowpack isotope values prior to the peak melt period, suggesting that proper characterization of meltwater δ18O and δ2H values is vital for tracer‐based ecohydrological studies and models. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5939da02be5a48b1a5762dba0dbcc8c8 |
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| issn | 0043-1397 1944-7973 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Water Resources Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-5939da02be5a48b1a5762dba0dbcc8c82025-06-26T10:43:14ZengWileyWater Resources Research0043-13971944-79732023-01-01591n/an/a10.1029/2022WR033101The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic CatchmentKashif Noor0Hannu Marttila1Björn Klöve2Jeffrey M. Welker3Pertti Ala‐aho4Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandWater, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandWater, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandEcology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandWater, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu FinlandAbstract This study provides a detailed characterization of spatiotemporal variations of stable water 18O and 2H isotopes in both snowpack and meltwater in a subarctic catchment. We performed extensive sampling and analysis of snowpack and meltwater isotopic compositions at 11 locations in 2019 and 2020 across three different landscape features: (a) forest hillslope, (b) mixed forest, and (c) open mires. The vertical isotope profiles in the snowpack's layered stratigraphy presented a consistent pattern in all locations before snowmelt, and isotope profiles homogenized during the peak melt period; represented by a 1–2‰ higher δ18O value than prior to melting. Our data indicated that the liquid‐ice fractionation was the prime reason that caused the depletion of heavy isotopes in initial meltwater samples prior to the peak melt period. The liquid‐ice fractionation was influenced by snowmelt rate, with higher fractionation during slow melt. The kinetic liquid‐ice fractionation was evident only in close examination of meltwater lc‐excess values, not δ18O values alone. Meltwater was isotopically heavier and more variable than the depth‐integrated snowpack; the weighted mean of meltwater isotope values was higher by 0.62–1.33‰ δ18O than the weighted mean of snowpack isotope values in forest hillslope and mixed forest areas, and 1.51–6.37‰ δ18O in open mires. Our results reveal close to 3.1‰ δ18O disparity between the meltwater and depth‐integrated snowpack isotope values prior to the peak melt period, suggesting that proper characterization of meltwater δ18O and δ2H values is vital for tracer‐based ecohydrological studies and models.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033101subarcticsnowpacksnowmeltisotopessnowmelt lysimeterisotope fractionation |
| spellingShingle | Kashif Noor Hannu Marttila Björn Klöve Jeffrey M. Welker Pertti Ala‐aho The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic Catchment Water Resources Research subarctic snowpack snowmelt isotopes snowmelt lysimeter isotope fractionation |
| title | The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic Catchment |
| title_full | The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic Catchment |
| title_fullStr | The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic Catchment |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic Catchment |
| title_short | The Spatiotemporal Variability of Snowpack and Snowmelt Water 18O and 2H Isotopes in a Subarctic Catchment |
| title_sort | spatiotemporal variability of snowpack and snowmelt water 18o and 2h isotopes in a subarctic catchment |
| topic | subarctic snowpack snowmelt isotopes snowmelt lysimeter isotope fractionation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033101 |
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