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Isotopic Signature of Precipitation in the Elbrus Region

  • GLACIERS AND ICE SHEETS
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Abstract

Results of studying isotopic characteristics of precipitation at the foot of the southern slope of Elbrus, in the Caucasus, are presented. The precipitation sampling was organized at Azau station (at an altitude of 2300 m) on an everyday basis. The main precipitation sources for the Elbrus region have been established using the method of HYSPLIT back trajectories. Values of δ18O of the precipitation reflect a pronounced relation to the temperature of the surface air layer: Δδ18O/ΔT = 0.85‰/°C.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Megagrant project (agreement no. 075-15-2021-599, June 8, 2021) “Palaeoecological Reconstructions as a Key to Understanding Past, Current, and Future Climate and Environmental Changes in Russia.” The review of works on the isotope signature of precipitation in mountain regions was supported within the framework of State Task no. FMGE-2019-0004 for the Institute of Geography. The trajectory analysis was carried out within the framework of the State Assignment for the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    Ju. N. Chizhova

  2. Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    Ju. N. Chizhova, V. N. Mikhalenko & S. S. Kutuzov

  3. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    K. A. Shukurov

  4. Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 199397, St. Petersburg, Russia

    A. V. Kozachek

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  1. Ju. N. Chizhova
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  2. V. N. Mikhalenko
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  3. S. S. Kutuzov
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  4. K. A. Shukurov
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  5. A. V. Kozachek
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Correspondence to Ju. N. Chizhova.

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Translated by A. Nikol’skii

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Chizhova, J., Mikhalenko, V., Kutuzov, S. et al. Isotopic Signature of Precipitation in the Elbrus Region. Izv. Atmos. Ocean. Phys. 59 (Suppl 1), S23–S34 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433823130054

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