Articles | Volume 15, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4949-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4949-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
25 Oct 2021
Research article |
| 25 Oct 2021
| 25 Oct 2021
The role of sublimation as a driver of climate signals in the water isotope content of surface snow: laboratory and field experimental results
Abigail G. Hughes
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Sonja Wahl
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
Tyler R. Jones
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Alexandra Zuhr
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Research Unit Potsdam, Telegrafenberg A45, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Maria Hörhold
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Research Unit Bremerhaven, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
James W. C. White
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Hans Christian Steen-Larsen
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
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Cited
24 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A Case Study on Drivers of the Isotopic Composition of Water Vapor at the Coast of East Antarctica A. Sigmund et al. 10.1029/2023JF007062
- Isotopic Fractionation during Sublimation of Low Porosity Ice A. Bellagamba et al. 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2024.122445
- A model framework for atmosphere–snow water vapor exchange and the associated isotope effects at Dome Argus, Antarctica – Part 1: The diurnal changes T. Ma et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4547-2024
- Climatological Significance of δD‐δ18O Line Slopes From Precipitation, Snow Pits, and Ice Cores at Summit, Greenland B. Kopec et al. 10.1029/2022JD037037
- Deciphering stable water isotope records of firn cores from a strongly maritime, high-accumulation site on the Antarctic Peninsula K. Hoffmann-Abdi et al. 10.1017/jog.2023.79
- Contrasting Seasonal Isotopic Signatures of Near‐Surface Atmospheric Water Vapor in the Central Arctic During the MOSAiC Campaign C. Brunello et al. 10.1029/2022JD038400
- OF–CEAS laser spectroscopy to measure water isotopes in dry environments: example of application in Antarctica T. Lauwers et al. 10.5194/amt-18-1135-2025
- Post-depositional modification on seasonal-to-interannual timescales alters the deuterium-excess signals in summer snow layers in Greenland M. Town et al. 10.5194/tc-18-3653-2024
- Atmosphere‐Snow Exchange Explains Surface Snow Isotope Variability S. Wahl et al. 10.1029/2022GL099529
- On the importance of the humidity flux for the surface mass balance in the accumulation zone of the Greenland Ice Sheet L. Dietrich et al. 10.5194/tc-18-289-2024
- An unmanned aerial vehicle sampling platform for atmospheric water vapor isotopes in polar environments K. Rozmiarek et al. 10.5194/amt-14-7045-2021
- Control of the temperature signal in Antarctic proxies by snowfall dynamics A. Servettaz et al. 10.5194/tc-17-5373-2023
- Toward a process-oriented understanding of water in the climate system: recent insights from stable isotopes A. Bailey et al. 10.1088/2752-5295/ada17b
- Diagnoses of Antarctic Inland Water Cycle Regime: Perspectives From Atmospheric Water Vapor Isotope Observations Along the Transect From Zhongshan Station to Dome A J. Liu et al. 10.3389/feart.2022.823515
- A 2000-year temperature reconstruction on the East Antarctic plateau from argon–nitrogen and water stable isotopes in the Aurora Basin North ice core A. Servettaz et al. 10.5194/cp-19-1125-2023
- Identifying airborne snow metamorphism with stable water isotopes S. Wahl et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4493-2024
- Surface processes and drivers of the snow water stable isotopic composition at Dome C, East Antarctica – a multi-dataset and modelling analysis I. Ollivier et al. 10.5194/tc-19-173-2025
- Exploring the role of snow metamorphism on the isotopic composition of the surface snow at EastGRIP R. Harris Stuart et al. 10.5194/tc-17-1185-2023
- Spatial and temporal stable water isotope data from the upper snowpack at the EastGRIP camp site, NE Greenland, sampled in summer 2018 A. Zuhr et al. 10.5194/essd-16-1861-2024
- Significant role of permafrost in regional hydrology of the Upper Indus Basin, India G. Jeelani et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170863
- A Snapshot on the Buildup of the Stable Water Isotopic Signal in the Upper Snowpack at EastGRIP on the Greenland Ice Sheet A. Zuhr et al. 10.1029/2022JF006767
- Water Isotopic Signature of Surface Snow Metamorphism in Antarctica M. Casado et al. 10.1029/2021GL093382
- Local-scale deposition of surface snow on the Greenland ice sheet A. Zuhr et al. 10.5194/tc-15-4873-2021
- Sublimation Origin of Negative Deuterium Excess Observed in Snow and Ice Samples From McMurdo Dry Valleys and Allan Hills Blue Ice Areas, East Antarctica J. Hu et al. 10.1029/2021JD035950
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A Case Study on Drivers of the Isotopic Composition of Water Vapor at the Coast of East Antarctica A. Sigmund et al. 10.1029/2023JF007062
- Isotopic Fractionation during Sublimation of Low Porosity Ice A. Bellagamba et al. 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2024.122445
- A model framework for atmosphere–snow water vapor exchange and the associated isotope effects at Dome Argus, Antarctica – Part 1: The diurnal changes T. Ma et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4547-2024
- Climatological Significance of δD‐δ18O Line Slopes From Precipitation, Snow Pits, and Ice Cores at Summit, Greenland B. Kopec et al. 10.1029/2022JD037037
- Deciphering stable water isotope records of firn cores from a strongly maritime, high-accumulation site on the Antarctic Peninsula K. Hoffmann-Abdi et al. 10.1017/jog.2023.79
- Contrasting Seasonal Isotopic Signatures of Near‐Surface Atmospheric Water Vapor in the Central Arctic During the MOSAiC Campaign C. Brunello et al. 10.1029/2022JD038400
- OF–CEAS laser spectroscopy to measure water isotopes in dry environments: example of application in Antarctica T. Lauwers et al. 10.5194/amt-18-1135-2025
- Post-depositional modification on seasonal-to-interannual timescales alters the deuterium-excess signals in summer snow layers in Greenland M. Town et al. 10.5194/tc-18-3653-2024
- Atmosphere‐Snow Exchange Explains Surface Snow Isotope Variability S. Wahl et al. 10.1029/2022GL099529
- On the importance of the humidity flux for the surface mass balance in the accumulation zone of the Greenland Ice Sheet L. Dietrich et al. 10.5194/tc-18-289-2024
- An unmanned aerial vehicle sampling platform for atmospheric water vapor isotopes in polar environments K. Rozmiarek et al. 10.5194/amt-14-7045-2021
- Control of the temperature signal in Antarctic proxies by snowfall dynamics A. Servettaz et al. 10.5194/tc-17-5373-2023
- Toward a process-oriented understanding of water in the climate system: recent insights from stable isotopes A. Bailey et al. 10.1088/2752-5295/ada17b
- Diagnoses of Antarctic Inland Water Cycle Regime: Perspectives From Atmospheric Water Vapor Isotope Observations Along the Transect From Zhongshan Station to Dome A J. Liu et al. 10.3389/feart.2022.823515
- A 2000-year temperature reconstruction on the East Antarctic plateau from argon–nitrogen and water stable isotopes in the Aurora Basin North ice core A. Servettaz et al. 10.5194/cp-19-1125-2023
- Identifying airborne snow metamorphism with stable water isotopes S. Wahl et al. 10.5194/tc-18-4493-2024
- Surface processes and drivers of the snow water stable isotopic composition at Dome C, East Antarctica – a multi-dataset and modelling analysis I. Ollivier et al. 10.5194/tc-19-173-2025
- Exploring the role of snow metamorphism on the isotopic composition of the surface snow at EastGRIP R. Harris Stuart et al. 10.5194/tc-17-1185-2023
- Spatial and temporal stable water isotope data from the upper snowpack at the EastGRIP camp site, NE Greenland, sampled in summer 2018 A. Zuhr et al. 10.5194/essd-16-1861-2024
- Significant role of permafrost in regional hydrology of the Upper Indus Basin, India G. Jeelani et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170863
- A Snapshot on the Buildup of the Stable Water Isotopic Signal in the Upper Snowpack at EastGRIP on the Greenland Ice Sheet A. Zuhr et al. 10.1029/2022JF006767
3 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Water Isotopic Signature of Surface Snow Metamorphism in Antarctica M. Casado et al. 10.1029/2021GL093382
- Local-scale deposition of surface snow on the Greenland ice sheet A. Zuhr et al. 10.5194/tc-15-4873-2021
- Sublimation Origin of Negative Deuterium Excess Observed in Snow and Ice Samples From McMurdo Dry Valleys and Allan Hills Blue Ice Areas, East Antarctica J. Hu et al. 10.1029/2021JD035950
Latest update: 29 Jun 2025
Short summary
Water isotope records in Greenland and Antarctic ice cores are a valuable proxy for paleoclimate reconstruction and are traditionally thought to primarily reflect precipitation input. However,
post-depositional processes are hypothesized to contribute to the isotope climate signal. In this study we use laboratory experiments, field experiments, and modeling to show that sublimation and vapor–snow isotope exchange can rapidly influence the isotopic composition of the snowpack.
Water isotope records in Greenland and Antarctic ice cores are a valuable proxy for paleoclimate...
