Arctic Snow Isotope Hydrology: A Comparative Snow-Water Vapor Study

The Arctic’s winter water cycle is rapidly changing, with implications for snow moisture sources and transport processes. Stable isotope values (?18O, ?2H, d-excess) of the Arctic snowpack have potential to provide proxy records these processes, yet it unclear how well individual snowfall events are preserved within profiles. Here, we present data from multiple taiga tundra profiles sampled in Alaska Finland, respectively, during 2018–2019. We compare stratigraphy meteoric isotopes (vapor precipitation) days, combine our measurements satellite observations reanalysis data. Our analyses indicate that synoptic-scale atmospheric circulation regional sea ice coverage key drivers source, amount, isotopic composition snowpacks. find western most recent storm; however, post depositional processes modified remaining overall seasonal evolution vapor were better eastern Arctic, where there significantly less wind-driven redistribution than open Alaskan tundra. demonstrate a useful winter-time propose future analyses.