Distribution of δ^(18)O in surface snow along a transect from Zhongshan Station to Dome A,East Antarctica

Surface snow samples were collected during the 14th(1997/1998)and 24th(2007/2008)Chinese National Antarctica Research Expeditions along a transect from Zhongshan Station to Dome A.The stable oxygen isotope ratios of these samples were measured to investigate their relationships with temperature and geographical parameters(latitude,longitude,altitude and distance to the coast).The results reveal a strong positive correlation(R=0.945)betweenδ18O and mean annual temperature,with a gradient of 0.84‰°C-1,which is a little higher than that in Terre Adelie Land.Regression analyses also show that theδ18O of surface snow is strongly correlated with distance to the coast(R=0.942),latitude(R=0.942),and altitude(R=0.941).But no significant correlation was found betweenδ18O and longitude in study area.Altitude should be the most important factor influencing the δ18O distribution because of distinctive topography.Theδ18O-altitude and T-altitude gradients along this transect are determined to be-1.1‰/100 m and 1.31°C/100 m,respectively.

Surface snow samples were collected during the 14th （1997/1998） and 24th （2007/2008） Chinese National Antarctica Research Expeditions along a transect from Zhongshan Station to Dome A. The stable oxygen isotope ratios of these samples were measured to investigate their relationships with temperature and geographical parameters （latitude, longitude, altitude and distance to the coast）. The results reveal a strong positive correlation （R=0.945） between δ^18O and mean annual temperature, with a gradient of 0.84%℃^-1, which is a little higher than that in Terre Adelie Land. Regression analyses also show that the δ^18O of surface snow is strongly correlated with distance to the coast （R=0.942）, latitude （R=0.942）, and altitude （R=0.941）. But no significant correlation was found between δ^18O and longitude in study area. Altitude should be the most important factor influencing the 6180 distribution because of distinctive topography. The δ^18O-altitude and T-altitude gradients along this transect are determined to be -1.1‰/100 m and 1.31℃/100 m, respectively.