Isotopic fractionation of water during snow formation: Experimental evidence of kinetic effect

Deuterium excess(d-excess=δD-8・δ^(18)O), which is calculated using two water isotope ratios(δD and δ^(18)O), is an indicator of kinetic isotope fractionation. The d-excess value reflects the evaporation process from the ocean or ice-crystal growth. Consequently, d-excess records preserved in ice cores may provide a climatic history of ocean surface conditions at the vapor source area. J. Jouzel and L. Merlivat(J. Geophys. Res., 89, 11749, 1984) proposed an isotope model to analyze information from ice cores. That model includes kinetic fractionation during snow formation, depending on the degree of the supersaturation ratio of vapor. However, no experiment was conducted under the controlled supersaturation ratio. Experiments described herein measured the isotopic ratios of the vapor and artificial snow produced under a controlled supersaturation ratio to confirm the kinetic isotope effect experimentally. Results indicate a higher d-excess value for ice crystals at a higher vapor supersaturation ratio and provide experimental evidence for the kinetic effect during snow formation.