Environmental isotopes in ice and snow

Investigations based on environmental isotopes in snow and ice so far have been primarily focussed on deuterium and 18O measurements. Adopting special methods as described in this review it is possible to follow the processes during accretion and reduction of temporary snow covers, in the course of firning of the snow, and in the transition to ice. Related glaciological and hydrological problems can be studied successfully. To differentiate the phenomena with respect to time, measurements of the tritium contents and of precipitation fall-out have been utilized to a certain extent. Long-term dating of information stored in the ice using radioisotopes has been carried out only in isolated cases due to great difficulties associated with methodology and measuring techniques. As a result, many conceivable applications in the field of climatology, geology, volcanology, meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, and cosmic physics have to date been only partly explored or not at all through environmental isotope studies in snow and ice. (Auth.)