HR: 1330h
AN: A52A-0779    [PDF]
TI: Real-time in situ measurements of the H/D ratio in water vapour in a limestone cave
AU: * Wilson, S R
EM: Stephen_Wilson@uow.edu.au
AF: University of Wollongong, Dept. of Chemistry Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
AU: Griffith, D W
EM: David_Griffith@uow.edu.au
AF: University of Wollongong, Dept. of Chemistry Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
AU: Parkes, S
EM: sdp05@uow.edu.au
AF: University of Wollongong, Dept. of Chemistry Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
AU: James, J M
EM: j.james@chem.usyd.edu.au
AF: University of Sydney, School of Chemistry, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
AU: Waring, C
EM: Chris.Waring@ansto.gov.au
AF: Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation, Environment Division PMB1, Menai, Menai, NSW 2234 Australia
AB: The isotopic ratios recorded in speleothems in caves have been used as a measure of paleoclimate. The water on the surface of a growing speleothem contains dissolved C in the form of bicarbonate and O in water. The O incorporated into the speleothem is from surface water that is isotopically determined by the degree of surface evaporation, and has been seen to correlate to monsoonal activity. Cave temperature is likely to be relatively constant and unimportant for the isotopic signature. However, movement of air through the cave, driven by temperature differences between the cave and the external atmosphere could significantly change the isotopic signature and hence complicate the interpretation of any observed signal. We will report real-time measurements of the H/D ratio in water vapour measured in a cave system. The measurements have been made by continuously flowing air through a multi-pass gas cell and measuring the infrared spectrum with a low resolution Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrometer.
DE: 0325 Evolution of the atmosphere
DE: 0330 Geochemical cycles
DE: 0368 Troposphere--constituent transport and chemistry
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting