Abstract
FOLLOWING investigations by Jancso et al.1 of the vapour pressure of H218O ice between −17° and 0° C, I have measured the fractionation factor of 18O between water vapour and ice from −33.4° to 0° C. The method derives from the “steady state method” first applied by Boato et al.2 to argon isotopes. Our experimental procedure is similar to that described by Merlivat and Nief3 for the deuterium fractionation factor (H2O – H2HO) between water vapour and ice. Using a mass spectrometer4 specially designed for analysis of the isotopic ratio R = (H218O)/(H216O) by direct injection of water vapour into the apparatus, we can measure directly the fractionation factor α = Rs/Rv, where Rs and Rv are the 18O isotopic ratios for ice and water vapour respectively. The apparatus measures α to an accuracy of ±10−4.
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References
Jancso, G., Pupezin, J., and Van Hook, W. A., Nature, 225, 723 (1970).
Boato, G., Scoles, G., and Vallauri, M. E., Nuovo Cim., 23, 1041 (1962).
Merlivat, L., and Nief, G., Tellus, 19, 122 (1967).
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Bottinga, Y., and Craig, H., Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 5, 285 (1969).
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MAJOUBE, M. Fractionation Factor of 18O between Water Vapour and Ice. Nature 226, 1242 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/2261242a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2261242a0
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