The Abundance of O 18 in Atmospheric Water and Water Vapour

Abstract

Investigations into the O18-abundance in the precipitation from a warm front reveal a distinct process of fractionation explainable by the unequal pressures of the saturated vapours of H2O16 and H2O18. An explanation is given of the low O18-abundance in glacial waters. A method of experimental investigation into the mechanism of the process of precipitation is discussed.