Stable isotopes in surface snow along a traverse route from Zhongshan station to Dome A, East Antarctica

Samples of surface snow were collected for stable isotope analysis along the traverse route from Zhongshan to Dome A (East Antarctica) from Dec 28th, 2007 to Feb. 8th, 2008. The local relationship between dD and surface temperature is established to be 6.4 ± 0.2 % per °C, very similar to the average for East Antarctic. The deuterium excess shows a pattern of high values over Antarctica, particularly at Dome A. We compare our data with an atmospheric general circulation model which includes stable water isotopes (ECHAM5-wiso). The model simulation captures the right levels of dD, but overestimates d18O. This study provides support for the ongoing deep ice core project at Dome A.