Pan-derived isotopic composition of atmospheric water vapour and its variability in northern Canada

Isotope mass balance of evaporation pans is a practical method for detectin g and quantifying temporal variations in the isotopic composition of atmosp heric moisture (delta(A)), as demonstrated during summer in continental arc tic and subarctic regions of Canada. Variability of delta(A), an atmospheri c characteristic determined by air-mass origin and history, is a potentiall y useful tracer of synoptic atmospheric variations, and is an important con trol on isotopic behaviour of open-water bodies during surface-atmosphere e xchange and evaporation. Flux-weighted delta(A) estimation using class A ev aporation pans may be a practical alternative to precipitation or direct va pour sampling in dry climates, and is well-suited to short-term isotope mas s balance investigations of shallow lakes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.