Oxygen isotopes in waters of the Central Arctic Ocean

Surface water down to 200 m was found to contain minimum of 18O (-4.5 to -0.6 per mil relative to SMOW). The highest 18O concentration with d18? varying within very narrow limits (from -0.4 to +0.3 per mil) was observed in intermediate Atlantic waters between 200-250 m and 700 m. 18O concentration in the bottom water layer also varied insignificantly (from 0.0 to -0.7 per mil) tending to decrease downward.

A comparison of 18O concentration with water salinity and temperature showed that the relation between d18O and salinity may be used to determine a source diluting oceanic water. Proportion of fresh waters was only approximately estimated. Correlation between oxygen isotopic in water and temperature was observed only within a narrow depth range in the surface layer.