Isotope Techniques in the Study of Past and Current Environmental Changes in the Hydrophere and Atmosphere (Proceedings Series)

Proceedings of a symposium, Vienna, 19–23 April 1993. Natural isotopes are among the most powerful tools for investigating past and current environmental changes. In particular, stable isotopes have proved to be very useful proxy indicators of climate related parameters such as surface air temperature, relative humidity of the atmosphere and amount of precipitation, whereas radioactive isotopes are widely used as a dating tool. The release of radionuclides during nuclear bomb tests permitted studies of the dynamics of transport and mixing processes in the atmosphere. It also allowed a global tracer experiment on the hydrological and carbon cycles, which substantially contributed to better understanding of these two vital compartments of the global ecosystem. A wide spectrum of themes was discussed at the symposium, covering both the ‘present’ and the ‘past’ of the global atmosphere/hydrosphere system. Case studies as well as methodological aspects of various isotope techniques applied in both areas of research were presented.