Oxygen isotope ratios of recently fallen snow over the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah

Storm-to-storm variability of Oxygen isotope ratios in recently fallen snow over the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah are examined based on snow cores collected from from the windward base (~1650 m AMSL) to near the crest (~3200 m AMSL) roughly 15 km away). Such observations provide insight into the origins and microphysical processing of hydrometeors falling along the windward slopes of this narrow, steeply sloped range. The observations obtained are evaluated for their usefulness in determining the predominant source for storm moisture, whether oceanic or from local lakes. Examples of the elevation dependence of Oxygen isotope ratios, and their variability from storm to storm, will be presented and discussed. Results will be compared to observations collected by the authors over Oregon, Minnesota, and New England as well as studies in the Park Range of Colorado and Sierra Nevada of California.