Abstract
The carbon isotopic composition of soil CO 2 was measured during the winter of 1990/91 at two sites in the Lublin Upland (Poland). In that season a period with very low air temperature occurred, during which snow covered soils were frozen. We observed variations of δ 13C up to 3 permil. During freezing periods the variations depended on soil physical properties. In sandy soil the 13C 12C ratio during freezing periods increased, while in loess soil it decreased. This appears to be connected with the granulometrical composition of the soil and the size of the pores, which influence the rate of CO 2 diffusion into the atmosphere. During thawing periods, when the snow was melting, the CO 2 concentration increased and the 13C 12C ratios decreased in both types of the soil under investigation due to worse contact of soil horizons with the atmosphere. The major winter variations in δ 13CO 2 of soil may be useful natural markers of infiltrating waters.
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