Tritium in atmospheric precipitation over the European territory of CIS as an indicator of climatic changes

Many-year observational data on the ³H content of mean monthly precipitation at the network of stations in eight natural-climatic belts of the European part of the CIS are studied. Relationships between ³H concentrations and the climatic characteristics are analyzed. The ratio of the ³H content of precipitation in July to that in December is shown to be the best indicator of the atmospheric moisture transfer. The regular variations in the ³H content of precipitation with time (1980–1994) recorded in different natural-climatic belts testify that the western source of atmospheric moisture intensified during the above period and the climate on the European territory of CIS became warmer.Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 2, 2005, pp. 247–253.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Vlasova, Ferronskii.