ИСТИНА

The non-disturbed by melt Elbrus ice core recovered from the altitude of 5100 m. a.s.l. allowed obtaining the stable water isotopes samples with almost weekly resolution. The isotopic profile shows clear seasonal variability in stable water isotopes with varying amplitude between the preserved winter and summer solid precipitation. The well-known decrease of such amplitude with depth (age) observed in the Polar ice cores is also present in the deep part of the Elbrus ice core. However, the upper part, from the present snow down to the pores close-off depth, has more complex pattern. The amplitude between the stable water isotopes content of winter and summer layers is larger in the firn deposited in 1970th than in recent snow. That time period corresponds to the switch in the general atmospheric circulation mode, which most probably is the explanation to the variability in the amplitude. The values of mean annual stable water isotopes contents shows order of magnitude less variability with age. Despite these are the values which can be compared with data from the other ice cores, the behavior of amplitudes seems also to represent important information on climate change. Possibilities to use it in understanding the climate variability in European region would be discussed.