Stable oxygen isotope composition of the sea water in the Mediterranean Sea

During the cruises No 17 and 22 of the German research vessel „Meteor“, 45 water samples were taken at 4 stations in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea. Mass spectrometrical analyses showed that systematic, but time variable changes of the oxygen isotope ratios occur. Deep water samples (T> 500 m) have a ± constant isotopic composition of d18O = +1.79‰ (SMOW) and a Chlorinity of 21.399‰. These data are discussed with respect to paleotemperature determinations.