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← GeographyWhich increased process alters cave stalactite δ18O ratios?
A)Increased cave water oxygen evaporation✓
B)Reduced drip water magnesium concentration
C)Decreased surface vegetation evapotranspiration rates
D)Elevated cave carbon dioxide partial pressure
💡 Explanation
Increased isotopic fractionation occurs during evaporation because lighter isotopes evaporate faster; thus, oxygen isotope fractionation causes δ18O ratios to change, therefore the stalactite composition changes due to differing temperature history reflected in oxygen isotope ratios, rather than other chemistry.
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