Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW)

Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW) is a carefully defined sample of seawater that serves as a global reference for measuring the ratios of different isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen within water molecules. It establishes standard values used by scientists worldwide to compare and analyze water samples consistently. This standard ensures that measurements of isotopic compositions are accurate and comparable across different studies and locations, playing a vital role in fields like climate science, hydrology, and geochemistry. Essentially, VSMOW provides a common benchmark for understanding and interpreting the subtle variations in water's isotopic makeup.