Spatiotemporal variation of stable isotopic composition in precipitation: Post-condensational effects in a humid area
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Spatiotemporal variation of stable isotopic composition in precipitation : Post-condensational effects in a humid area. / Müller, Sascha; Stumpp, Christine; Sørensen, Jens Havskov; Jessen, Søren.
I: Hydrological Processes, Bind 31, Nr. 18, 2017, s. 3146-3159.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatiotemporal variation of stable isotopic composition in precipitation
T2 - Post-condensational effects in a humid area
AU - Müller, Sascha
AU - Stumpp, Christine
AU - Sørensen, Jens Havskov
AU - Jessen, Søren
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - In the present study, a 2-year dataset on δ18O and δ2H in precipitation is used to investigate hydrometeorologic controls on the isotopic compositions in a temperate maritime climate. Data was collected in Denmark along a transect of Six sampling stations across a landscape with a small topographic gradient and predominant westerly winds. Data showed the local meteoric water line for this region is expressed by the equation δ2H = 7.4δ18O + 5.4‰. A significant trend correlating enriched isotopic values to humidities around 70% during dry season and more depleted isotopic values to humidities around 90% during wet season was derived from the dataset. Temperature was found to only influence the isotopic composition in a secondary way, whereas no significant relationship was obtained for precipitation amount and evapotranspiration. It is suggested that subcloud post-condensation exchange strongly influences the isotopic composition at the study site. A simple model of evaporation on falling rain was applied with the aim to reproduce observational data and show the potential influence of changing humidity conditions on precipitation compositions. The rather simple model approach did not fully explain the observational data, but it highlights the drastic isotopic changes from a falling raindrop that potentially can occur due to its release into a dryer atmosphere. This study shows that regional conditions and especially humidity can alter the isotopic composition in precipitation substantially even in regions without major topographic and hydrometeorologic gradients.
AB - In the present study, a 2-year dataset on δ18O and δ2H in precipitation is used to investigate hydrometeorologic controls on the isotopic compositions in a temperate maritime climate. Data was collected in Denmark along a transect of Six sampling stations across a landscape with a small topographic gradient and predominant westerly winds. Data showed the local meteoric water line for this region is expressed by the equation δ2H = 7.4δ18O + 5.4‰. A significant trend correlating enriched isotopic values to humidities around 70% during dry season and more depleted isotopic values to humidities around 90% during wet season was derived from the dataset. Temperature was found to only influence the isotopic composition in a secondary way, whereas no significant relationship was obtained for precipitation amount and evapotranspiration. It is suggested that subcloud post-condensation exchange strongly influences the isotopic composition at the study site. A simple model of evaporation on falling rain was applied with the aim to reproduce observational data and show the potential influence of changing humidity conditions on precipitation compositions. The rather simple model approach did not fully explain the observational data, but it highlights the drastic isotopic changes from a falling raindrop that potentially can occur due to its release into a dryer atmosphere. This study shows that regional conditions and especially humidity can alter the isotopic composition in precipitation substantially even in regions without major topographic and hydrometeorologic gradients.
KW - humidity effects
KW - local meteoric waterlines
KW - post-condensation effects
KW - precipitation
KW - stable isotopes
KW - δO/δH
U2 - 10.1002/hyp.11186
DO - 10.1002/hyp.11186
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85026317088
VL - 31
SP - 3146
EP - 3159
JO - Hydrological Processes
JF - Hydrological Processes
SN - 0885-6087
IS - 18
ER -
ID: 182927546