In:
International Journal of Climatology, Wiley, Vol. 35, No. 6 ( 2015-05), p. 846-859
Abstract:
In this article, we present a simplified isotopic Atmospheric Water Balance Model ( iAWBM ), to simulate spatial distribution and temporal variations of δ 18 O in atmospheric vapour and in precipitation, and the correlations of δ 18 O in precipitation with precipitation amount and with temperature. This method overcomes deficiencies of the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation ( GNIP ) due to its limitation in space and time resolution and those of the isotope‐enabled General Circulation Models ( iGCM s) due to its complexity. The simulated results reproduce well the latitude effect, continent effect and seasonality of δ 18 O in global precipitation. The simulation suggests that the precipitation amount effect occurs mainly in the low‐mid latitude oceans and monsoon areas, and the simulated temperature effect occurs mainly in the mid‐high latitude continents. However, the simulation results also indicate some temperature effect in some low‐latitude areas where the precipitation amount effect is strong. The modelled precipitation isotopic composition is compared to 3‐year observations in Changsha, China (2010–2012). The simulations reproduce the observed seasonal variations of δ 18 O in precipitation. The basic characteristics that stable isotopes in precipitation are depleted during the rainy season and enriched during the dry season, and the observed amount effect is well simulated under daily time scale. The simulated weighted average δ 18 O (−6.58‰) in precipitation during the prevailing winter monsoon season (October–March) is almost the same as the observed δ 18 O in the same period (−6.56‰), but the simulated δ 18 O (−9.58‰) during the prevailing summer monsoon season (April–September) is lower than the observed δ 18 O (−7.66‰). The simulation result also shows temporal variations of vapour isotopic composition in the atmosphere, and the proportional contributions from horizontal vapour exchange, precipitation and evaporation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0899-8418
,
1097-0088
DOI:
10.1002/joc.2015.35.issue-6
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1491204-1
SSG:
14