Isotope hydrology of a tropical coffee agroforestry watershed: Seasonal and event‐based analyses

Stable isotope variations are extremely useful for flow partitioning within the hydrologic cycle but remain poorly understood throughout the tropics, particularly in watersheds with rapidly infiltrating soils, such as Andisols in Central America. This study examines the fluctuations of stable isotope ratios (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) in the hydrologic components of a tropical coffee agroforestry watershed (~1 km²) with Andisol soils in Costa Rica. Samples were collected in precipitation, groundwater, springs, and stream water over 2 years. The local meteoric water line for the study site was δ²H = 8.5 δ¹⁸O + 18.02 (r² = 0.97, n = 198). The isotope ratios in precipitation exhibited an enriched trend during the dry season and a notable depletion at the beginning of the wet season. The δ¹⁸O compositions in groundwater (average = ?6.4‰, σ = 0.7) and stream water (average = ?6.7‰, σ = 0.6) were relatively stable over time, and both components exhibited more enriched values in 2013, which was the drier year. No strong correlation was observed between the isotope ratios and the precipitation amount at the event or daily time‐step, but a correlation was observed on a monthly scale. Stream water and base flow hydrograph separations based on isotope end‐member estimations showed that pre‐event water originating from base flow was prevalent. However, isotope data indicate that event water originating from springs appears to have been the primary driver of initial rises in stream flow and peak flows. These results indicate that isotope sampling improves the understanding of water balance components, even in a tropical humid location, where significant variations in rainfall challenge current modelling efforts. Further research using fine‐scale hydrometric and isotopic data would enhance understanding the processes driving spring flow generation in watersheds.     

Stable isotope‐based mean catchment altitudes of springs in the Lebanon Mountains

Stable isotopes of water are known to provide information on mean altitudes of spring recharge areas, which is an important parameter for groundwater resources management especially in karstic environments. Very often, a lack of precipitation input data limits the possibility for an appropriate estimation of mean catchment altitudes. In the Jeita spring catchment, Lebanon, a characterization of precipitation input was possible with samples collected at six stations at varying altitudes (88 amount‐weighted monthly samples). A local meteoric water line for the Jeita spring catchment was characterized as δ²H = 6.04 * δ¹⁸O + 8.45 (R ² = .92) for a 2‐year observation period between October 2012 and September 2014. Integral samples from the snow layer were collected at 22 sites at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,300 m above sea level at the end of February 2012 and February 2013, when snow height reached a maximum of more than 6 m at the highest peak in the catchment. Water samples were continuously collected from six springs (Jeita, Kashkoush, Labbane, Assal, Afqa, and Rouaiss). Jeita spring water samples were collected additionally in daily time steps during the snowmelt season in 2012. Mean isotope values of the sampled springs range from ?6.8‰ to ?8.2‰, and from ?33‰ to ?44‰, for δ¹⁸O and δ²H, respectively. The stable isotope data show that input variability (space and time, snow cover, and rainfall) has direct impacts on mean altitude estimates of spring catchments. A more profound interpretation of spring response to rainfall for six local springs in the Lebanon Mountains was possible in comparison to four earlier described springs collected in the Anti‐Lebanon Mountains in Syria.     

Isotopic variation in the lake water balance at the Yamdruk‐tso basin,southern Tibetan Plateau

The use of stable isotopes is a practical tool in the study of the lake water budget. This is an one way to study the hydrological cycle in the large numbers of inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, in which the isotope record of the sediment is believed to reflect the climatic and environmental changes. The monitoring of stable isotopes of the precipitation, river and lake waters during 2004 in the inland Yamdruk‐tso basin, southern Tibetan Plateau, reveals the lake water δ¹⁸O is over 10‰ higher than the local precipitation. This high difference indicates strong isotope enrichment due to lake water evaporation. The simulation results based on the isotope technique show that the present lake water δ¹⁸O level corresponds to an average relative humidity of around 54–58% during evaporation, which is very close to the instrumental observation. The simulation results also show that the inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau have a strong adjustability to the isotope shift of input water δ¹⁸O. On average, the isotope component in the inland lake water is to a large extent controlled by the local relative humidity, and can also be impacted by a shift of the local precipitation isotope component. This is probably responsible for the large consistence in the isotope component in the extensive inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isotopic composition (δ18O and δD) of precipitation and groundwater in a semi‐arid,mountainous area (Guadiana Menor basin,Southeast Spain)

We characterize the precipitation and groundwater in a mountainous (peaks slightly above 3000 m a.s.l.), semi‐arid river basin in SE Spain in terms of the isotopes ¹⁸O and ²H. This basin, with an extension of about 7000 km², is an ideal site for such a study because fronts from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean converge here. Much of the land is farmed and irrigated both by groundwater and runoff water collected in reservoirs. A total of approximately 100 water samples from precipitation and 300 from groundwater have been analysed. To sample precipitation we set up a network of 39 stations at different altitudes (800–1700 m a.s.l.), with which we were able to collect the rain and snowfall from 29 separate events between July 2005 and April 2007 and take monthly samples during the periods of maximum recharge of the aquifers. To characterize the groundwater we set up a control network of 43 points (23 springs and 20 wells) to sample every 3 months the main aquifers and both the thermal and non‐thermal groundwater. We also sampled two shallow‐water sites (a reservoir and a river). The isotope composition of the precipitation forms a local meteoric water line (LMWL) characterized by the equation δD = 7·72δ¹⁸O + 9·90, with mean values for δ¹⁸O and δD of − 10·28‰ and − 69·33‰, respectively, and 12·9‰ for the d‐excess value. To correlate the isotope composition of the rainfall water with groundwater we calculated the weighted local meteoric water line (WLMWL), characterized by the equation δD = 7·40δ¹⁸O + 7·24, which takes into account the quantity of water precipitated during each event. These values of (dδD/dδ¹⁸O)< 8 and d‐excess (δD–8δ¹⁸O)< 10 in each curve bear witness to the ‘amount effect’, an effect which is more manifest between May and September, when the ground temperature is higher. Other effects noted in the basin were those of altitude and the continental influence. The isotopic compositions of the groundwater are represented by the equation δD = 4·79δ¹⁸O − 18·64. The groundwater is richer in heavy isotopes than the rainfall, with mean values of − 8·48‰ for δ¹⁸O and − 59·27‰ for δD. The isotope enrichment processes detected include a higher rate of evaporation from detrital aquifers than from carbonate ones, the effects of recharging aquifers from irrigation return flow and/or from reservoirs' leakage and enrichment in δ¹⁸O from thermal water. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonality of stable isotope composition of atmospheric water input at the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro,Tanzania

To understand the moisture regime at the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, we analysed the isotopic variability of oxygen (δ¹⁸O) and hydrogen (δD) of rainfall, throughfall, and fog from a total of 2,140 samples collected weekly over 2 years at 9 study sites along an elevation transect ranging from 950 to 3,880 m above sea level. Precipitation in the Kilimanjaro tropical rainforests consists of a combination of rainfall, throughfall, and fog. We defined local meteoric water lines for all 3 precipitation types individually and the overall precipitation, δD_prec = 7.45 (±0.05) × δ¹⁸O_prec + 13.61 (±0.20), n  = 2,140, R ² = .91, p  < .001. We investigated the precipitation‐type‐specific stable isotope composition and analysed the effects of amount, altitude, and temperature. Aggregated annual mean values revealed isotope composition of rainfall as most depleted and fog water as most enriched in heavy isotopes at the highest elevation research site. We found an altitude effect of δ¹⁸O_rain = ?0.11‰ × 100 m^?1, which varied according to precipitation type and season. The relatively weak isotope or altitude gradient may reveal 2 different moisture sources in the research area: (a) local moisture recycling and (b) regional moisture sources. Generally, the seasonality of δ¹⁸O_rain values follows the bimodal rainfall distribution under the influences of south‐ and north‐easterly trade winds. These seasonal patterns of isotopic composition were linked to different regional moisture sources by analysing Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory backward trajectories. Seasonality of d excess values revealed evidence of enhanced moisture recycling after the onset of the rainy seasons. This comprehensive dataset is essential for further research using stable isotopes as a hydrological tracer of sources of precipitation that contribute to water resources of the Kilimanjaro region.     

Water isotopes and hydrograph separation in different glacial catchments in the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Snow and glaciers are known to be important sources for freshwater; nevertheless, our understanding of the hydrological functioning of glacial catchments remains limited when compared with lower altitude catchments. In this study, a temperate glacial region located in the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau is selected to analyse the characteristics of δ¹⁸O and δD in different water sources and the contribution of glacier–snow meltwater to streamflow. The results indicate that the δ¹⁸O of river water ranges from ?16.2‰ to ?10.2‰ with a mean of ?14.1‰ and that the δD values range from ?117.0‰ to ?68.0‰ with a mean of ?103.1‰. These values are more negative than those of glacier–snow meltwater but less negative than those of precipitation. The d ‐excess values are found to decrease from meltwater to river to lake/reservoir water as a result of evaporation. On the basis of hydrograph separation, glacier–snow meltwater accounts for 51.5% of river water in the Baishui catchment in the melting season. In the Yanggong catchment, snow meltwater contributes 47.9% to river water in the premonsoon period, and glacier meltwater contributes only 6.8% in the monsoon period. The uncertainty in hydrograph separation is sensitive to the variation of tracer concentrations of streamflow components. The input of meltwater to a water system varies with local climate and glacier changes. The results confirm that hydrograph separation using water isotopes is valuable for evaluating the recharge sources of rivers, especially in ungauged glacial regions. This study provides insights into the hydrological processes of glacial catchments on the Tibetan Plateau, which is important for water resource management.     

Using stable isotopes of surface water and groundwater to quantify moisture sources across the Yellow River source region

Characterization of stable isotope compositions (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) of surface water and groundwater in a catchment is critical for refining moisture sources and establishing modern isotope–elevation relationships for paleoelevation reconstructions. There is no consensus on the moisture sources of precipitation in the Yellow River source region during summer season. This study presents δ²H and δ¹⁸O data from 111 water samples collected from tributaries, mainstream, lakes, and groundwater across the Yellow River source region during summertime. Measured δ¹⁸O values of the tributaries range from ?13.5‰ to ?5.8‰ with an average of ?11.0‰. Measured δ¹⁸O values of the groundwater samples range from ?12.7‰ to ?10.5‰ with an average of ?11.9‰. The δ¹⁸O data of tributary waters display a northward increase of 1.66‰ per degree latitude. The δ¹⁸O data and d‐excess values imply that moisture sources of the Yellow River source region during summertime are mainly from the mixing of the Indian Summer Monsoon and the Westerlies, local water recycling, and subcloud evaporation. Analysis of tributary δ¹⁸O data from the Yellow River source region and streamwater and precipitation δ¹⁸O data from its surrounding areas leads to a best‐fit second‐order polynomial relationship between δ¹⁸O and elevation over a 4,600 m elevation range. A δ¹⁸O elevation gradient of ?1.6‰/km is also established using these data, and the gradient is in consistence with the δ¹⁸O elevation gradient of north and eastern plateau. Such relationships can be used for paleoelevation reconstructions in the Yellow River source region.     

Groundwater and surface water connectivity within the recharge area of Guarani aquifer system during El Niño 2014–2016

Recharge areas of the Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to climate variability; therefore, the understanding of infiltration mechanisms for aquifer recharge and surface run‐off generation represent a relevant issue for water resources management in the southeastern portion of the Brazilian territory, particularly in the Jacaré‐Pepira River watershed. The main purpose of this study is to understand the interactions between precipitation, surface water, and groundwater using stable isotopes during the strong 2014–2016 El Niño Southern Oscillation event. The large variation in the isotopic composition of precipitation (from ?9.26‰ to +0.02‰ for δ¹⁸O and from ?63.3‰ to +17.6‰ for δ²H), mainly associated with regional climatic features, was not reflected in the isotopic composition of surface water (from ?7.84‰ to ?5.83‰ for δ¹⁸O and from ?49.7‰ to +33.6‰ for δ²H), mainly due to the monthly sampling frequency, and groundwater (from ?7.04‰ to ?7.76‰ for δ¹⁸O and from ?49.5‰ to ?44.7‰ for δ²H), which exhibited less variation throughout the year. However, variations in deuterium excess (d‐excess) in groundwater and surface water suggest the occurrence of strong secondary evaporation during the infiltration process, corresponding with groundwater level recovery. Similar isotopic composition in groundwater and surface water, as well as the same temporal variations in d‐excess and line‐conditioned excess denote the strong connectivity between these two reservoirs during baseflow recession periods. Isotopic mass balance modelling and hydrograph separation estimate that the groundwater contribution varied between 70% and 80%, however, during peak flows, the isotopic mass balance tends to overestimate the groundwater contribution when compared with the other hydrograph separation methods. Our findings indicate that the application of isotopic mass balance methods for ungauged rivers draining large groundwater reservoirs, such as the GAS outcrop, could provide a powerful tool for hydrological studies in the future, helping in the identification of flow contributions to river discharge draining these areas.     

Isotopic composition of precipitation during strong El Niño–Southern Oscillation events in the Southeast Region of Brazil

Equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature variations interact with processes of atmospheric circulation, creating conditions for the occurrence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). ENSO events represent the most important interannual phenomena affecting climate patterns worldwide and causing significant socio‐economic impacts. In the Brazilian territory, ENSO leads to an increase in drought episodes in the north‐eastern region and an increase in precipitation in the southern region, whereas the effects over the south‐east region are yet not well understood. The main goal of this study is to compare variations of isotopic composition in precipitation across the south‐east portion of the Brazilian territory during two very strong ENSO events: 1997–1998 (ENSO 1) and 2014–2016 (ENSO 2). Daily isotopic records, available from the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation database for ENSO 1, and samples collected during ENSO 2 were used to compare the influence of both events on the isotopic composition of precipitation. Seasonal variations indicated more depleted precipitation during the wet seasons (δ¹⁸O = ?5.4 ± 4.0‰) and enriched precipitation during the dry seasons (δ¹⁸O = ?2.8 ± 2.3‰). Observed rainfall variations were associated with atmospheric large‐scale processes and moisture transport from the Amazon region, whereas extreme values (enriched or depleted) appear to be associated with particular convective and stratiform precipitation events. Overall, more depleted isotopic composition of precipitation (δ¹⁸O = ?4.60‰) and higher d‐excess (up to +15‰) were observed during the dry season of ENSO 1 when compared with ENSO 2 dry season (δ¹⁸O‰ = ?2.80‰, d‐excess lower than +14‰). The latter is explained by greater atmospheric moisture content, particularly associated with recycling of transpiration fluxes from the Amazon region, during dry season of ENSO 1. No significant differences for δ¹⁸O and δ²H were observed during the wet season; however, d‐excess from ENSO 2 was greater than ENSO 1, due to the slightly greater atmospheric moisture content and very strong upward motion observed. Our findings highlight the opportunity that environmental isotopes offer towards understanding hydrometeorological processes, particularly, the evolution of extreme climatic events of global resonance such as ENSO.     

From precipitation to runoff: stable isotopic fractionation effect of glacier melting on a catchment scale

Stable isotope variability and fractionation associated with transformation of precipitation/accumulation to firn to glacial river water is critical in a variety of climatic, hydrological and paleoenvironmental studies. This paper documents the modification of stable isotopes in water from precipitation to glacier runoff in an alpine catchment located in the central Tibetan Plateau. Isotopic changes are observed by sampling firnpack profiles, glacier surface snow/ice, meltwater on the glacier surface and catchment river water at different times during a melt season. Results show the isotopic fractionation effects associated with glacier melt processes. The slope of the δD‐δ¹⁸O regression line and the deuterium excess values decreased from the initial precipitation to the melt‐impacted firnpack (slope from 9.3 to 8.5 and average d‐excess from 13.4‰ to 7.4‰). The slope of the δD‐δ¹⁸O line further decreased to 7.6 for the glacier runoff water. The glacier surface snow/ice from different locations, which produces the main runoff, had the same δD‐δ¹⁸O line slope but lower deuterium excess (by 3.9‰) compared to values observed in the firnpack profile during the melt season. The δD‐δ¹⁸O regression line for the river water exhibited a lower slope compared to the surface snow/ice samples, although they were closely located on the δD‐δ¹⁸O plot. Isotope values for the river and glacier surface meltwater showed little scatter around the δD‐δ¹⁸O regression line, although the samples were from different glaciers and were collected on different days. Results indicate a high consistency of isotopic fractionation in the δD‐δ¹⁸O relationships, as well as a general consistency and temporal covariation of meltwater isotope values at the catchment scale. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydroclimatic significance of stable isotopes in precipitation from glaciers of Garhwal Himalaya,Upper Ganga Basin (UGB), India

Stable isotopic composition of precipitation as preserved in continental proxy climate archives (e.g., ice cores, lacustrine sediments, tree rings, groundwater, and organic matter) can sensitively record fluctuations in local meteorological variables. These are important natural climatic tracers to understand the atmospheric circulation patterns and hydrological cycle and to reconstruct past climate from archives. Precipitation was collected at Dokriani Glacier to understand the response of glaciers to climate change in the Garhwal Central Himalaya, Upper Ganga Basin. The local meteoric water line deviates from the global meteoric water line and is useful for the identification of moisture source in the region. The data suggest different clusters of isotopic signals, that is, summer (June–September) and winter (November–April); the mean values of δ¹⁸O, δD, and d ‰ during summer are ?13.03‰, ?84.49‰, and 19.78 ‰, respectively, whereas during winter, the mean values of δ¹⁸O, δD, and d ‰ are ?7.59‰, ?36.28‰, and 24.46 ‰, respectively. Backward wind trajectory analysis ascertains that the major source of precipitation during summer is from the Indian Summer Monsoon and during winter from the westerlies. Regression analysis has been carried out in order to establish interrelationship between the precipitation isotopic signatures and meteorological variables such as air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation. Temperature and precipitation have good correlation with the isotopic signatures of precipitation with R² values >.5, suggesting that both temperature and amount effects prevail in the study region. Multiple regression analysis found strong relationships for both the seasons. The relationship of deuterium excess with δ¹⁸O, relative humidity, and precipitation are significant for the winter season. No significant relationships of deuterium excess were found with other meteorological variables such as temperature and radiation. The correlation and regression analysis performed are significant and valuable for interpretation of processes in the hydrological cycle as well as for interpretation of palaeoclimate records from the region.     

Stable isotopes of atmospheric water vapour and precipitation in the northeast Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Stable water isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) are an important source signature for understanding the hydrological cycle and altered climate regimes. However, the mechanisms underlying atmospheric water vapour isotopes in the northeast Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau of central Asia remain poorly understood. This study initially investigated water vapour isotopic composition and its controls during the premonsoon and monsoon seasons. Isotopic compositions of water vapour and precipitation exhibited high variability across seasons, with the most negative average δ¹⁸O values of precipitation and the most positive δ¹⁸O values of water vapour found during the premonsoon periods. Temperature effect was significant during the premonsoon period but not the monsoon period. Both a higher slope and intercept of the local meteoric water line were found during the monsoon period as compared with in the premonsoon period, suggesting that raindrops have been experienced a greater kinetic fractionation process such as reevaporation below the cloud during the premonsoon periods. The δ²H and δ¹⁸O signatures in atmospheric water vapour tended to be depleted with the occurrence of precipitation events especially during the monsoon period and probably as a result of rainout processes. The monthly average contribution of evaporation from the lake to local precipitation was 35.2%. High d‐excess values of water vapour were influenced by the high proportion of local moisture mixing, as indicated by the gradually increasing relative humidity along westerly and Asian monsoon trajectories. The daily observation (observed ε) showed deviations from the equilibrium fractionation factors (calculated ε), implying that raindrops experienced substantial evaporative enrichment during their descent. The average fraction of raindrops reevaporation was estimated to be 16.4± 12.9%. These findings provide useful insights for understanding the interaction between water vapour and precipitation, moisture sources, and help in reconstructing the paleoclimate in the alpine regions.     

Spatial and temporal variability of stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) in surface waters of arid,mountainous Central Asia

Characterization of spatial and temporal variability of stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) of surface waters is essential to interpret hydrological processes and establish modern isotope–elevation gradients across mountainous terrains. Here, we present stable isotope data for river waters across Kyrgyzstan. River water isotopes exhibit substantial spatial heterogeneity among different watersheds in Kyrgyzstan. Higher river water isotope values were found mainly in the Issyk‐Kul Lake watershed, whereas waters in the Son‐Kul Lake watershed display lower values. Results show a close δ¹⁸O–δ²H relation between river water and the local meteoric water line, implying that river water experiences little evaporative enrichment. River water from the high‐elevation regions (e.g., Naryn and Son‐Kul Lake watershed) had the most negative isotope values, implying that river water is dominated by snowmelt. Higher deuterium excess (average d = 13.9‰) in river water probably represents the isotopic signature of combined contributions from direct precipitation and glacier melt in stream discharge across Kyrgyzstan. A significant relationship between river water δ¹⁸O and elevation was observed with a vertical lapse rate of 0.13‰/100 m. These findings provide crucial information about hydrological processes across Kyrgyzstan and contribute to a better understanding of the paleoclimate/elevation reconstruction of this region.     

Continuous real‐time analysis of the isotopic composition of precipitation during tropical rain events: Insights into tropical convection

To investigate stable isotopic variability of precipitation in Singapore, we continuously analysed the δ‐value of individual rain events from November 2014 to August 2017 using an online system composed of a diffusion sampler coupled to Cavity Ring‐Down Spectrometer. Over this period, the average value (δ¹⁸O_Avg), the lowest value (δ¹⁸O_Low), and the initial value (δ¹⁸O_Init) varied significantly, ranging from ?0.45 to ?15.54‰, ?0.9 to ?17.65‰, and 0 to ?13.13‰, respectively. All 3 values share similar variability, and events with low δ¹⁸O_Low and δ¹⁸O_Avg values have low δ¹⁸O_Init value. Individual events have limited intraevent variability in δ‐value (Δδ) with the majority having a Δδ below 4‰. Correlation of δ¹⁸O_Low and δ¹⁸O_Avg with δ¹⁸O_Init is much higher than that with Δδ, suggesting that convective activities prior to events have more control over δ‐value than on‐site convective activities. The d‐excess of events also varies considerably in response to the seasonal variation in moisture sources. A 2‐month running mean analysis of δ¹⁸O reveals clear seasonal and interannual variability. Seasonal variability is associated with the meridional movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and evolution of the Asian monsoon. El Niño–Southern Oscillation is a likely driver of interannual variability. During 2015–2016, the strongest El Niño year in recorded history, the majority of events have a δ¹⁸O value higher than the weighted average δ¹⁸O of daily precipitation. δ¹⁸O shows a positive correlation with outgoing longwave radiation in the western Pacific and the Asian monsoon region, and also with Oceanic Niño Index. During El Niño, the convection centre shifts eastward to the central/eastern Pacific, weakening convective activities in Southeast Asia. Our study shows that precipitation δ‐value contains information about El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which has a significant implication for the interpretation of water isotope data and understanding of hydrological processes in tropical regions.     

Short‐term variability in isotopic composition of precipitation: A case study from the Midwestern United States

Oxygen and deuterium isotopes in precipitation were analysed to define local isotopic trends in Iowa, US. The area is far inland from an oceanic source and the observed averages of δ¹⁸O and δ D are ? 6·43‰ and ? 41·35‰ for Ames, ? 7·53‰ and ? 51·33‰ for Cedar Falls, and ? 6·01‰ and ? 38·19‰ for Iowa City, respectively. Although these data generally follow global trends, they are different when compared to a semi‐arid mid‐continental location in North Platt, Nebraska. The local meteoric water lines of Iowa are δ D = 7·68 δ¹⁸O + 8·0 for Ames, δ D = 7·62 δ¹⁸O + 6·07 for Cedar Falls, and δ D = 7·78 δ¹⁸O + 8·61 for Iowa City. The current Iowa study compares well with a study conducted in Ames, Iowa, 10 years earlier. The differences between Iowa and Nebraska studies are attributed to a variable climate across the northern Great Plains ranging from sub‐humid in the east to semi‐arid in the west. Iowa being further east in the region is more strongly influenced by a moist sub‐humid to humid climate fed by the tropical air stream from the Gulf of Mexico. The average d‐excess values are 10·06‰ for Ames, 8·92‰ for Cedar Falls and 9·92‰ for Iowa City. Eighty seven percent of the samples are within the global d‐excess range of 0‰ and 20‰. The results are similar to previous studies, including those by National Atmospheric Deposition Programs and International Atomic Energy Agency. It appears that the impact of recycled water or secondary evaporation on δ¹⁸O values of area precipitation is minimal. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Factors controlling diurnal variation in the isotopic composition of atmospheric water vapour observed in the taiga,eastern Siberia

Deciduous forest covers vast areas of permafrost under severe dry climate in eastern Siberia. Understanding the water cycle in this forest ecosystem is quite important for climate projection. In this study, diurnal variations in isotopic compositions of atmospheric water vapour were observed in eastern Siberia with isotope analyses of precipitation, sap water of larch trees, soil water, and water in surface organic layer during the late summer periods of 2006, 2007, and 2008. In these years, the soil moisture content was considerably high due to unusually large amounts of summer rainfall and winter snowfall. The observed sap water δ¹⁸O ranged from ?17.9‰ to ?13.3‰, which was close to that of summer precipitation and soil water in the shallow layer, and represents that of transpired water vapour. On sunny days, as the air temperature and mixing ratio rose from predawn to morning, the atmospheric water vapour δ¹⁸O increased by 1‰ to 5‰ and then decreased by about 2‰ from morning to afternoon with the mixing ratio. On cloudy days, by contrast, the afternoon decrease in δ¹⁸O and the mixing ratio was not observed. These results show that water vapour that transpired from plants, with higher δ¹⁸O than the atmospheric water vapour, contributes to the increase in δ¹⁸O in the morning, whereas water vapour in the free atmosphere, with lower δ¹⁸O, contributes to the decrease in the afternoon on sunny days. The observed results reveal the significance of transpired water vapour, with relatively high δ¹⁸O, in the water cycle on a short diurnal time scale and confirm the importance of the recycling of precipitation through transpiration in continental forest environments such as the eastern Siberian taiga. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identifying the source of atmospheric moisture over arid deserts using stable isotopes (2H and 18O) in precipitation

Precipitation is a major component of the hydrologic cycle in arid desert areas. To date, however, few studies have been conducted on investigating the isotope characteristics and moisture sources of precipitation in arid desert environments. The Alxa Desert Plateau is a critical arid desert area in North China. This study is the first to analyse the stable isotopic composition of precipitation to identify the sources of atmospheric moisture over this plateau. Our results show that the δD and δ¹⁸O values of precipitation across the plateau change greatly at both daily and monthly timescales, and exhibit seasonal variations. Among the main meteorological parameters, atmospheric temperature is the most predominant factor controlling the isotopic composition and the δD–δ¹⁸O relationship of local precipitation. Analyses of the precipitation isotopes with the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model reveal that (a) the westerly and polar moisture sources are the dominant controls on summer and winter precipitation and (b) the evaporation of local lake water significantly affects winter precipitation even though it only represents a small amount. Based on the isotope data of 2013–2016 precipitation, a local meteoric water line (LMWL) is derived: δD = (8.20 ± 0.22)·δ¹⁸O + (8.15 ± 2.16)‰ for the study site. Compared to the global meteoric water line, the LMWL has a greater slope and lower d‐excess. This can be explained by admixing of atmospheric moisture resulting from the evaporation of local lake water. Based on this LMWL, we are able to trace that groundwater of the Badain Jaran Desert originates from the surrounding mountains with altitudes of <4,000 m. The newly derived LMWL shows that the recharge altitudes of desert groundwater are overestimated on the basis of the previous LMWLs. This study not only provides insights into the hydrological cycle but also offers guidance for water resource management in arid desert areas of China. Additionally, this study provides techniques that can be applied to the analyses of precipitation isotopes in similar arid regions of the world.     

Dual effects of precipitation and evaporation on lake water stable isotope composition in the monsoon region

We present the results of a 3‐year monitoring programme of the stable isotope composition of lake water and precipitation at Taozi Lake, in the East Asian monsoon region of China. Our aims were to reveal the spatiotemporal pattern of variation of stable isotopes in a small closed‐basin lake and to quantitatively determine the impacts of precipitation and evaporation on the stable isotope composition of lake water under a humid monsoon climate. In the time domain, the stable oxygen isotopic ratio of the lake water (δ¹⁸O_L) exhibited substantial seasonal and interannual variations, but the isotope variations between different precipitation events substantially exceeded seasonal and interannual variations. Compared with the stable isotopes in precipitation, δ¹⁸O_L was substantially positive and d_L was negative. In the space domains, the lake water was homogeneously mixed. Indicated by statistic analyses, precipitation plays a dominant role in dynamic of the lake stable isotope during precipitation events of relatively large magnitude, whereas the effect of evaporation is dominant during smaller precipitation events. Results advance our understanding of the stable isotope change rule in the process of lake water evaporation, and it is helpful to identify the climatic significance recorded in stable isotopic compositions of lake bottom sediments.     

Variation of δ18O, δD and 3H in karst springs of south Kashmir,western Himalayas (India)

Water samples were collected from cold and warm karst springs for stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δD) and ³H from SE of Kashmir valley (western Himalayas) to distinguish the sources of recharge and infer their recharge areas. The spring water samples were most depleted in heavier isotopes in May (average δ¹⁸O: ?8.87‰ and δD: ?50.3‰) and enriched in September (average δ¹⁸O: ?7.58‰ and δD: ?48.1‰). The depleted ¹⁸O and ²H of spring waters bear the signatures of winter precipitation while as the enriched ¹⁸O and ²H of spring waters bear the signature of summer rainfall. D‐excess and ³H corroborate with the stable isotope results that the spring flow in spring season (May) and autumn (September) is dominantly controlled by the melting of winter snowmelt and summer rainfall, respectively. The results showed that unlike δD, the δ¹⁸O value in the karst spring waters decreases in January suggesting δ¹⁸O shift. The spring water samples also fall above the Local Meteoric Water Line and Global Meteoric Water Line indicating the δ¹⁸O shift due to interaction of groundwater with the host carbonate rocks during its traverse. The mean elevation of the recharge areas of the springs using δ¹⁸O and δD tracers was also estimated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.