Identification of processes that control the stable isotope composition of rainwater in the humid tropical West-Central Africa

Abstract

This study interprets 11 years (2006 to 2016) and 6 months (March to August in 2017) of respectively monthly and daily isotopic (δD and δ18O) monitoring of rain at Douala (Cameroon), a humid tropical station in Western Africa. The main scope is to analyze the climate controls on precipitation isotopes at different timescales. Firstly, we examine the annual cycles of δ18O. Over the 11 years of survey, the annual cycle exhibits a W shape that is quite reproducible from year to year, with two minima in spring and autumn periods. Based on back trajectory calculations and remote sensing observations of water vapor isotopic composition, we show that the observed depletion in spring and autumn is due to strong convective activity along air mass trajectories. The same effect of convective activity can be observed at the daily timescale. At seasonal and daily time scales, the isotopic composition is also strongly tied to the convective organization and cloud types. More depleted precipitation is associated with larger areas of high clouds. Very low to low clouds are observed in July-August, mid-level to high clouds are dominant in June and high to very high clouds characterize March-April-May, thus explaining the enriched (depleted) values in summer (spring). Finally, this paper highlights the importance of large scale meteorological conditions controls on precipitation stable isotope composition in the Gulf of Guinea.