Abstract
The spatial distribution of stable water isotopes (also known as an isoscape) in precipitation has drawn increasing attention during the recent years. In this study, based on the observations at 32 stations, we assessed two widely applied global isoscape products (Regionalized Cluster-based Water Isotope Prediction (RCWIP) and Online Isotopes in Precipitation Calculator (OIPC)) at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and then established an improved isoscape of oxygen isotopes in precipitation on a monthly basis using a regionalized fuzzy cluster method. Two fuzzy clusters can be determined, which is consistent using three meteorological data. The monthly isoscapes show the seasonal movement of high and low isotopic value regions across the QTP and reveal the influences of monsoon and westerly moisture. According to the cross validation, the δ18O in precipitation in the new monthly isoscapes for the QTP we propose performs better compared to the existing global products. To create a regional isoscape in many other regions, the regionalized fuzzy cluster method can be considered especially for regions with complex controlling regimes of precipitation isotopes.
Highlights
The in situ monitoring of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation provides a method to determine the hydrological processes at the global or regional scale [1,2]
The simulated intra-annual trends of Online Isotopes in Precipitation Calculator (OIPC) and Regionalized Cluster-based Water Isotope Prediction (RCWIP) are similar for most stations; R2 > 0.8 can be seen in many stations, weak performances do exist for some stations
Compared with the OIPC and RCWIP datasets, the residuals of the new isoscape we propose in the study were significantly smaller for every month, which can be identified from the box plots
Summary
The in situ monitoring of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation provides a method to determine the hydrological processes at the global or regional scale [1,2]. For many hydrological and ecological researchers using stable isotope techniques, it is critical to know the distribution of long-term averages of stable water isotope ratios (especially in precipitation) on a monthly scale at least [10]. This need is covered by global or regional isoscape products with good resolution and accuracy. Bowen of the University of Utah, and the Regionalized Cluster-based Water Isotope Prediction (RCWIP) [12] developed by the International
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