Seasonality of isotopes in precipitation: A global perspective

Abstract

We use data from Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) database to explore how the atmosphere's meridional circulation cells control the latitudinal and seasonal distribution of δ18O and d‐excess in precipitation. We demonstrate that the atmospheric general circulation (AGC) cells determine variations of zonally averaged isotopic composition of meteoric water; the local isotopic minimum near the equator coincides with the intertropical convergence (ITC), and two maxima on either side of the ITC coincide with the subtropical highs (STHs). Both the ITC and STHs migrate cum sole, as part of the systematic annual migration of the meridional cells. This migratory circulation pattern controls the phase of the annual oscillation of the precipitation δ18O. At latitudes equatorward of the STHs, δ18O reaches its maximum in the winter of the respective hemisphere and at higher latitudes in the summer. From the monthly latitudinal distribution of the vertical velocity at the 500‐hPa level, we obtain the seasonal variations of the latitudinal positions of the subtropical moisture source regions and their climates. The sea surface temperature and relative humidity at the moisture source regions are used to predict seasonal changes of the d‐excess of water vapor evaporated from the source regions. The GNIP data is consistent with the predicted phase of the d‐excess. However, the observed magnitude of the seasonal oscillation is greater than the predicted values. This work provides a baseline for understanding the influence of subtropical moisture source regions and other climatological factors on the d‐excess.