ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Characteristics and Moisture Sources of the Stable
Isotopes in Precipitation at the Monsoon Marginal
Region of North-Central China
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College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
Submission date: 2021-08-20
Final revision date: 2021-10-22
Acceptance date: 2021-10-23
Online publication date: 2022-02-04
Publication date: 2022-03-22
Corresponding author
Junliang Xu
Henan University of Science and Technology, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(2):1963-1974
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ABSTRACT
The stable isotopes in precipitation (δD and δ18O) are important source signatures for understanding
the hydrological cycle and paleoclimatic reconstruction, but little is known about these characteristics
in monsoon marginal region of China. Here, 160 precipitation samples were collected in 2014 (April-
October) at alpine ecosystem, a representative site in the monsoon to non-monsoon transitional area
of north-central China. The Local Meteoric Water Line was δD = (7.95 ± 0.16) δ18O + (15.79±1.77)
(R2 = 0.988), which had a similar slope but higher intercept than that of the Global Meteoric Water
Line, indicating the precipitation in this area is mainly sourced from the ocean surface transported
via monsoons. Additionally, the secondary evaporated water by continental recycled moisture was
identified by the significantly higher d-excess value (16.09‰). Backward trajectories by HYSPLIT
model indicated seasonal moisture transport changes, which mainly from the Westerly winds in April,
the Pacific Ocean in July, and the Indian Ocean in September. Positive temperature-isotopic signature
effect was observed in the snow season (before mid-May); however, precipitation amount effect was
observed in the monsoon season (June-August), and neither effect was significant in the whole year.
These findings suggest the precipitation stable isotopes can be potentially utilized to reconstruct the
precipitation signals in this region.