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Relationship between atmospheric circulation and winter precipitation δ 18 O in central New York State
Author(s) -
Burnett Adam W.,
Mullins Henry T.,
Patterson William P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl021089
Subject(s) - precipitation , atmospheric circulation , climatology , low pressure area , environmental science , circulation (fluid dynamics) , atmospheric pressure , atmospheric sciences , geology , meteorology , oceanography , geography , physics , thermodynamics
Oxygen isotope values of meteoric precipitation (δ 18 O) are strongly influenced by water vapor source and trajectory history, and can therefore be used as a tool for the reconstruction of atmospheric circulation. However, this approach requires an understanding of how differing patterns of atmospheric circulation influence precipitation δ 18 O. This study examines the relationship between atmospheric circulation and winter precipitation δ 18 O in central New York State. Circulation back trajectories, weather maps, and δ 18 O values for 132 precipitation samples were examined to determine the circulation type for each event. Lake‐effect precipitation, which generated the lowest δ 18 O values, featured low pressure over New England and northwesterly flow over the Great Lakes. Events with the highest δ 18 O values were associated with low pressure north of New York and strong southerly flow within the warm sector. Less frequent were the Atlantic coastal and warm frontal overrunning events, both of which yielded relatively depleted precipitation.