Open AccessWater vapor and precipitation isotope ratios in Beijing, China
Author(s) -
Wen XueFa,
Zhang ShiChun,
Sun XiaoMin,
Yu GuiRui,
Lee Xuhui
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2009jd012408
Subject(s) - water vapor , relative humidity , mixing ratio , beijing , atmospheric sciences , monsoon , precipitation , climatology , environmental science , chemistry , china , meteorology , geography , geology , organic chemistry , archaeology
The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of δ D, δ 18 O, and deuterium excess ( d ) of precipitation and water vapor in surface air in Beijing, China. The δ D, δ 18 O, and d of atmospheric water vapor in surface air were measured continuously with an in situ technique. Much less day‐to‐day and diurnal variations in the vapor isotopic contents were observed in the summer monsoon season (June–August) than in the rest of the year. Outside the monsoon season, the vapor δ D and δ 18 O showed a log linear dependence on the vapor mixing ratio, and d showed a negative correlation with the local relative humidity (RH). Both relationships were statistically significant. The vapor mixing ratio and RH were poor predictors of the vapor isotopic temporal variability during the peak summer monsoon activities. In addition, an analysis was presented of the interaction of the isotopic exchange between the vapor and the condensed phase. The δ D and δ 18 O departure from the equilibrium state was positively correlated with RH, and the d departure from the equilibrium state was negatively correlated with RH.