Identifying the source of atmospheric moisture over arid deserts using stable isotopes (2H and 18O) in precipitation

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dc.contributor.authorRao, WBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorZhang, WBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorYong, Ben_AU
dc.contributor.authorTan, HBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMeredith, KTen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJin, Ken_AU
dc.contributor.authorZheng, FWen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWang, Sen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-02T22:57:47Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-06-02T22:57:47Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2018-01-03en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-06-02en_AU
dc.description.abstractPrecipitation is a major component of the hydrologic cycle in arid desert areas. To date, however, few studies have been conducted on investigating the isotope characteristics and moisture sources of precipitation in arid desert environments. The Alxa Desert Plateau is a critical arid desert area in North China. This study is the first to analyse the stable isotopic composition of precipitation to identify the sources of atmospheric moisture over this plateau. Our results show that the δD and δ18O values of precipitation across the plateau change greatly at both daily and monthly timescales, and exhibit seasonal variations. Among the main meteorological parameters, atmospheric temperature is the most predominant factor controlling the isotopic composition and the δD–δ18O relationship of local precipitation. Analyses of the precipitation isotopes with the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model reveal that (a) the westerly and polar moisture sources are the dominant controls on summer and winter precipitation and (b) the evaporation of local lake water significantly affects winter precipitation even though it only represents a small amount. Based on the isotope data of 2013–2016 precipitation, a local meteoric water line (LMWL) is derived: δD = (8.20 ± 0.22)·δ18O + (8.15 ± 2.16)‰ for the study site. Compared to the global meteoric water line, the LMWL has a greater slope and lower d-excess. This can be explained by admixing of atmospheric moisture resulting from the evaporation of local lake water. Based on this LMWL, we are able to trace that groundwater of the Badain Jaran Desert originates from the surrounding mountains with altitudes of <4,000 m. The newly derived LMWL shows that the recharge altitudes of desert groundwater are overestimated on the basis of the previous LMWLs. This study not only provides insights into the hydrological cycle but also offers guidance for water resource management in arid desert areas of China. Additionally, this study provides techniques that can be applied to the analyses of precipitation isotopes in similar arid regions of the world. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 41273015, 40973001, and 41271041) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2017B19614).en_AU
dc.identifier.citationRao, W., Zhang, W., Yong, B., Tan, H., Meredith, K. T., Jin, K., Zheng, F., & Wang, S. (2018). Identifying the source of atmospheric moisture over arid deserts using stable isotopes (2H and 18O) in precipitation. Hydrological Processes, 32(3), 436-449. doi:10.1002/hyp.11431en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1099-1085en_AU
dc.identifier.issue3en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleHydrological Processesen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination436-449en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11431en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13268en_AU
dc.identifier.volume32en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherJohn Wiley & Sons, Incen_AU
dc.subjectAtmospheric chemistryen_AU
dc.subjectRainen_AU
dc.subjectMeteorologyen_AU
dc.subjectDesertsen_AU
dc.subjectArid landsen_AU
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectDeuteriumen_AU
dc.subjectOxygen 18en_AU
dc.subjectChinaen_AU
dc.titleIdentifying the source of atmospheric moisture over arid deserts using stable isotopes (2H and 18O) in precipitationen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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