Abstract
Stable isotopic composition of water vapor in the tropics
Department of Geosciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center (CREST), City College of New York, New York, New York, USA
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
URS Corporation, Dallas, Texas, USA
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Water vapor samples collected during tropical field experiments at Puerto Escondido, Mexico, near Kwajalein (KWAJEX), and near Key West, Florida (CAMEX 4), were analyzed for their stable isotope contents, 1H2 18O:1H2 16O and 2H1H16O:1H2 16O. Highest δ18O values approached isotopic equilibrium with seawater during quiescent weather or in regions of isolated or disorganized convection. Lowest δ18O values occurred in or downwind from regions of organized mesoscale weather disturbances and ranged as low as 15‰ below isotopic equilibrium with seawater. The mean δ18O value of vapor over the sea surface therefore decreases as storm activity and organization increases.
Received 4 August 2003; accepted 9 December 2003; published 27 March 2004.
Citation: (2004), Stable isotopic composition of water vapor in the tropics, J. Geophys. Res., 109, D06115, doi:10.1029/2003JD004046.
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