Controls over spatial and seasonal variations on isotopic composition of the precipitation along the central and eastern portion of Brazil

Author(s)

Gastmans, Didier ; Santos, Vinicius ; Galhardi, Juliana Aparecida ; Gromboni, Joao Felipe ; Batista, Ludmila Vianna ; Miotlinski, Konrad ; Chang, Hung Kiang ; Govone, Jose Silvio

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES; v. 53, n. 5, p. 518-538, 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Based on Global Network Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) isotopic data set, a review of the spatial and temporal variability of delta O-18 and delta H-2 in precipitation was conducted throughout central and eastern Brazil, indicating that dynamic interactions between Intertropical and South Atlantic Convergence Zones, Amazon rainforest, and Atlantic Ocean determine the variations on the isotopic composition of precipitation over this area. Despite the seasonality and latitude effects observed, a fair correlation with precipitation amount was found. In addition, Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) air mass back trajectories were used to quantify the factors controlling daily variability in stable isotopes in precipitation. Through a linear multiple regression analysis, it was observed that temporal variations were consistent with the meteorological parameters derived from HYSPLIT, particularly precipitation amount along the trajectory and mix depth, but are not dependent on vapour residence time in the atmosphere. These findings also indicate the importance of convective systems to control the isotopic composition of precipitation in tropical and subtropical regions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/06704-0 - Monitoring of the isotopic and physical-chemical composition of rain water in Rio Claro (SP)
• Grantee: Vinícius dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation