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Isotopic composition of the precipitations in the central Mediterranean: origin marks and orographic precipitation effects
Author(s)
Language
English
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/ 111 (2006)
Publisher
Agu
Pages (printed)
D19302
Issued date
2006
Abstract
The isotopic composition of the rainfall in northwestern Sicily (Italy, central
Mediterranean) was investigated in the period February 2002 to March 2003. A rain gauge
network was installed and sampled monthly. The monthly values of the D and 18O ratios
showed a wide range that reflected seasonal climatic variations. Mean weighted
values were used to define an isotopic model of precipitation. Temporal variations in
deuterium excess were also investigated. Using mean volume weighted values, the Local
Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) can be represented by the equation: dD = 4.7d18O 8.2
(r2 = 0.96). Deuterium excess (d = dD 8d18O) was found to be strongly related to
orography. The coastline samples were characterized by mean weighted deuterium excess
values close to 12.5%; samples from inland areas showed values of 16%, while samples
taken from the main reliefs showed values close to 19%. In inland areas, isotopic
exchange between raindrops and moisture could shift the deuterium excess values slightly.
On the higher reliefs, the interaction between falling raindrops and orographic clouds
could shift the deuterium excess values significantly. The low slope of the LMWL could
be referred to the high deuterium excess values of the higher sites and is related to
orographic precipitation rather than to evaporation processes during the fall of the
raindrops. The results obtained suggest that local orographic features may significantly
change the isotopic composition of precipitation.
Mediterranean) was investigated in the period February 2002 to March 2003. A rain gauge
network was installed and sampled monthly. The monthly values of the D and 18O ratios
showed a wide range that reflected seasonal climatic variations. Mean weighted
values were used to define an isotopic model of precipitation. Temporal variations in
deuterium excess were also investigated. Using mean volume weighted values, the Local
Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) can be represented by the equation: dD = 4.7d18O 8.2
(r2 = 0.96). Deuterium excess (d = dD 8d18O) was found to be strongly related to
orography. The coastline samples were characterized by mean weighted deuterium excess
values close to 12.5%; samples from inland areas showed values of 16%, while samples
taken from the main reliefs showed values close to 19%. In inland areas, isotopic
exchange between raindrops and moisture could shift the deuterium excess values slightly.
On the higher reliefs, the interaction between falling raindrops and orographic clouds
could shift the deuterium excess values significantly. The low slope of the LMWL could
be referred to the high deuterium excess values of the higher sites and is related to
orographic precipitation rather than to evaporation processes during the fall of the
raindrops. The results obtained suggest that local orographic features may significantly
change the isotopic composition of precipitation.
References
Aragua´s-Aragua´s, L., K. Froehlich, and K. Rozanski (2000), Deuterium and
oxygen-18 isotope composition of precipitation and atmospheric moisture,
Hydrol. Processes, 14, 1341–1355.
Aravena, R., O. Suzuki, and A. Pollastri (1989), Coastal fog and its relation
to the groundwater in the IV region of northern Chile, Chem. Geol., 79,
83– 91.
Bolle, H.-J. (2003), Mediterranean Climate: Variability and Trends,
Springer, New York.
Bower, K. N., et al. (2001), The ACE-Asia aerosol-cloud interaction
experiment, Abstracts of the European Aerosol Conference, Leipzig,
Germany, September 3rd – 11th 2001, J. Aerosol Sci., 32, suppl. 1,
S971– 972.
Cappa, C. D., M. B. Hendricks, D. J. DePaolo, and R. C. Cohen (2003),
Isotopic fractionation of water during evaporation, J. Geophys. Res.,
108(D16), 4525, doi:10.1029/2003JD003597.
Celle-Jeanton, H., Y. Travi, and B. Blavoux (2001), Isotopic typology of the
precipitation in the western Mediterranean region at three different time
scales, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(7), 1215– 1218.
Craig, H. (1961), Isotopic variations in meteoric waters, Science, 133,
1702–1708.
Craig, H., and L. I. Gordon (1965), Deuterium and oxygen-18 variations in
the ocean and the marine atmosphere, in Proceedings of a Conference on
Stable Isotopes in Oceanographic Studies and Paleotemperatures, Spoleto,
July 26–27, edited by E. Tongiorgi, pp. 9– 130, Lab. of Geol. and
Nucl. Sci., Pisa, Italy.
Cruz-San Julia´n, J., et al. (1992), Sources of precipitation over south-eastern
Spain and groundwater recharge, An isotopic study, Tellus, Ser. B, 44,
226–236.
Dansgaard, W. (1964), Stable isotopes in precipitation, Tellus, 16, 436–
468.
Epstein, S., and T. K. Mayeda (1953), Variations of the O-18 content of
waters from natural sources, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 4, 213–224.
Favara, R., F. Grassa, S. Ingaggiato, and F. D’Amore (1998), Geochemical
and hydrogeological characterization of thermal springs in western Sicily,
Italy, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 84, 125– 141.
Gat, J. R., and I. Carmi (1970), Evolution of the isotopic composition of
atmospheric waters in the Mediterranean Sea area, J. Geophys. Res., 75,
3039– 3048.
Gat, J. R., B. Klein, Y. Kushnir, W. Roether, H. Wernli, R. Yam, and
A. Shemesh (2003), Isotope composition of air moisture over the Mediterranean
Sea: An index of the air-sea interaction pattern, Tellus, Ser. B, 55,
953– 965.
Gonfiantini, R., and A. Longinelli (1962), Oxygen isotopic compositions of
fog and rains from the North Atlantic, Experientia, 18, 222– 223.
Harris, C., B. M. Oom, and R. E. Diamond (1999), A preliminary investigation
of the oxygen and hydrogen isotope hydrology of the greater Cape
Town area and an assessment of the potential for using stable isotopes as
tracers, Water SA, 25, 15– 24.
Hauser, S., G. Dongarra, R. Favara, and A. Longinelli (1980), Composizione
isotopica delle pioggie in Sicilia. Riferimenti di base per studi
idrogeologici e relazione con altre aree mediterranee, Rend. Soc. Ital.
Mineral. Petrol., 36, 671– 680.
Houze, R. A., Jr. (1993), Cloud Dynamics, Int. Geophys. Ser., vol. 53,
pp. 502– 538, Elsevier, New York.
Ingraham, N. L., and R. A. Matthews (1995), The importance of fog drip
water to vegetation: Point Reyes Peninsula, California, J. Hydrol., 164,
269– 285.
International Atomic Energy Agency (2005), Isotopic composition of precipitation
in the Mediterranean Basin in relation to air circulation patterns
and climate, IAEA TECDOC Ser. 1453, Vienna, Austria.
Jouzel, J., and L. Merlivat (1984), Deuterium and oxygen-18 in precipitation:
Modelling of the isotopic effects during snow formation, J. Geophys.
Res., 89, 11,749– 11,757.
Kendall, C., and T. B. Coplen (1985), Multisample conversion of water to
hydrogen by zinc for stable isotope determination, Anal. Chem., 57,
1437– 1440.
Klemp, J. B. (1992), Mountains, effect on airflow and precipitation, in
Encyclopedia of Earth System Science, vol. 3, pp. 251–262, Elsevier,
New York.
Lee, K. S., D. B. Wenner, and I. S. Lee (1999), Using H- and O-isotopic
data for estimating the relative contributions of rainy and dry season
precipitation to groundwater: Example from Cheju Island, Korea,
J. Hydrol., 222, 65– 74.
Liotta, M. (2004), Geochemical processes governing groundwater composition
in north-western Sicily: Isotopic model and water rock interaction,
Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Merlivat, L. (1970), Quantitative aspects of the study of water balance in
lakes using the deuterium and oxygen-18 concentration in the water, in
Isotope Hydrology, pp. 89– 107, Int. At. Energy Agency, Vienna.
Merlivat, L. (1978), Molecular diffusivities of H2
16O, HD16O, and H2
18O in
gases, J. Chem. Phys., 69, 2864–2871.
Poage, M. A., and C. P. Chamberlain (2001), Empirical relationships
between elevation and the stable isotope composition of precipitation
and surface waters: Considerations for studies of paleoelevation change,
Am. J. Sci., 301, 1 – 15.
Rindsberger, M., M. Magaritz, I. Carmi, and D. Gilad (1983), The relation
between air mass trajectories and the water isotope composition of rain in
the Mediterranean Sea area, Geophys. Res. Lett., 10, 43–46.
Rozanski, K., L. Araguas-Araguas, and R. Gonfiantini (1992), Relation
between long-term trends of oxygen-18 isotope composition of precipitation
and climate, Science, 258, 981–985.
Scholl, M. A., S. B. Gingerich, and G. W. Tribble (2002), The influence of
microclimates and fog on stable isotope signatures used in interpretation
of regional hydrology: East Maui, Hawaii, J. Hydrol., 264, 170– 184.
Stewart, M. K. (1975), Stable isotope fractionation due to evaporation and
isotopic exchange of falling waterdrops: Application to atmospheric processes
and evaporation of lakes, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 1133– 1146.
Yurtsever, Y., and J. R. Gat (1981), Atmospheric waters, in Stable Isotope
Hydrology, edited by J. R. Gat, and R. Gonfiantini, pp. 103– 142, Int. At.
Energy Agency, Vienna.
oxygen-18 isotope composition of precipitation and atmospheric moisture,
Hydrol. Processes, 14, 1341–1355.
Aravena, R., O. Suzuki, and A. Pollastri (1989), Coastal fog and its relation
to the groundwater in the IV region of northern Chile, Chem. Geol., 79,
83– 91.
Bolle, H.-J. (2003), Mediterranean Climate: Variability and Trends,
Springer, New York.
Bower, K. N., et al. (2001), The ACE-Asia aerosol-cloud interaction
experiment, Abstracts of the European Aerosol Conference, Leipzig,
Germany, September 3rd – 11th 2001, J. Aerosol Sci., 32, suppl. 1,
S971– 972.
Cappa, C. D., M. B. Hendricks, D. J. DePaolo, and R. C. Cohen (2003),
Isotopic fractionation of water during evaporation, J. Geophys. Res.,
108(D16), 4525, doi:10.1029/2003JD003597.
Celle-Jeanton, H., Y. Travi, and B. Blavoux (2001), Isotopic typology of the
precipitation in the western Mediterranean region at three different time
scales, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(7), 1215– 1218.
Craig, H. (1961), Isotopic variations in meteoric waters, Science, 133,
1702–1708.
Craig, H., and L. I. Gordon (1965), Deuterium and oxygen-18 variations in
the ocean and the marine atmosphere, in Proceedings of a Conference on
Stable Isotopes in Oceanographic Studies and Paleotemperatures, Spoleto,
July 26–27, edited by E. Tongiorgi, pp. 9– 130, Lab. of Geol. and
Nucl. Sci., Pisa, Italy.
Cruz-San Julia´n, J., et al. (1992), Sources of precipitation over south-eastern
Spain and groundwater recharge, An isotopic study, Tellus, Ser. B, 44,
226–236.
Dansgaard, W. (1964), Stable isotopes in precipitation, Tellus, 16, 436–
468.
Epstein, S., and T. K. Mayeda (1953), Variations of the O-18 content of
waters from natural sources, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 4, 213–224.
Favara, R., F. Grassa, S. Ingaggiato, and F. D’Amore (1998), Geochemical
and hydrogeological characterization of thermal springs in western Sicily,
Italy, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 84, 125– 141.
Gat, J. R., and I. Carmi (1970), Evolution of the isotopic composition of
atmospheric waters in the Mediterranean Sea area, J. Geophys. Res., 75,
3039– 3048.
Gat, J. R., B. Klein, Y. Kushnir, W. Roether, H. Wernli, R. Yam, and
A. Shemesh (2003), Isotope composition of air moisture over the Mediterranean
Sea: An index of the air-sea interaction pattern, Tellus, Ser. B, 55,
953– 965.
Gonfiantini, R., and A. Longinelli (1962), Oxygen isotopic compositions of
fog and rains from the North Atlantic, Experientia, 18, 222– 223.
Harris, C., B. M. Oom, and R. E. Diamond (1999), A preliminary investigation
of the oxygen and hydrogen isotope hydrology of the greater Cape
Town area and an assessment of the potential for using stable isotopes as
tracers, Water SA, 25, 15– 24.
Hauser, S., G. Dongarra, R. Favara, and A. Longinelli (1980), Composizione
isotopica delle pioggie in Sicilia. Riferimenti di base per studi
idrogeologici e relazione con altre aree mediterranee, Rend. Soc. Ital.
Mineral. Petrol., 36, 671– 680.
Houze, R. A., Jr. (1993), Cloud Dynamics, Int. Geophys. Ser., vol. 53,
pp. 502– 538, Elsevier, New York.
Ingraham, N. L., and R. A. Matthews (1995), The importance of fog drip
water to vegetation: Point Reyes Peninsula, California, J. Hydrol., 164,
269– 285.
International Atomic Energy Agency (2005), Isotopic composition of precipitation
in the Mediterranean Basin in relation to air circulation patterns
and climate, IAEA TECDOC Ser. 1453, Vienna, Austria.
Jouzel, J., and L. Merlivat (1984), Deuterium and oxygen-18 in precipitation:
Modelling of the isotopic effects during snow formation, J. Geophys.
Res., 89, 11,749– 11,757.
Kendall, C., and T. B. Coplen (1985), Multisample conversion of water to
hydrogen by zinc for stable isotope determination, Anal. Chem., 57,
1437– 1440.
Klemp, J. B. (1992), Mountains, effect on airflow and precipitation, in
Encyclopedia of Earth System Science, vol. 3, pp. 251–262, Elsevier,
New York.
Lee, K. S., D. B. Wenner, and I. S. Lee (1999), Using H- and O-isotopic
data for estimating the relative contributions of rainy and dry season
precipitation to groundwater: Example from Cheju Island, Korea,
J. Hydrol., 222, 65– 74.
Liotta, M. (2004), Geochemical processes governing groundwater composition
in north-western Sicily: Isotopic model and water rock interaction,
Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Merlivat, L. (1970), Quantitative aspects of the study of water balance in
lakes using the deuterium and oxygen-18 concentration in the water, in
Isotope Hydrology, pp. 89– 107, Int. At. Energy Agency, Vienna.
Merlivat, L. (1978), Molecular diffusivities of H2
16O, HD16O, and H2
18O in
gases, J. Chem. Phys., 69, 2864–2871.
Poage, M. A., and C. P. Chamberlain (2001), Empirical relationships
between elevation and the stable isotope composition of precipitation
and surface waters: Considerations for studies of paleoelevation change,
Am. J. Sci., 301, 1 – 15.
Rindsberger, M., M. Magaritz, I. Carmi, and D. Gilad (1983), The relation
between air mass trajectories and the water isotope composition of rain in
the Mediterranean Sea area, Geophys. Res. Lett., 10, 43–46.
Rozanski, K., L. Araguas-Araguas, and R. Gonfiantini (1992), Relation
between long-term trends of oxygen-18 isotope composition of precipitation
and climate, Science, 258, 981–985.
Scholl, M. A., S. B. Gingerich, and G. W. Tribble (2002), The influence of
microclimates and fog on stable isotope signatures used in interpretation
of regional hydrology: East Maui, Hawaii, J. Hydrol., 264, 170– 184.
Stewart, M. K. (1975), Stable isotope fractionation due to evaporation and
isotopic exchange of falling waterdrops: Application to atmospheric processes
and evaporation of lakes, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 1133– 1146.
Yurtsever, Y., and J. R. Gat (1981), Atmospheric waters, in Stable Isotope
Hydrology, edited by J. R. Gat, and R. Gonfiantini, pp. 103– 142, Int. At.
Energy Agency, Vienna.
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