The Relation between δ¹⁸O of Precipitation and Air Temperature in Northern China

Abstract:

The relation between isotopic compositions of precipitation and surface air temperature provides an unique tool for paleoclimate studies. Ananysis was conducted of monthly and annual mean d¹⁸O content of precipitation and surface air temperature for spatial and a fixed location by using the the data of China (1985~2002) in Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) Database.This study shows that there is a positive correlation between d¹⁸O of precipitation and surface air temperature for those stations whose latitude is higher than 34°~36°N. The seasonal d¹⁸O-temperature gradient derived from the monthly data of 12 stations in northern China is about 0.34‰°C^-1. The d¹⁸O-temperature gradient, however, derived from the longterm annual mean data of 13 stations,, is about 0.52‰°C ^-1 which is substantially larger than the seasonal gradient. This longterm annual d¹⁸O-temperature gradient could be used as the isotope thermometer for palaeoclimate reconstruction in mid- and high-latitude regions in China.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 233-235)
• Pages: 462-465
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.233-235.462
• Online since: May 2011
• Authors: Lin Zhang, Zong Yu Chen
• Keywords: Oxygen isotope thermometer, Precipitation, Stable Isotope

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