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    Original Research Papers

    A 10-yr record of stable isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in precipitation at Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Authors:

    Haidong Peng,

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, CA
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    Bernhard Mayer ,

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4; Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, CA
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    Stuart Harris,

    Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, CA
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    H. Roy Krouse

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, CA
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    Abstract

    Short-term (0.5–3 d) precipitation samples were collected from January 1992 to December 2001 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and the stable isotope ratios of hydrogen (2H/1H) and oxygen (18O/16O) for these samples were determined. The 10-yr amount-weighted average δ2H and δ18O values of precipitation were −136.1‰ and −17.9‰, respectively. Consistent with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) established practice, the following local meteoric water line (LMWL) for Calgary was derived using amount-weighted monthly average δ2H and δ18O values: δ2H = 7.68 δ18O − 0.21 (r2 = 0.96, n = 104). The correlation equation between δ2H and δ18O values from individual samples was found to be δ2H = 7.10 δ18O −13.64 (r2 = 0.95, n = 839), which is different from the LMWL, exhibiting lower slope and intercept values. A comparison of δ2H and δ18O correlation equations with temperature during precipitation events showed a trend of decreasing slopes and intercepts with increasing temperature. Our data suggest that this is caused by incorporation of moisture derived from evaporation from water bodies and soils along the storm paths and by secondary evaporation between the cloud base and the ground during precipitation events. These processes compromise the usefulness of d-excess values as an indicator for the meteorological conditions in the maritime source regions. The δ18O temperature dependence at Calgary was found to be ~ 0.44‰ °C−1. The study shows that short-term sampling of individual precipitation events yields valuable information, which is not obtainable by the widely used monthly collection programs.

    How to Cite: Peng, H., Mayer, B., Harris, S. and Krouse, H.R., 2004. A 10-yr record of stable isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in precipitation at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 56(2), pp.147–159. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v56i2.16410
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      Published on 01 Jan 2004
    Peer Reviewed
     CC BY 4.0
     Accepted on 25 Sep 2003            Submitted on 18 Feb 2003

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