The Effect of Convective/Advective Precipitation Partitions on the Precipitation Isotopes in the Monsoon Regions of China: A Case Study of Changsha

Abstract

Convective/advective precipitation partitions refer to the divisions of precipitation that are either convective or advective in nature, relative to the total precipitation amount. These distinct partitions can have a significant influence on stable isotope composition of precipitation. This study analyzed and compared the effect of precipitation partitions on δ18O in precipitation (δ18Op) by using daily precipitation stable isotope data from Changsha station and monthly precipitation stable isotope data from the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP), under different time scales, time intervals (i.e., annual, warm season, and cold season), and precipitation intensities. The results showed that the correlation between convective precipitation fraction (CPF) and total precipitation amount was influenced by the intensity of convection in different time intervals. On both the daily and monthly scales, the CPF decreased as the precipitation amount increased in the warm season, while increased with increasing precipitation amount in the cold season. Regardless of the season, daily δ18Op at Changsha station consistently increased with an increase in daily CPF. On a daily scale, the effect of convective activity on δ18Op was stronger than that of the “precipitation amount effect” in the cold season, as compared to the situation in the warm season. As a result, the regression line slope between δ18Op and CPF increased with increasing precipitation intensity in the warm season, meaning that as the CPF increased, the δ18Op increased at a faster rate under higher precipitation intensity. Similarly, the slope increased with increasing precipitation intensity in the cold season. This suggests that precipitation intensity and convection intensity can affect the relationship between δ18Op and CPF. Our findings shed light on how different precipitation partitions affect stable isotope composition of precipitation, thus enhancing our understanding of the variability of precipitation stable isotopes in the monsoon regions of China.