Moisture sources and dynamics over the Southeast Tibetan Plateau reflected in dual water vapor isotopes

Cai, Zhongyin; Li, Rong; Wang, Cheng; Mao, Qiukai; Tian, Lide

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11633-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 19

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11633-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11633-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 25, issue 19

Research article

|

30 Sep 2025

Research article |

| 30 Sep 2025

Moisture sources and dynamics over the Southeast Tibetan Plateau reflected in dual water vapor isotopes

Zhongyin Cai, Rong Li, Cheng Wang, Qiukai Mao, and Lide Tian

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11633-2025-supplement

Data sets

Near surface atmospheric water vapor isotope data at the Southeast Tibetan Plateau from 2015-2018 Zhongyin Cai https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.27302871

ERA5 hourly data on single levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.adbb2d47

ERA5 monthly averaged data on single levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.f17050d7

GPM IMERG Final Precipitation L3 Half Hourly 0.1 degree x 0.1 degree V07 G. J. Huffman et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/GPM/IMERG/3B-HH/07

Meteorological observation data from the integrated observation and research station of the alpine environment in Southeast Tibet (2007-2017) L. Luo https://doi.org/10.11888/AtmosphericPhysics.tpe.68.db

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Short summary

Local and upstream specific humidity is the main factor determining non-monsoon season d-excess variability over southeast Tibetan Plateau (TP) due to the intrusion of cold and dry air from upper levels. During the summer monsoon season, d-excess and δ¹⁸O mainly reflect the effect of raindrop evaporation which leads to lower vapor δ¹⁸O but higher d-excess values. These findings provide new insights into using water isotopes to track moisture sources and dynamics over the TP.