Sources of water vapor and their effects on water isotopes in precipitation in the Indian monsoon region: a model-based assessment

Abstract

Abstract Climate records of ratios of stable water isotopes of oxygen (δ18O) are used to reconstruct the past Indian monsoon precipitation. Identifying the sources of water vapor is important in understanding the role of monsoonal circulation in the δ18O values, to aid in monsoon reconstructions. Here, using an isotope-enabled Earth system model, we estimate the contributions of oceanic and terrestrial water vapor sources to two major precipitation seasons in India—the Southwest monsoon and the Northeast monsoon, and their effects on the δ18O in precipitation (δ18Op). We find that the two monsoon seasons have different dominant sources of water vapor because of the reversal in atmospheric circulation. While Indian Ocean regions, Arabian Sea, and recycling are the major sources of the Southwest monsoon precipitation, North Pacific Ocean and recycling are two crucial sources of Northeast monsoon precipitation. The δ18Op of the Southwest monsoon precipitation is determined by contributions from the Indian Ocean sources and recycling. Despite reduced precipitation, more negative δ18Op values are simulated in the Northeast monsoon season due to larger negative δ18Op contributions from the North Pacific. Our results imply that changes in atmospheric circulation and water vapor sources in past climates can influence climate reconstructions using δ18O.