The isotopes of precipitation have climate change signal in arid Central Asia

Global climate change varies greatly in different regions, so it is necessary to comprehensively analyze climate change in different regions through different indicators and methods. To verify the reliability of stable isotopes as indicators of climate change, we analyzed the changes of isotopes in precipitation in Arid Central Asia (ACA). The results show that the strong correlation between precipitation isotopes and temperature (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) was used to assess the climate change of ACA from 1970 to 2021. The increasing trend of δ2H and δ18O anomalies indicates that the temperature is increasing, while the decreasing trend of δ2H and δ18O anomalies suggests that the temperature is decreasing. Therefore, ACA temperature showed an increasing trend during 1970–1998 and 2015–2021 and a decreasing trend during 1999–2014. The enrichment of stable precipitation isotopes during the study period reflects the weakening of ACA westerly winds and the strengthening of the plateau monsoon and East Asian monsoon. Our study shows that stable isotopes of precipitation, especially δ18O, are valid indicators of climate change.