Seasonal Variations of Modern Precipitation Stable Isotopes over the North Tibetan Plateau and Their Influencing Factors

Based on 360 event-based precipitation samples collected at six stations on the North Tibetan Plateau (NTP) in 2019-2020, we analyzed the influence of meteorological parameters, sub-cloud evaporation, moisture sources, and moisture transmission pathways on precipitation and its seasonal variations. The results show that precipitation delta O-18, delta H-2, and d-excess values show obvious seasonal variations, being depleted in winter and enriched in summer. Although temperature is an important variable that affects the change in delta O-18 values of precipitation, the results of the sub-cloud evaporation effect and moisture tracing show that differences in moisture sources caused by seasonal changes in large-scale water moisture transport are an important cause of seasonal changes in delta O-18 and d-excess of precipitation at NTP. Depleted delta O-18 and enriched d-excess in winter represent the source of moisture transported by the westerlies from the Mediterranean area and Central Asia. Enriched delta O-18 and d-excess values in summer precipitation are related to the temperature effect. In addition, the meridional motion of the atmospheric flow has an effect on the precipitation isotope values in the NTP. When the meridional circulation is enhanced, the water vapour from low latitudes is easily transported northwards, enriching the summer precipitation isotope values in the central and eastern parts of the plateau. This provides a new insight into the explanation of stable oxygen isotopes in climate proxies across the westerlies-dominated Tibetan Plateau.