Spatiotemporal distributions of δD in atmospheric water vapor based on TES Data during 2004-2009

The spatial and temporal distributions of the stable isotopes such as (HDO)-O-16 (or (HHO)-H-1-H-2-O-16, or HDO) and H-2 O-18 in atmospheric water vapor are related to evaporation in source places, vapor condensation during transport, and vapor convergence and divergence, and thus provide useful information for investigation and understanding of the global water cycle. This paper analyzes spatiotemporal variations of the content of isotope HDO (i.e., delta (D)), in atmospheric water vapor, namely, delta (D) (v), and the relationship of delta (D) (v) with atmospheric humidity and temperature at different levels in the troposphere, using the HDO and H2O data retrieved from the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) at seven pressure levels from 825 to 100 hPa. The results indicate that delta (D) (v) has a clear zonal distribution in the troposphere and a good correspondence with atmospheric precipitable water. The results also show that delta (D) (v) decreases logarithmically with atmospheric pressure and presents a decreasing trend from the equator to high latitudes and from lands to oceans. Seasonal changes of delta (D) (v) exhibit regional differences. The spatial distribution and seasonal variation of delta (D) (v) in the low troposphere are consistent with those in the middle troposphere, but opposite situations occur from the upper troposphere to the lower stratosphere. The correlation between delta (D) (v) and temperature has a similar distribution pattern to the correlation between delta (D) (v) and precipitable water in the troposphere. The stable isotope HDO in water vapor (delta (D) (v)), compared with that in precipitation (delta (D) (p)), is of some differences in spatial distribution and seasonal variation, and in its relationship with temperature and humidity, indicating that the impacts of stable isotopic fractionation and atmospheric circulation on the two types of stable isotopes are different.