Probing subtropical humidity dynamics with stable isotopes of water vapor from Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Abstract
Understanding the processes that control the humidity of the arid regions of the subtropical free troposphere is essential for evaluating the water vapor feedback and its potential variability as the climate changes. Here we present deuterium isotope results for water vapor samples collected from the crest of Mauna Kea, Hawaii (4200 m). Four samples were collected in July 2006 at dewpoints ranging from -7C to -27C. The deuterium isotope content of the water vapor samples correlated with dewpoint and ranged from -238 per mil to -321 per mil. Preliminary modeling results suggest that the water vapor at this locale likely detrained from convection at around 10 km and subsided to the sample collection point. These results are in line with previous modeling studies of summertime subtropical water vapor transport. The techniques used in this study may provide a low-cost way to constrain some important aspects of subtropical water vapor transport.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006AGUFM.A51A0053G
- Keywords:
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- 0322 Constituent sources and sinks;
- 0368 Troposphere: constituent transport and chemistry;
- 0394 Instruments and techniques;
- 1620 Climate dynamics (0429;
- 3309);
- 1655 Water cycles (1836)