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Inverse altitude effect disputes the theoretical foundation of stable isotope paleoaltimetry. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4371. [PMID: 35902582 PMCID: PMC9334263 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32172-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stable isotope paleoaltimetry that reconstructs paleoelevation requires stable isotope (δD or δ18O) values to follow the altitude effect. Some studies found that the δD or δ18O values of surface isotopic carriers in some regions increase with increasing altitude, which is defined as an “inverse altitude effect” (IAE). The IAE directly contradicts the basic theory of stable isotope paleoaltimetry. However, the causes of the IAE remain unclear. Here, we explore the mechanisms of the IAE from an atmospheric circulation perspective using δD in water vapor on a global scale. We find that two processes cause the IAE: (1) the supply of moisture with higher isotopic values from distant source regions, and (2) intense lateral mixing between the lower and mid-troposphere along the moisture transport pathway. Therefore, we caution that the influences of those two processes need careful consideration for different mountain uplift stages before using stable isotope palaeoaltimetry. The “inverse altitude effect” (IEA) directly contradicts the basic theory of stable isotope paleoaltimetry. This study explores the causes of the IAE from an atmospheric circulation perspective using δD in water vapor on the global scale.
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Risi C, Muller C, Blossey P. Rain Evaporation, Snow Melt, and Entrainment at the Heart of Water Vapor Isotopic Variations in the Tropical Troposphere, According to Large-Eddy Simulations and a Two-Column Model. JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS 2021; 13:e2020MS002381. [PMID: 33868576 PMCID: PMC8047889 DOI: 10.1029/2020ms002381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We aim at developing a simple model as an interpretative framework for the water vapor isotopic variations in the tropical troposphere over the ocean. We use large-eddy simulations of disorganized convection in radiative-convective equilibrium to justify the underlying assumptions of this simple model, to constrain its input parameters and to evaluate its results. We also aim at interpreting the depletion of the water vapor isotopic composition in the lower and midtroposphere as precipitation increases, which is a salient feature in tropical oceanic observations. This feature constitutes a stringent test on the relevance of our interpretative framework. Previous studies, based on observations or on models with parameterized convection, have highlighted the roles of deep convective and mesoscale downdrafts, rain evaporation, rain-vapor diffusive exchanges, and mixing processes. The interpretative framework that we develop, valid in case of disorganized convection, is a two-column model representing the net ascent in clouds and the net descent in the environment. We show that the mechanisms for depleting the troposphere as the precipitation rate increases all stem from the higher tropospheric relative humidity. First, when the relative humidity is larger, less snow sublimates before melting and a smaller fraction of rain evaporates. Both effects lead to more depleted rain evaporation and eventually more depleted water vapor. This mechanism dominates in regimes of large-scale ascent. Second, the entrainment of dry air into clouds reduces the vertical isotopic gradient and limits the depletion of tropospheric water vapor. This mechanism dominates in regimes of large-scale descent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Risi
- Laboratoire de Meteorologie DynamiqueIPSLCNRSEcole Normale SuperieureSorbonne UniversitePSL Research UniversityParisFrance
| | - Caroline Muller
- Laboratoire de Meteorologie DynamiqueIPSLCNRSEcole Normale SuperieureSorbonne UniversitePSL Research UniversityParisFrance
| | - Peter Blossey
- Department of Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
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Risi C, Muller C, Blossey P. What Controls the Water Vapor Isotopic Composition Near the Surface of Tropical Oceans? Results From an Analytical Model Constrained by Large-Eddy Simulations. JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS 2020; 12:e2020MS002106. [PMID: 32999707 PMCID: PMC7507762 DOI: 10.1029/2020ms002106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this study is to understand the mechanisms controlling the isotopic composition of the water vapor near the surface of tropical oceans, at the scale of about a hundred kilometers and a month. In the tropics, it has long been observed that the isotopic compositions of rain and vapor near the surface are more depleted when the precipitation rate is high. This is called the "amount effect." Previous studies, based on observations or models with parameterized convection, have highlighted the roles of deep convective and mesoscale downdrafts and rain evaporation. But the relative importance of these processes has never been quantified. We hypothesize that it can be quantified using an analytical model constrained by large-eddy simulations. Results from large-eddy simulations confirm that the classical amount effect can be simulated only if precipitation rate changes result from changes in the large-scale circulation. We find that the main process depleting the water vapor compared to the equilibrium with the ocean is the fact that updrafts stem from areas where the water vapor is more enriched. The main process responsible for the amount effect is the fact that when the large-scale ascent increases, isotopic vertical gradients are steeper, so that updrafts and downdrafts deplete the subcloud layer more efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Risi
- Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, IPSL, CNRS, Ecole Normale SuperieureSorbonne Universite, PSL Research UniversityParisFrance
| | - Caroline Muller
- Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, IPSL, CNRS, Ecole Normale SuperieureSorbonne Universite, PSL Research UniversityParisFrance
| | - Peter Blossey
- Department of Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
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Liberti GL, Dionisi D, Cheruy F, Risi C. Feasibility study to measure HDO/H 2O atmospheric profiles through a raman lidar. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/201817605032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Raman lidar technique as currently applied for the retrieval of WV mixing ratio profiles allows, in theory, to estimate HDO/H2O atmospheric profiles. The objective of this study is to develop a lidar simulator and to study the feasibility of the groundbased Raman lidar HDO measurement. Thus, the characteristics of a realistic lidar system for the estimation of HDO/H2O atmospheric profiles are investigated through a set of numerical simulations.
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Galewsky J, Steen-Larsen HC, Field RD, Worden J, Risi C, Schneider M. Stable isotopes in atmospheric water vapor and applications to the hydrologic cycle. REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS (WASHINGTON, D.C. : 1985) 2016; 54:809-865. [PMID: 32661517 PMCID: PMC7357203 DOI: 10.1002/2015rg000512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The measurement and simulation of water vapor isotopic composition has matured rapidly over the last decade, with long-term datasets and comprehensive modeling capabilities now available. Theories for water vapor isotopic composition have been developed by extending the theories that have been used for the isotopic composition of precipitation to include a more nuanced understanding of evaporation, large-scale mixing, deep convection, and kinetic fractionation. The technologies for in-situ and remote sensing measurements of water vapor isotopic composition have developed especially rapidly over the last decade, with discrete water vapor sampling methods, based on mass spectroscopy, giving way to laser spectroscopic methods and satellite- and ground-based infrared absorption techniques. The simulation of water vapor isotopic composition has evolved from General Circulation Model (GCM) methods for simulating precipitation isotopic composition to sophisticated isotope-enabled microphysics schemes using higher-order moments for water- and ice-size distributions. The incorporation of isotopes into GCMs has enabled more detailed diagnostics of the water cycle and has led to improvements in its simulation. The combination of improved measurement and modeling of water vapor isotopic composition opens the door to new advances in our understanding of the atmospheric water cycle, in processes ranging from the marine boundary layer, through deep convection and tropospheric mixing, and into the water cycle of the stratosphere. Finally, studies of the processes governing modern water vapor isotopic composition provide an improved framework for the interpretation of paleoclimate proxy records of the hydrological cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Galewsky
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | | | - Robert D Field
- NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - John Worden
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Camille Risi
- Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Matthias Schneider
- Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-ASF), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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Risi C, Noone D, Worden J, Frankenberg C, Stiller G, Kiefer M, Funke B, Walker K, Bernath P, Schneider M, Wunch D, Sherlock V, Deutscher N, Griffith D, Wennberg PO, Strong K, Smale D, Mahieu E, Barthlott S, Hase F, García O, Notholt J, Warneke T, Toon G, Sayres D, Bony S, Lee J, Brown D, Uemura R, Sturm C. Process-evaluation of tropospheric humidity simulated by general circulation models using water vapor isotopologues: 1. Comparison between models and observations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011jd016621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Risi C, Noone D, Worden J, Frankenberg C, Stiller G, Kiefer M, Funke B, Walker K, Bernath P, Schneider M, Bony S, Lee J, Brown D, Sturm C. Process-evaluation of tropospheric humidity simulated by general circulation models using water vapor isotopic observations: 2. Using isotopic diagnostics to understand the mid and upper tropospheric moist bias in the tropics and subtropics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011jd016623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Noone D, Galewsky J, Sharp ZD, Worden J, Barnes J, Baer D, Bailey A, Brown DP, Christensen L, Crosson E, Dong F, Hurley JV, Johnson LR, Strong M, Toohey D, Van Pelt A, Wright JS. Properties of air mass mixing and humidity in the subtropics from measurements of the D/H isotope ratio of water vapor at the Mauna Loa Observatory. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2011jd015773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Noone
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Joseph Galewsky
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | - Zachary D. Sharp
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | - John Worden
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - John Barnes
- Mauna Loa Observatory; National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration; Hilo Hawaii USA
| | - Doug Baer
- Los Gatos Research, Inc.; Mountain View California USA
| | - Adriana Bailey
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Derek P. Brown
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Lance Christensen
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | | | - Feng Dong
- Los Gatos Research, Inc.; Mountain View California USA
| | - John V. Hurley
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | - Leah R. Johnson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | - Mel Strong
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | - Darin Toohey
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
| | | | - Jonathon S. Wright
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics; University of Cambridge; Cambridge UK
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Yoshimura K, Frankenberg C, Lee J, Kanamitsu M, Worden J, Röckmann T. Comparison of an isotopic atmospheric general circulation model with new quasi-global satellite measurements of water vapor isotopologues. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2011jd016035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Risi C, Bony S, Vimeux F, Frankenberg C, Noone D, Worden J. Understanding the Sahelian water budget through the isotopic composition of water vapor and precipitation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010jd014690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Risi
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
- Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique; Paris France
| | | | - Françoise Vimeux
- Insitut de Recherche pour le Développement; Laboratoire HydroSciences Montpellier (UMR, CNRS, IRD, UM1, UM2) and Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (UMR CEA-CNRS-UVSQ); Gif-sur-Yvette France
| | - Christian Frankenberg
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - David Noone
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder Colorado USA
| | - John Worden
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
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Blossey PN, Kuang Z, Romps DM. Isotopic composition of water in the tropical tropopause layer in cloud-resolving simulations of an idealized tropical circulation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010jd014554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter N. Blossey
- Atmospheric Sciences; University of Washington; Seattle Washington USA
| | - Zhiming Kuang
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - David M. Romps
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge Massachusetts USA
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