Analysis of daily precipitation samples for stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O) collected at the Shiquanhe and Gêrzê (Gaize, Gertse) stations in the Ngari (Ali) region on the western Tibetan Plateau indicates that air temperature affects the δ18O variations in precipitation at these stations. In summer, Shiquanhe and Gêrzê show strongly similar trends in precipitation δ18O, especially in simultaneous precipitation events. Moreover, both stations experienced low δ18O values in precipitation during the active monsoon period, resulting from the southwest monsoon (the summer phase of the Indian monsoon). However, during the break monsoon period (during the summer rainy season, when the monsoon circulation is disrupted), δ18O values in summer precipitation remain relatively high and local moisture recycling generally controls the moisture sources. Air temperature correlations with δ18O strengthen during the non-monsoon period (January―June, and October―December) due to continental air masses and the westerlies. In addition, evaporation also influences the δ18O variations in precipitation. The observed temporal and spatial variations of δ18O in precipitation on the western Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions show that the late May and early June-the late August and early September time frame provides an important period for the transportation of moisture from various sources on the Tibetan Plateau, and that the region of the West Kunlun-Tanggula Ranges acts as a significant climatic divide on the Plateau, perhaps for all of western China.
Seasonal δ 18O variation in water on the southeast Tibetan Plateau has been studied, showing the consistent variation pattern of δ 18O with altitude indicative of relevant atmospheric circulation processes. Study shows a similar variation pattern of fixed-site river water δ 18O with that of the precipitation δ 18O in southeast Tibet. δ 18O in regional rivers in southeast Tibet demonstrates a gradual depletion with increasing altitude, though the rates vary seasonally. The most depleted river 18O occurs during the monsoon period, with the lowest δ 18O/altitude lapse rate. The river 18O during the westerly period is also depleted, together with low δ 18O/altitude lapse rate. The pre-monsoon rivers witness the most enriched 18O with least significant correlation coefficient with the linear regression, whilst the postmonsoon rivers witness the largest δ 18O/altitude lapse rate. Different coherence of seasonal δ 18O variation with the altitude effect is attributed to different moisture supplies. Though sampling numbers vary with seasons, the δ 18O-H linear correlation coefficients all reach the 0.05 confidence level, thus witnessing the variation features of δ 18O in seasonal river water due to the influence of atmospheric general circulation and land surface processes revealed from the altitudinal lapse rates.
YANG XiaoXinXU BaiQingYANG WeiQU DongMeiLIN Ping-Nan
