A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand

Region: New Zealand Focus: Application of a seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand, to incorporate influences of regional scale atmospheric circulation, and local topography. New hydrological insights: Our regionally calibrated sinusoidal model demonstrated substantial variation in the stre...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: B.D. Dudley, A.F. Hill, A. McKenzie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-04-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824000594
_version_ 1827309809834131456
author B.D. Dudley
A.F. Hill
A. McKenzie
author_facet B.D. Dudley
A.F. Hill
A. McKenzie
author_sort B.D. Dudley
collection DOAJ
description Region: New Zealand Focus: Application of a seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand, to incorporate influences of regional scale atmospheric circulation, and local topography. New hydrological insights: Our regionally calibrated sinusoidal model demonstrated substantial variation in the strength (amplitude and fit) of seasonal cycles of precipitation isotope values across New Zealand. Amplitudes of sine models fitted to monthly precipitation δ18O records from 51 sites ranged from 0.38 to 3.14‰ and were lowest in coastal and windward areas. Offsets (central tendencies) of seasonal cycles predictably decreased at higher elevations and latitudes, but the best interpolation models appear to capture some of the orographic effects present across New Zealand’s South Island. Phase (lag) of seasonal cycles was generally lower in the south and east of the country. We suggest that seasonal cycles of precipitation stable isotope values in some areas of New Zealand (but not others) are conducive to calculation of catchment transit times and may require consideration for interpreting sources of recharge to groundwater and river water. Uncorrected δ18O isoscapes produced by interpolation of sine parameters offered better fits to monthly precipitation δ18O values than previous model predictions available for New Zealand, and subsequent residual correction further improved isoscape performance. These results have wider implications for the application of stable isotopes as environmental tracers in regions with mixed marine- and continental-type climates.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T21:53:00Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1efcc79c895d409d8304f7a2551b52b0
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2214-5818
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T19:48:11Z
publishDate 2024-04-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
spelling doaj.art-1efcc79c895d409d8304f7a2551b52b02024-03-25T04:17:41ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182024-04-0152101711A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New ZealandB.D. Dudley0A.F. Hill1A. McKenzie2National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, 10 Kyle Street, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Corresponding author.National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, 217 Akersten Street, Port Nelson, Nelson 7010, New ZealandNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, 301 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai, Wellington 6021, New ZealandRegion: New Zealand Focus: Application of a seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand, to incorporate influences of regional scale atmospheric circulation, and local topography. New hydrological insights: Our regionally calibrated sinusoidal model demonstrated substantial variation in the strength (amplitude and fit) of seasonal cycles of precipitation isotope values across New Zealand. Amplitudes of sine models fitted to monthly precipitation δ18O records from 51 sites ranged from 0.38 to 3.14‰ and were lowest in coastal and windward areas. Offsets (central tendencies) of seasonal cycles predictably decreased at higher elevations and latitudes, but the best interpolation models appear to capture some of the orographic effects present across New Zealand’s South Island. Phase (lag) of seasonal cycles was generally lower in the south and east of the country. We suggest that seasonal cycles of precipitation stable isotope values in some areas of New Zealand (but not others) are conducive to calculation of catchment transit times and may require consideration for interpreting sources of recharge to groundwater and river water. Uncorrected δ18O isoscapes produced by interpolation of sine parameters offered better fits to monthly precipitation δ18O values than previous model predictions available for New Zealand, and subsequent residual correction further improved isoscape performance. These results have wider implications for the application of stable isotopes as environmental tracers in regions with mixed marine- and continental-type climates.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824000594DeuteriumIsoscapesIsotope hydrologyPrecipitationOxygen-18Seasonality
spellingShingle B.D. Dudley
A.F. Hill
A. McKenzie
A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Deuterium
Isoscapes
Isotope hydrology
Precipitation
Oxygen-18
Seasonality
title A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand
title_full A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand
title_fullStr A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand
title_full_unstemmed A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand
title_short A seasonal precipitation isoscape for New Zealand
title_sort seasonal precipitation isoscape for new zealand
topic Deuterium
Isoscapes
Isotope hydrology
Precipitation
Oxygen-18
Seasonality
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824000594
work_keys_str_mv AT bddudley aseasonalprecipitationisoscapefornewzealand
AT afhill aseasonalprecipitationisoscapefornewzealand
AT amckenzie aseasonalprecipitationisoscapefornewzealand
AT bddudley seasonalprecipitationisoscapefornewzealand
AT afhill seasonalprecipitationisoscapefornewzealand
AT amckenzie seasonalprecipitationisoscapefornewzealand