Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Storm trajectories in eastern US D/H isotopic composition of precipitation

Abstract

The isotopic content of precipitation falling at a point provides information of potential importance concerning atmospheric circulation and climate change1–6. The isotopic content of precipitation, however, is controlled by the particular meteorological processes acting at a given time and place and is subject to considerable variation. We have measured the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratios (D/H) of precipitation at Mohonk Lake, New York, from individual storms over a 2-yr period, July 1977–June 1979. These ratios varied systematically with the locus of the paths followed by the storms: the more seawards (and southerly) the paths and the colder the temperatures at Mohonk, the lower were the D/H ratios.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dansgaard, W. Tellus 5, 461–469 (1953).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Epstein, S. Natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. Publ. No. 400, 20–28 (1956).

  3. Dansgaard, W. Tellus 16, 436–468 (1964).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Friedman, I., Redfield, A. C., Schoen, B. & Harris, J. Rev. Geophys. 2, 177–224 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Friedman, I. & Smith, G. I. Science 176, 790–793 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Smith, G. I., Friedman, I., Klieforth, H. & Hardcastle, K. J. appl. Met. 18, 172–188 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gedzelman, S. D. & Lawrence, J. R. J. appl. Met. (submitted).

  8. Gates, W. L. J. atmos. Sci. 1844–1873 (1976).

  9. Epstein, S. & Mayeda, T. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 4, 213–224 (1953).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Friedman, I. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 4, 89–103 (1953).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gambell, A. W. & Friedman, I. J. appl. Met. 4, 535 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lawrence, J., Gedzelman, S., White, J. et al. Storm trajectories in eastern US D/H isotopic composition of precipitation. Nature 296, 638–640 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/296638a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/296638a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing