Simulations of the HDO and H sub 2 sup 18 O atmospheric cycles using the NASA GISS general circulation model: Sensitivity experiments for present-day conditions

Journal Article · Sat Apr 20 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90JD02663· OSTI ID:5560389

Jouzel, J ^[1]; Koster, R D ^[2]; Suozzo, R J; Broecker, W S ^[3]; Russell, G L ^[4]; White, J W.C. ^[5]

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1. CEN Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette (France) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, St. Martin d'Heres (France)
2. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)
3. Columbia Univ., New York, N.Y. (USA)
4. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, New York, NY (USA)
5. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (USA)

Incorporating the full geochemical cycles of stable water isotopes (HDO and H{sub 2}{sup 18}O) into an atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) allows an improved understanding of global {delta}D and {delta}{sup 18}O distributions and might even allow an analysis of the GCM's hydrological cycle. A detailed sensitivity analysis using the NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) Model 2 GCM is presented that examines the nature of isotope modeling. The tests indicate that {delta}D and {delta}{sup 18}O values in nonpolar regions are not strongly sensitive to details in the model precipitation parameterizations. This result, while implying that isotope modeling has limited potential use in the calibration of GCM convection schemes, also suggests that certain necessarily arbitrary aspects of these schemes are adequate for many isotope studies. Deuterium excess, a second-order variable, does show some sensitivity to precipitation parameterization and thus may be more useful for GCM calibration. Due to strong sensitivity over polar regions, GCM isotope modelers must choose carefully the numerical scheme for isotope transport and the formulation of kinetic fractionation processes at snow formation. The GCM results support the assumption that isotope fractionation does not occur during evaporation over continental areas.

• OSTI ID: 5560389
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:D4; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONTINENTAL CRUST
CONVECTION
DEUTERIUM
DISTRIBUTION
DRILL CORES
EARTH CRUST
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
EVAPORATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
FRACTIONATION
GASES
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAVY WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ICE
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN 18
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POLAR REGIONS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SNOW
STABLE ISOTOPES
VAPORS
WATER
WATER VAPOR