Correlation of seasonal precipitation isotopic profile with the modern climatological data: a case study from the western Newfoundland region of Canada

• Main Authors: Marche, Brittany, Harunur Rashid, Don-Roger Parkinson
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Geological Society of London 2020
• Subjects: Geology; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Corner Brook; Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5122096.v1; https://geolsoc.figshare.com/collections/Correlation_of_seasonal_precipitation_isotopic_profile_with_the_modern_climatological_data_a_case_study_from_the_western_Newfoundland_region_of_Canada/5122096/1

The measurement of stable water isotopes (δ 18 O and δ 2 H) in precipitation is a powerful tool for detecting changes in climate patterns, groundwater movements, and hydrological budget. In this study, daily precipitation was collected and δ 18 O and δ 2 H were analyzed in Corner Brook, western Newfoundland for 2015. The study provides the first background data of any kind related to water isotopes in western Newfoundland. 134 samples were analyzed using the Picarro Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer L2130-i, with a minimal instrumental error. The data suggest seasonal variations in which the δ 18 O varies from -33.4 to -0.03 ‰ (±0.023 ‰) and δ 2 H ranges from -253.4 to 15.1 ‰ (±0.148 ‰). Our data are compared with modern meteorological data and publicly available δ 18 O and δ 2 H data from greater Atlantic Canada, which suggests that the atmospheric circulation patterns, spatial features, and other climate factors are distinct in Corner Brook. Isotopes in meteorological precipitation data referenced and collected in this study reflect the cool, wet climate and air-mass fluctuations unique to the geographical region and thus, this baseline is fundamental to understanding the modern isotope hydrological/climatic studies for this region.