Isotopic fingerprinting of dual monsoon moisture sources, evapotranspiration process and microclimate manifestation over the tropical rainforest region, western part of the Western Ghats, India

The changes in precipitation pattern provide an understanding on the hydroclimatic response to global warming during the Anthropocene. The present study investigates sources of precipitation moisture for the Indian Monsoon and the local environmental mechanisms controlling its distribution over the southwest coast of India. This is achieved by the characterization of stable isotope ratios of oxygen (delta O-18) and hydrogen (delta H-2) in rainwater samples collected from a high humid tropical setting (Swarna-Madisal river basin) of the Western Ghats, South India and another station further south (Bakrabail, southern edge of Nethravati river basin). This study contributes to the detailed investigation on rainwater isotopic composition and microclimate characteristics which is lacking in the humid west coast region. The rainwater isotopic composition of coast was close to that of the Arabian Sea water and reflected the first condensate of vapours which were originally formed under fast evaporation at the nearby ocean. In inland location, the higher d-excess values reflect continental moisture recycling. Evapotranspiration has led to higher kinetic fractionation effect in the inland region. The isotopic storm effect during winter monsoon season suggested the rain distribution from saturated air masses formed under deep convective effect in the Bay of Bengal. The overall local meteoric water line (LMWL) in the SwarnaMadisal basin was found to be delta H-2 = {(7.2 x delta O-18) + 7.5}, R-2 = 0.98. Further south, the LMWL of Bakrabail was, delta H-2 = {(8.19 x delta O-18) + 16.1}, R-2 = 0.98 for annual observation and displayed minimal variability for interseasonal slopes (7.73 for summer monsoon, 8.48 for winter monsoon and 8.36 for pre-monsoon) and intercepts (15.6 for summer monsoon, 17.8 for winter monsoon and 15.5 for pre-monsoon). In regions of vegetation dominance and humid climate, the prevailing local air mass masked the rain-out effect of marine air mass as well as the amount effect which support microclimatic settings at the local precipitation sites in southwest India. The time and space variability of regional moisture circulation in controlling atmospheric water balance has been deduced in this study. Thus, the high efficacy of stable isotopes in tracing the manifestation of microclimate in the humid tropics has been demonstrated.

Automated summary

This study investigates the environmental mechanisms controlling precipitation distribution in the Indian Monsoon and the southwest coast of India using stable isotope ratios. The results show that the isotopic composition of rainwater is influenced by factors such as evaporation and moisture recycling. The study also reveals the importance of regional moisture circulation in regulating atmospheric water balance.