Non-Equilibrium Fractionation Factors for D/H and 18O/16O During Oceanic Evaporation in the North-West Atlantic Region

Ocean isotopic evaporation models, such as the Craig-Gordon model, rely on the description of nonequilibrium fractionation factors that are, in general, poorly constrained. To date, only a few gradient-diffusion type measurements have been performed in ocean settings to test the validity of the commonly used parametrization of nonequilibrium isotopic fractionation during ocean evaporation. In this work, we present 6 months of water vapor isotopic observations collected from a meteorological tower located in the northwest Atlantic Ocean (Bermuda) with the objective of estimating nonequilibrium fractionation factors (k, parts per thousand) for ocean evaporation and their wind speed dependency. The Keeling Plot method and Craig-Gordon model combination were sensitive enough to resolve nonequilibrium fractionation factors during evaporation resulting into mean values of k(18) = 5.2 +/- 0.6 parts per thousand and k(2) = 4.3 +/- 3.4 parts per thousand. Furthermore, we evaluate the relationship between k and 10-m wind speed over the ocean. Such a relationship is expected from current evaporation theory and from laboratory experiments made in the 1970s, but observational evidence is lacking. We show that (a) in the observed wind speed range [0-10 m s(-1)], the sensitivity of k to wind speed is small, in the order of -0.2 parts per thousand m(-1) s for k(18), and (b) there is no empirical evidence for the presence of a discontinuity between smooth and rough wind speed regime during isotopic fractionation, as proposed in earlier studies. The water vapor d-excess variability predicted under the closure assumption using the k values estimated in this study is in agreement with observations over the Atlantic Ocean.

Automated summary

In this study, water vapor isotopic observations were collected from the northwest Atlantic Ocean to estimate the nonequilibrium fractionation factors for ocean evaporation and their dependence on wind speed. The results show that the sensitivity of these fractionation factors to wind speed is small, and there is no empirical evidence for a discontinuity between smooth and rough wind speed regimes during isotopic fractionation. The findings are in agreement with observations over the Atlantic Ocean.