The large-scale, long-term coupling of temperature, hydrology, and water isotopes

Abstract The stable isotope ratios of oxygen and hydrogen in polar ice cores are known to record environmental change, they have been widely used as a paleothermometer. Although it is be simplification, the relationship often explained by invoking single condensation pathway with progressive distillation temperature at location core. In reality, physical factors complicated, recent studies identified robust aspects hydrologic cycle’s response climate change that could influence isotope-temperature relationship. this study, we introduce new zonal-mean model derived from radiative transfer theory, incorporate into recently developed moist energy balance (MEBM), thus providing an internally consistent representation tight coupling between temperature, hydrology, climate. reproduces observed pattern meteoric δ 18 O modern climate, allows us evaluate relative importance different processes for temporal correlation high latitudes. We find positive predominantly result suppressed high-latitude evaporation cooling, rather than local changes. same mechanism also explains difference strength Greenland Antarctica.