Stable isotopes in precipitation and meteoric water: Sourcing and
tracing the North American monsoon in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah
Abstract
The North American monsoon (NAM) is an important source of precipitation
across the southwestern United States (US). The approximate northern
boundary of this feature crosses the Navajo Nation, in the Four Corners
region, where NAM rains have long been important to the livelihoods of
Native Americans. Relatively little is known about the characteristics
and hydrological significance of the NAM in this region. Here we report
a new 4-year record of stable H and O isotope ratios in monsoon-season
rainfall and water resources across the Navajo Nation. Monthly
precipitation samples collected at 39 sites document a characteristic
pattern of 2H- and 18O-enrichment
associated with monsoonal precipitation. These changes are weakly
correlated with local precipitation intensity, however, and the
correlation that does exist is dominated by sub-cloud evaporation
effects. In contrast to precipitation amount, monsoon-season isotopic
values exhibited limited spatial variability across the region, and
after correction for sub-cloud evaporation Navajo Nation values were
similar to those from a site in southern Arizona. Airmass
back-trajectory analysis suggests that the uniformly high NAM isotope
values across the region may reflect 1) a region-wide shift from
mid-latitude to low-latitude moisture sources at the onset of the peak
monsoon, and 2) substantial land-surface recycling of NAM moisture in
upwind regions. Comparison of precipitation isotope data with surface
and groundwater values implies that, despite its hydroclimatic
significance, monsoon rainfall contributes little to rand subsurface
water resources. This highlights the monsoon’s importance for
warm-season land-surface ecology and hydrology critical to residents of
the Four Corners region.