Reinterpreting precipitation isotope records from Asian monsoon region through the hidden role of atmospheric updraft
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Speleothem oxygen isotope records (δ 18 O s ) from the Asian monsoon region provide valuable insights into past hydroclimate variability, yet their interpretation relies on understanding the controls on modern precipitation isotopes (δ 18 O p ). Although numerous explanations for the spatiotemporal variability of δ 18 O p across this region have been proposed, the primary controls remain unresolved. Here we propose a hypothesis to explain δ 18 O p variability from δ 18 O p records at 46 sites along a transect spanning the Asian monsoon region. Our results show that seasonally low δ 18 O p values migrate gradually westward along the east–west transect. We further demonstrate that the corresponding westward migration of atmospheric updraft, particularly convection, controls δ 18 O p variations along the transect. In contrast to previous interpretations emphasizing monsoon moisture advection, our findings highlight atmospheric updraft as an important control on δ 18 O p variations across the Asian monsoon region. These findings provide an alternative perspective on interpreting the climate signals preserved in Asian δ 18 O s records.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Zhuanxia Zhang, Wusheng Yu, L. G. Thompson, Deliang Chen, Hai Cheng, Stephen Lewis, Hongchun Li, Antonios Mamalakis, Supriyo Chakraborty, Kei Yoshimura, Liangcheng Tan, Oliver Kracht, M. Midhun, Neha Trivedi, R. K. Trivedi, Zhaowei Jing, Jingyi Zhang, Rong Guo, Pengjie Ren, Qiaoyi Wang, Ziran Lei
Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, Tsinghua University, Yunnan Normal University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, James Cook University, National Taiwan University, University of Virginia, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Institute of Earth Environment, International Atomic Energy Agency, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Beijing Forestry University, Henan Normal University
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W7212277797
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