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A comparative study on isotopic composition of precipitation in wet tropic and semi-arid stations across southern India

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Isotopic composition of monthly composite precipitation samples from Kozhikode (n = 31), a wet tropic station and Hyderabad (n = 25), a semi-arid station across southern India were studied for a period of four years from 2005 to 2008. During the study period, the Kozhikode station recorded an average rainfall of 3500 mm while the Hyderabad station showed an average rainfall of 790 mm. The average stable isotope values in precipitation at the Kozhikode station were δ 18O = −3.52‰, d-excess = 13.72‰; δ 18O = −2.94‰, d-excess = 10.57‰; and δ 18O = −7.53‰, d-excess = 13.79‰, respectively during the pre-monsoon (March–May), monsoon (June–September) and post-monsoon (October–February) seasons. For the Hyderabad station, the average stable isotope values were δ 18O = −5.88‰, d-excess = 2.34‰; δ 18O = −4.39‰, d-excess = 9.21‰; and δ 18O = −8.69‰, d-excess = 14.29‰, respectively for the three seasons. The precipitation at the two stations showed distinctive isotopic signatures. The stable isotopic composition of precipitation at the Hyderabad station showed significant variations from the global trend while the Kozhikode station almost followed the global value. These differences are mainly attributed to the latitudinal differences of the two stations coupled with the differences in climatic conditions.

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  1. Isotope Hydrology Division, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kunnamangalam P.O., Kozhikode 673 571, Kerala, India

    C UNNIKRISHNAN WARRIER & M PRAVEEN BABU

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  1. C UNNIKRISHNAN WARRIER
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  2. M PRAVEEN BABU
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Correspondence to C UNNIKRISHNAN WARRIER.

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WARRIER, C.U., BABU, M.P. A comparative study on isotopic composition of precipitation in wet tropic and semi-arid stations across southern India. J Earth Syst Sci 120, 1085–1094 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-011-0121-2

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