Stable isotope ratios (δ¹⁸O and δD) in atmospheric precipitation and water vapor have the potential to diagnose synoptic-scale weather processes. Here we present high-frequency measurements of stable isotopes in water vapor and rainfall during super typhoon Lekima of 2019 in Shanghai, Eastern China. Our results indicate that both water vapor and rainfall exhibit large fluctuations in δD, with the magnitude of 94.69‰ and 57.88‰, respectively. These fluctuations reflect changes in atmospheric and precipitation processes associated with the track of typhoon Lekima. Water vapor content and δD values before Lekima are generally high due to stable atmospheric conditions that effectively suppress vapor condensation and isotope fractionation. During Lekima, isotope ratios in both water vapor and rainfall are complex and generally follow an inverted U-shaped pattern due to the combined effects of convection intensity, moisture convergence and rain evaporation. After Lekima, dry continental (northerly) air and subsidence cause a substantial decrease in both water vapor content and δD over the study region. Our study sheds light on the influence of super typhoon on isotope behaviors of water vapor and rainfall, and may have some implications for paleoclimate reconstruction of typhoon activity.

Stable isotopes,Water vapor,Precipitation,Convective activity,Typhoon Lekima