Authors:

Bethany Rita Kettleborough

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About Paper:

Communities on the Western Cordillera of the Andes in Peru can receive precipitation from three potential sources: easterly transport in the upper troposphere from Atlantic moisture that has been recycled over the Amazon, westerly transport in the lower troposphere from the coastal Pacific, and northerly transport in the mid troposphere from the Amazon or eastern tropical Pacific. Rising sea surface temperatures may result in altered moisture sources and rainfall patterns, which can have profound effects on local infrastructure, agriculture, and economies. This project seeks to analyze the sources of precipitation in western Peru to aid communities in planning for future climate events. Water stable isotope contents of precipitation collected from December 2023 through April 2024 are measured to understand the influence of the 2023-2024 El Niño event in the region of Arequipa, Peru. 2-hydrogen (deuterium) and 18-oxygen water stable isotope contents were measured using a Los Gatos Research Enhanced Performance Triple Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer at Purdue University. Water stable isotope ratios can vary based on atmospheric conditions, such as temperature, relative humidity, and cloud dynamics. Reanalysis of atmospheric events during the time of precipitation may explain trends in the isotopic contents of the waters, which can be used to understand the sources of moisture over Peru. Continued work will be done to understand the influence and movement of precipitation in Peru. Keywords: Precipitation; Water Stable Isotopes; El Niño; Andean Western Cordillera; Atmospheric Circulation

Source:

Purdue University / 2024

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Co-authors:

Bethany Rita Kettleborough