loading page

Determining the dew characteristics and sources in an alpine meadow of northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using hydrogen-oxygen isotope
  • +3
  • Jing Li,
  • Fawei Zhang,
  • Yangong Du,
  • Guangmin Cao,
  • Bin Wang,
  • Xiaowei Guo
Jing Li
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:lijing@nwipb.cas.cn

Author Profile
Fawei Zhang
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Author Profile
Yangong Du
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Author Profile
Guangmin Cao
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Author Profile
Bin Wang
Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute
Author Profile
Xiaowei Guo
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Author Profile

Abstract

Dew is closely related to the micro-use of water and to large-scale hydrological processes. Dew formation on grasslands plays a particularly vital role in maintaining the ecohydrological cycle, however, its characteristics and sources were rarely reported. Here, stable isotope for dew, ambient water vapor, soil water, plant water, creek water, and precipitation were tracked to determine the characteristics of dew from ecohydrological processes in the meadow. The structural equation model was used to investigate how environmental factors affect dew formation. The Mix SIAR model in R was used to determine the sources of dew, and explore the dew transport route of six species of the graminoid-Kobresia meadow in an alpine graminoid-Kobresia meadow in northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our results showed that the annual amount was about 37.92 ± 1.03 mm, acounting for 7.13% of precipitation. Both atmospheric pressure and temperature showed significant positive effects on dew formation, while wind speed had a negative effect. Evapotranspiration indirectly affected dew formation. The contribution rates of soil water, plant water, and ambient water vapor to dew formation were 48.20±5.46%, 38.30±5.07%, and 13.50±1.82%, respectively. The proportion of dew utilization by graminoid and Kobresia species showed no significant species differences, the mean value was 10.5±3.8%. Our statistical analysis determines the role of dew in an alpine graminoid-Kobresia meadow in the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which provides an improved understanding of dew formation based on a stable isotope technology.
17 Nov 2022Submitted to Hydrological Processes
17 Nov 2022Submission Checks Completed
17 Nov 2022Assigned to Editor
17 Nov 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Dec 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
29 Jun 20231st Revision Received
30 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
30 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
30 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Jul 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Accept