Amount effect
Published: March 29, 2010, 12:00 am
Updated: December 19, 2011, 8:23 am
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
C Michael Hogan
The amount effect is a term applied to the relationship between isotopic composition of precipitation and monthly rainfall where months with heavy rainfall show different isotopic concentrations than do months with low rainfall.
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This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to expand this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
In high rainfall months, rain frequency is higher which entails a higher relative humidity in sub-cloud air, hence less evaporation from raindrops. Since the rate of evaporation determines the isotopic concentrations (the greater the rate the higher the heavy stable isotope composition), low rainfall months should show a higher heavy stable isotopic composition than high rainfall months.
Further Reading
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Cameron Wake and Michele Stievenard. THE AMOUNT EFFECT AND OXYGEN ISOTOPE RATIOS RECORDED IN HIMALAYAN SNOW. Glacier Research Group, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
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Physical Oceanography Index
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Citation
Steve Baum (Lead Author);C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor) "Amount effect". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth March 29, 2010; Last revised Date December 19, 2011; Retrieved May 22, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Amount_effect>
The Author
Assistant Research Scientist, Physical Section
Department of Oceanography
Texas A&M University ... (Full Bio)
The amount effect is a term applied to the relationship between isotopic composition of precipitation and monthly rainfall where months with heavy rainfall show different isotopic concentrations than do months with low rainfall.
|
This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to expand this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
In high rainfall months, rain frequency is higher which entails a higher relative humidity in sub-cloud air, hence less evaporation from raindrops. Since the rate of evaporation determines the isotopic concentrations (the greater the rate the higher the heavy stable isotope composition), low rainfall months should show a higher heavy stable isotopic composition than high rainfall months.
Further Reading
-
Cameron Wake and Michele Stievenard. THE AMOUNT EFFECT AND OXYGEN ISOTOPE RATIOS RECORDED IN HIMALAYAN SNOW. Glacier Research Group, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
-
Physical Oceanography Index
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
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