Concentrations of heavy isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen decrease in rain as storms cross land. A model examines the transport of water vapour that causes this effect, and provides insight into past and present climates.
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Freeman, K. Controls on isotopic gradients in rain. Nature 516, 41–42 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/516041a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/516041a
Axel Berger
Freeman's argument about water not being fractionated through plant transpiration sounds quite convincing, but is contradicted by the results of Kahmen et al. 2001 (PNAS 108, 1981--1986), where it is shown strong enough to leave a distinct mark and climate proxy in plant cellulose. So to the extent it relies on this non-fractionation the model by Winnick et al. has to be seen as questionable.