Stable Isotopes in Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Ivan (2004)

Temporal patterns of stable isotope ratios (HDO:H2O and H218O:H2O) of rain and water vapor in Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Katrina (2005) upon landfall are presented and related to the storm structure and precipitation efficiency using MM5 and WRF simulations. Samples in Katrina were collected in Slidell, LA and West Mobile AB, fortunately with no injury. These samples represent the first taken from the periphery through the center of an intense, category 3 hurricane and include a vapor sample collected inside Katrina's eye.