Forecasting health status changes in an aging U.S. population: Assessment of the current status and some proposals

Much interest has been recently focused on forecasting population health changes such as population aging and life expectancy increases at advanced ages, qualitative changes in health and survival, changes in federal reimbursement systems, and the need to forecast for long-range capital investment in specialized health facilities. Recent efforts at forecasting health and morbidity changes in the population are reviewed in this paper and the recent lack of methodological innovation in health forecasting strategies is examined. Two forecasting models—stochastic compartmental systems and mixed multivariate continuous state—discrete state processes—are described. We show how these models can be applied to health forecasting using existing data, how they can be used in a complementary fashion to improve health projections made from any one type of data, and how the mixed multivariate stochastic process model can be used to evaluate assumptions made in the compartment modeling approach.     

美国关于气候变化对国家安全影响的研究述评

近年来,美国关于气候变化对国家安全影响的研究成果频出。在概述其研究现状及主要成果的基础上,分析了美国在该领域研究的特点及其对我国开展相关研究的启示。美国关于气候变化影响国家安全的研究成果主要体现在围绕气候变化影响美国国家安全的方式、范围、程度以及美国的应对之策等几个方面展开了全面而深入的讨论。其突出特色是：第一,在研究理论和方法方面,与时俱进,转型较快;第二,在研究内容方面,既视野开阔,又有较强的针对性;第三,在研究水平上呈现逐步提高的趋势;第四,在研究体制上,形成官、学、研三位一体的联合研究体制。当前,我国的相关研究还处在起步阶段,在未来的研究中可以借鉴美国的一些有益经验。     

Hydro-climatic forecasting using sea surface temperatures: methodology and application for the southeast US

Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are often used for the development of hydro-climatic variable forecasts based on teleconnection methods. Such methods rely on projections or linear combinations of teleconnection indices [e.g. El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)] and other predictor fields. This study introduces a new hydro-climatic forecasting method identifying SST “dipole” predictors motivated by major teleconnection patterns. An SST dipole is defined as a function of average SST anomalies over two oceanic areas of specific sizes and geographic locations. An optimization algorithm is developed to search for the most significant SST dipole predictors of an external hydro-climatic series based on the Gerrity Skill Score. The significant dipoles are cross-validated and used to generate multiple forecast values. The new method is applied to the forecasting of seasonal precipitation over the southeast US. Hindcasting results show that significant dipoles related to ENSO as well as other prominent patterns at different lead times can indeed be identified. The dipole method also compares favorably with existing statistical forecasting schemes with respect to multiple skill measures. Furthermore, an operational forecasting framework able to produce ensemble forecast traces and uncertainty intervals that can support regional water resources planning and management is also developed.     

Prediction of nonstationary climatic series

Summary Most of the stochastic prediction methods are developed for stationary time series. However, many climatic series show clear evidence of non-stationarity. In such cases, methods based on the stationarity assumptions would be inappropriate. Alternative methods such as those based on stochastic approximation are preferable in these cases because they are based on adaptive learning principles. These methods have not been applied and their suitability not tested with nonstationary climatic time series.In the stochastic approximation method, the deterministic component of a nonstationary time series is estimated by first predicting the two steps ahead value of a time series. The two steps-ahead forecast may involve a term characterizing the trend in the time series. The two steps-ahead predictor is corrected to obtain the one step ahead prediction by using a gain sequence.The dynamic stochastic approximation method is used herein to predict non-stationary climatic time series. Daily minimum temperature series at West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A. and seasonal temperature and precipitation series at Evansville, Indiana, U.S.A. are used in the study. For data trends, an improved dynamic stochastic approximation method, called the modified dynamic stochastic approximation method gives more accurate predictions. If the method is used for seasonal data, then it can be used to track the time varying mean value.With 6 Figures     

美国天气预报的效果与预报估价

本文介绍美国天气预报的效果与对预报的估价。根据检验美国国家天气局从1967年到1985年逐日天气预报的效果表明，目前的预报水平明显高于15到20年前的预报水平。特别是客观预报效果明显的提高是值得引起注意的。预报的估价是一个很复杂的问题。本文主要介绍了美国的气象预报正确与否的得失估价及给经济带来获益或损失的经济评价工作。     

Implications of recent sea level rise science for low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A.

Recently published work estimates that global sea level rise (SLR) approaching or exceeding 1 m by 2100 is plausible, thus significantly updating projections by the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Furthermore, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the 21st century will not only influence SLR in the next ??90 years, but will also commit Earth to several meters of additional SLR over subsequent centuries. In this context of worsening prospects for substantial SLR, we apply a new geospatial dataset to calculate low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A. potentially impacted by SLR in this and following centuries. In total, 20 municipalities with populations greater than 300,000 and 160 municipalities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000 have land area with elevations at or below 6 m and connectivity to the sea, as based on the 1 arc-second National Elevation Dataset. On average, approximately 9% of the area in these coastal municipalities lies at or below 1 m. This figure rises to 36% when considering area at or below 6 m. Areal percentages of municipalities with elevations at or below 1?C6 m are greater than the national average along the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts. In contrast to the national and international dimensions of and associated efforts to curb GHG emissions, our comparison of low-elevation areas in coastal cities of the conterminous U.S.A. clearly shows that SLR will potentially have very local, and disproportionate, impacts.     

Models-3/CMAQ模式对郑州市大气污染物的预报分析研究

介绍了美国国家环保局第三代空气质量模式(Models-3)的主要组成部分:气象模式系统、排放模式系统以及公共多尺度模式系统(CMAQ)。并对郑州市SO2和NO2观测值与Models-3/CMAQ预报值进行对比分析,结果表明:模式可以模拟出郑州市SO2和NO2的同位相变化规律;预报值存在系统性偏低的现象;随着预报时效的延长,对SO2和NO2的预报效果逐渐变差。     

Regionalisation of population growth projections in coastal exposure analysis

Large-area coastal exposure and impact analysis has focussed on using sea-level rise (SLR) scenarios and has placed little emphasis on socioeconomic scenarios, while neglecting spatial variations of population dynamics. We use the Dynamic Interactive Vulnerability Assessment (DIVA) Framework to assess the population exposed to 1 in 100-year coastal flood events under different population scenarios, that are consistent with the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs); and different SLR scenarios, derived from the representative concentration pathways (RCPs); and analyse the effect of accounting for regionalised population dynamics on population exposure until 2100. In a reference approach, we use homogeneous population growth on national level. In the regionalisation approaches, we test existing spatially explicit projections that also account for urbanisation, coastal migration and urban sprawl. Our results show that projected global exposure in 2100 ranges from 100 million to 260 million, depending on the combination of SLR and population scenarios and method used for regionalising the population projections. The assessed exposure based on the regionalised approaches is higher than that derived from the reference approach by up to 60 million people (39%). Accounting for urbanisation and coastal migration leads to an increase in exposure, whereas considering urban sprawl leads to lower exposure. Differences between the reference and the regionalised approaches increase with higher SLR. The regionalised approaches show highest exposure under SSP5 over most of the twenty-first century, although total population in SSP5 is the second lowest overall. All methods project the largest absolute growth in exposure for Asia and relative growth for Africa.     

生物气象预报的生态动力学基础

生物气象预报同公用天气预报有着密切关联。根据国内外物候学、数值天气预报、模式识别自动化技术和生态动力学进展趋势,从生态动力学出发评述了生物气象预报进展、生物气象预报的理论和方法及生物气象预报所涉及范围与生态动力学的关系,指出高新技术化的生态动力学是生物气象预报从定性发展到定量、从单站发展到区域的预测网络的基础,就生物气象预报研究、业务化和人才培养等问题,提出了一些个人看法,并展望了发展前景及其在可持续发展、生态环境改善等方面的作用。     

A “precariously unprepared” Pentagon? Climate security beliefs and decision-making in the U.S. military

Increasing evidence suggests that climate change poses direct and indirect threats to national and human security. However, the degree to which such knowledge of the risks informs decision-making remains poorly understood for key security communities, including the U.S. Department of Defense. Here, through document analysis and interviews with climate security researchers and practitioners from the U.S. military community, we evaluate perceptions about and the degree to which (i) these individuals believe climate change is a threat to U.S. national security interests, and (ii) the U.S. Department of Defense integrates climate security science into its decision-making. Our research suggests a complex answer. Public statements and reports indicate U.S. Department of Defense leadership considers climate change a security threat of strategic importance, and most researchers interviewed believe the U.S. Department of Defense prioritizes climate security as a near-term threat. However, evidence of climate security threats is only selectively integrated into planning and decision-making. Interviews suggest several barriers and enablers to evidence-based decision-making within the U.S. Department of Defense. Barriers include mixed beliefs in the near-term urgency of the threat, changing political environments, and insufficient co-production of actionable science across the levels of war, including issues of data collection, sharing, and analysis. Enablers include increased awareness after climate-related impacts, strong leadership support, and knowledge transfer and convening forums. Improved insight into the production and use of climate security knowledge is crucial for the task of safeguarding human and national security in a changing climate.     

基于BGM与ETKF的台风"苏拉"(1209)集合预报的对比试验Ⅰ:路径预报

采用FNL再分析资料和美国联合台风警报中心(Joint Typhoon Warning Center,JTWC)资料,运用中尺度WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting)模式,分别使用增长模繁殖法(Breeding of Growing Mode,BGM)和集合卡尔曼变换方法(Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter,ETKF),对1209号台风"苏拉"进行了台风路径的集合预报试验,并对预报效果进行对比分析。结果表明:采用BGM或ETKF初始扰动的集合预报系统,集合平均预报对风场、温度场、位势高度场的预报效果均优于控制预报;ETKF方法的预报改进程度较BGM方法更大,且对风场和温度场预报技巧的优势尤为明显。BGM方法所得到的集合成员离散度小于ETKF方法,对大气真实状态的表征能力不及后者;两种扰动方法的集合平均都明显改善了台风"苏拉"的路径预报结果,尤其是控制预报在福建沿海第二次登陆后移速过快的问题,但对台风登陆位置预报的改进不明显;此外,采用ETKF方法的集合平均对台风"苏拉"路径预报的改进效果远优于采用BGM方法的集合平均预报。     

Estimating economic effects of changes in climate and water availability

Social, economic, and environmental systems can be vulnerable to disruptions in water supplies that are likely to accompany future climate changes. Coupled with the challenges of tightening environmental regulations, population growth, economic development and fiscal constraints water supply systems are being pushed beyond the limits of their design and capacity for maintenance. In this paper we briefly review key economic concepts, various economic measures and metrics, and methods to estimate the economic effects on water resources from water supply changes that could accompany climate change. We survey some of the recent empirical literature that focuses on estimates developed for U.S. watersheds at both national and regional scales. Reported estimates of potential damage and loss associated with climate and water supply changes that we observe are significant, though often the metrics vary and make valid and consistent direct cross-comparisons difficult. Whether in terms of changes in GDP or in terms of estimated changes in economic welfare based on associated changes in economic costs and benefits, both national and regional estimates suggest that governments and organizations incorporate prudent steps to assess vulnerabilities to plausible future water supply and demand scenarios and develop responsive adaptation strategies.     

陕西中期预报业务系统

根据陕西省气象台中期业务需求,从天气气候背景分析、中期实时和历史气象信息加工处理、预报方法、数值模式动力解释应用、预报发布制作等方面进行研发,丰富了中期预报和服务产品;采用C/S结构,开发了一套人机互动的业务平台,为中期预报和服务提供了有力的技术支撑。     

Development of the space observation system and geophysical monitoring system in Roshydromet

Two important areas of Roshydromet activity are considered: the development of the space observation system and the creation of the system of ground-, air-, and space-based geophysical monitoring. The investigation, monitoring, and forecasting of the state of the Earth, its climate, severe weather events, catastrophes, and emergencies requires the extended usage of space observation methods. The current state is considered of hydrometeorological space system included in the Roshydromet space observation system. The space- and ground-based segments of this system are briefly described. The ground segment is based on the national space monitoring system which was developed in 1992—2010 and is geographically distributed. The works are reviewed on the formation of the Roshydromet geophysical monitoring system using ground-based, airborne, and space-based observations.     

超短期风速预报方法研究进展

综合分析国内外风速预报相关文献,从物理方法、统计与机器学习方法、组合方法3个方面对超短期风速预报方法的研究现状进行归纳总结,对比了主要预报方法的优缺点,给出了不确定分析和误差评价指标,探讨了在超短期风速预报研究中应重点解决的问题和发展方向。     

我国业务天气预报发展的若干问题思考

本文着重从我国业务天气预报的现状和国际业务化天气预报技术的发展趋势出发,探讨了业务天气预报发展目前存在问题和对于这些问题的若干思考。并强调了天气预报技术的发展必须和大气探测技术的进步和发展紧密结合,并强调了天气预报技术的发展应主观和客观预报相结合、数值和统计预报相结合。     

Climate Change Impacts for the Conterminous USA: An Integrated Assessment

Human activities have altered the distribution and quality of terrestrial ecosystems. Future demands for goods and services from terrestrial ecosystems will occur in a world experiencing human-induced climate change. In this study, we characterize the range in response of unmanaged ecosystems in the conterminous U.S. to 12 climate change scenarios. We obtained this response by simulating the climatically induced shifts in net primary productivity and geographical distribution of major biomes in the conterminous U.S. with the BIOME 3 model. BIOME 3 captured well the potential distribution of major biomes across the U.S. under baseline (current) climate. BIOME 3 also reproduced the general trends of observed net primary production (NPP) acceptably. The NPP projections were reasonable for forests, but not for grasslands where the simulated values were always greater than those observed. Changes in NPP would be most severe under the BMRC climate change scenario in which severe changes in regional temperatures are projected. Under the UIUC and UIUC + Sulfate scenarios, NPP generally increases, especially in the West where increases in precipitation are projected to be greatest. A CO₂-fertilization effect either amplified increases or alleviated losses in modeled NPP. Changes in NPP were also associated with changes in the geographic distribution of major biomes. Temperate/boreal mixed forests would cover less land in the U.S. under most of the climate change scenarios examined. Conversely, the temperate conifer and temperate deciduous forests would increase in areal extent under the UIUC and UIUC + Sulfate scenarios. The Arid Shrubland/Steppe would spread significantly across the southwest U.S. under the BMRC scenario. A map overlay of the simulated regions that would lose or gain capacity to produce corn and wheat on top of the projected distribution of natural ecosystems under the BMRC and UIUC scenarios (Global mean temperature increase of +2.5 °C, no CO₂ effect) helped identify areas where natural and managed ecosystems could contract or expand. The methods and models employed here are useful in identifying; (a) the range in response of unmanaged ecosystem in the U.S. to climate change and (b) the areas of the country where, for a particular scenario of climate change, land cover changes would be most likely.     

The near-term risk of climate uncertainty among the U.S. states

This article describes a study employing a risk-assessment methodology for evaluating uncertain future climatic conditions. To understand the implications of uncertainty on risk and to provide a near-term rationale for policy interventions, the study estimated the impacts from responses to climate change on U.S. state- and national-level economic activity. The study used results of the climate-model CMIP3 dataset developed for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report to 1) estimate a proxy for representing climate uncertainty over the next 40 years, 2) map the simulated weather from the climate models hydrologically to the county level to determine the physical consequences on economic activity at the state level, and 3) perform a detailed, economy-wide, 70-industry analysis of economic impacts among the interdependent lower-48 states for the years 2010 through 2050. The analysis determined the interacting industry-level effects, employment impacts at the state level, interstate population migration, consequences to personal income, and ramifications for the U.S. trade balance. When compared to a baseline economic forecast, the calculations produced an average risk of damage of $1 trillion to the U.S. economy from climate change over the next 40 years, with losses in employment equivalent to nearly 7 million full-time jobs. Added uncertainty would increase the estimated risk.     

基于最小二乘支持向量机的副热带高压预测模型

采用EOF时空分解、小波频牢分解和最小二乘支持向量机（LS-SVM）交叉互补方法,建立夏季500 hPa位势高度场的预测模型,用以描绘和表述副热带高压形势场的形态和变化。首先用经验正交函数分解（EOF）方法将NCEP/NCAR再分析资料500 hPa位势高度场序列分解为彼此正交的特征向量及其对应时间系数,随后提取前15个主要特征向龟的时间系数（方差贡献96.2%）,采用小波分解方法将其分解为相对简单的带通信号,再利用LS-SVM方法建立各分量信号的预测模型,最后通过小波时频分量重构和EOF时空重构,得到500hPa位势高度场的预测结果以及副热带高压形势场的预测。通过对预测模型的试验情况和分析对比,结果表明:基于上述思想提出的算法模型能较为准确地描述500 hPa位势高度场的形态分布并预测1~7 d的副热带高压活动,对10~15 d的副热带高压活动预测结果也有参考意义。     

西安市冬季采暖气象条件分析和预报方法初探

对西安市冬季采暖气象条件和预报方法进行了研究。根据国家采暖规范结合西安冬季采暖的实际，首先对西安1951年7月到2003年6月历年的逐日气象资料进行了详尽的分析，比较了国家采暖日期相关规范和规定中的3种不同的统计方法，确定了符合西安特点的采暖初终日。充分利用T213数值预报产品，对2002年和2003年两个冬半年的逐日850hPa和500hPa各时次各类气象要素及与之对应的西安各时次实况的气温作了相关分析，建立了回归方程，提出了采暖期及其逐日气温预报。