Solar dimming and brightening over Thessaloniki, Greece, and Beijing, China

This work presents evidence that ultraviolet (UV)-A solar irradiances show increasing trends at Thessaloniki, Greece, where air quality has been improving because of air pollution abatement strategies. In contrast, over Beijing, China, where air quality measures were taken later, solar brightening was delayed. It is shown that until the early 1990s, UV-A irradiances over Thessaloniki show a downward trend of –0.5% yr⁻¹, which reverses sign and becomes positive in the last decade (+0.8% yr⁻¹). This brightening is related to a decreasing trend in local aerosol amounts. Both the negative rate of change (dimming) and the positive rate of change (brightening) are amplified in the UV-A solar irradiances, compared with the total solar irradiance, by a factor of 2.6. Satellite derived short-wave radiation over Beijing showed negative changes of –0.4% (1984–1991) and –0.1% yr⁻¹ during 1994–2006. The negative trend in solar radiation continued even during 2000–2006. Satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) increased by +1.0% yr⁻¹ during 2000–2006, in agreement with in situ measurements of increasing AOD. Therefore, a statistically significant change from dimming to brightening in Beijing could not be seen in the last decade, but it is expected to occur in the near future.     

Inequalities, institutions, and forest commons

This paper contributes to a growing literature on the commons that examines the relationship between inequality and commons outcomes. Our analysis of evidence on forest commons outcomes in 228 cases from South Asia (India and Nepal), East Africa (Kenya and Uganda) and Latin America (Mexico and Bolivia) suggests that local governance and collective action matter in shaping how socioeconomic inequalities affect forest conditions. In particular, we find that both inter-group and intra-group economic inequalities have consistently negative effects on forest outcomes, but that effectively functioning local institutions for collective action dampen the negative effect of inter-group inequality on forest outcomes.     

面向福祉和公平的需求侧减排路径、潜力与政策

需求侧减排是协同实现碳中和目标与民生福祉、社会公平改善的重要抓手,也是以“人”为中心连接不同可持续发展目标的关键纽带。IPCC第六次评估报告首次独立成章（第五章）介绍应对气候变化的需求侧解决方案。报告将需求侧减排与福祉、公平等目标关联起来,依循“避免-转变-改进（ASI）”的战略框架,梳理了需求侧的减排措施和减排潜力;揭示了社会文化、心理活动、技术水平和基础设施等因素对需求侧减排的关键驱动作用,指出多种驱动因素之间相互依赖,呈现叠加效应;明确了激发需求侧减排的动力和能力需要科学的行为干预和政策设计以推动系统性变革。文中对该章主要结论做扼要解读,同时就该章节对中国的相关研究和政策启示展开讨论。     

Urban and rural dewfall,surface moisture,and associated canopy-level air temperature and humidity measurements for vancouver,canada

Canopy-level humidity is often less at night during fine weather in a mid-latitude city, compared to its rural surroundings. This feature has been attributed, in part, to reduced urban dew, but links are largely unproven, because urban dew data are rare. In this study, surface moisture (i.e., dew + guttation by blotting) and dewfall (by mini-lysimeter) were measured at rural and urban residential sites in Vancouver, Canada, during the summer of 1996. Air temperature and humidity were measured at both sites, and on rural-to-urban vehicle traverses. Weather and location effects were evident. Humidity data suggested the small (< 1 g m^–3) urban moisture excess observed on fine nights was linked to reduced urban dew. For grass, the frequency of moisture events, and surface moisture amounts, were similar for both sites. However, on grass, rural dewfall (mean=0.10 mm per night) was more than urban dewfall (mean=0.07 mm per night). On the other hand, data for a roof lysimeter (mean dewfall=0.12 mm per night) showed that an urban roof could rival rural grass as a favoured location for dewfall in Vancouver.     

AGAGE Observations of Methyl Bromide and Methyl Chloride at Mace Head, Ireland, and Cape Grim, Tasmania, 1998–2001

In situ AGAGE GC-MS measurements of methyl bromide (CH₃Br) and methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) at Mace Head, Ireland and Cape Grim, Tasmania (1998–2001) reveal a complex pattern of sources. At Mace Head both gases have well-defined seasonal cycles with similar average annual decreases of 3.0% yr⁻¹ (CH₃Br) and 2.6% yr⁻¹ (CH₃Cl), and mean northern hemisphere baseline mole fractions of 10.37 ± 0.05 ppt and 535.7 ± 2.2 ppt, respectively. We have used a Lagrangian dispersion model and local meteorological data to segregate the Mace Head observations into different source regions, and interpret the results in terms of the known sources and sinks of these two key halocarbons. At Cape Grim CH₃Br and CH₃Cl also show annual decreases in their baseline mixing ratios of 2.5% yr⁻¹ and 1.5% yr⁻¹, respectively. Mean baseline mole fractions were 7.94 ± 0.03 ppt (CH₃Br) and 541.3 ± 1.1 ppt (CH₃Cl). Although CH₃Cl has astrong seasonal cycle there is no well-defined seasonal cycle in the Cape Grim CH₃Br record. The fact that both gases are steadily decreasing in the atmosphere at both locations implies that a change has occurred which is affecting a common, major source of both gases (possibly biomass burning) and/or their major sink process (destruction by hydroxyl radical).     

Roadside, Urban, and Rural comparison of size distribution characteristics of PAHs and carbonaceous components of Beijing, China

Size-segregated aerosol samples were collected with a low-pressure impactor (LPI) at urban, roadside and rural sites in winter in Beijing. The size distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were measured and this study focused on their size distributions and relationships of PAH to OC/EC. All PAHs show uni-modal at the accumulation mode (0.1–1.8 μm) and almost all PAHs are associated with fine particles. The absence of PAHs in the nucleus mode contributes to the coagulation under the condition of high concentration of the accumulation mode particles. The absence of PAHs in the coarse mode was probably attributed to the low temperature that restrained the redistribution of PAHs from the accumulation mode to the coarse mode. Flu(fluoranthene) and Pyr(pyrene, 4-ring) were the most abundant particulate PAHs ; however, IcdP(indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) and BghiP(benzo[ghi]perylene, 6-ring) were rather low. Diagnostic ratios show vehicle and coal burning were the major sources of PAHs in winter. Ratios at rural site are obviously different from those found at roadside and urban sites. Lower value of OC/EC in the rural area than that in the urban area was probably resulted from coal burning prevailed in the rural area. OC1 and OC2 exhibit uni-mode distribution similar to their particle surface area distribution indicating their existence on particles by adsorption. OC3 and OC4 show bi-mode distribution. Grinding of biomass debris can be a probable source of OC3 and OC4 in the coarse mode. EC1 is mostly from the pyrolysis of OC; however, both the natural and anthropogenic emissions contribute to EC2. The correlation between size-segregated PAHs and carbonaceous component is also discussed to identify their sources.     

Comparisons of VHF radar,optical, and temperature fluctuation measurements ofC n 2 ,r 0 andθ 0

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Comparisons are made of profiles of the refractive index structure parameter (C 2 ) and two derived quantities, transverse coherence length (r 0) and...     

The Gaia Hypothesis: Fact, Theory, and Wishful Thinking

Organisms can greatly affect their environments, and the feedback coupling between organisms and their environments can shape the evolution of both. Beyond these generally accepted facts, the Gaia hypothesis advances three central propositions: (1) that biologically mediated feedbacks contribute to environmental homeostasis, (2) that they make the environment more suitable for life, and (3) that such feedbacks should arise by Darwinian natural selection. These three propositions do not fare well under close scrutiny. (1) Biologically mediated feedbacks are not intrinsically homeostatic. Many of the biological mechanisms that affect global climate are destabilizing, and it is likely that the net effect of biological feedbacks will be to amplify, not dampen, global warming. (2) Nor do biologically mediated feedbacks necessarily enhance the environment, although it will often appear as if this were the case, simply because natural selection will favor organisms that do well in their environments – which means doing wellunder the conditions that they and their co-occurring species have created. (3) Finally, Gaian feedbacks can evolve by natural selection, but so can anti-Gaian feedbacks. Daisyworld models evolve Gaian feedback because they assume that any trait that improves the environment will also give a reproductive advantage to its carriers (over other organisms that share the same environment). In the real world, by contrast, natural selection favors any trait that gives its carriers a reproductive advantage over its non-carriers, whether it improves or degrades the environment (and thereby benefits or hinders its carriers and non-carriers alike). Thus Gaian and anti-Gaian feedbacks are both likely to evolve.     

Preliminary Comparison of the CMA, ECMWF, NCEP, and JMA Ensemble Prediction Systems

Based on The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment (THORPEX) Interactive Grand Global Ensemble (TIGGE) dataset,using various verification methods,the performances of four typical ense...     

Performance of CMORPH,TMPA, and PERSIANN rainfall datasets over plain,mountainous, and glacial regions of Pakistan

The present study aims at the assessment of six satellite rainfall estimates (SREs) in Pakistan. For each assessed products, both real-time (RT) and post adjusted (Adj) versions are considered to highlight their potential benefits in the rainfall estimation at annual, monthly, and daily temporal scales. Three geomorphological climatic zones, i.e., plain, mountainous, and glacial are taken under considerations for the determination of relative potentials of these SREs over Pakistan at global and regional scales. All SREs, in general, have well captured the annual north-south rainfall decreasing patterns and rainfall amounts over the typical arid regions of the country. Regarding the zonal approach, the performance of all SREs has remained good over mountainous region comparative to arid regions. This poor performance in accurate rainfall estimation of all the six SREs over arid regions has made their use questionable in these regions. Over glacier region, all SREs have highly overestimated the rainfall. One possible cause of this overestimation may be due to the low surface temperature and radiation absorption over snow and ice cover, resulting in their misidentification with rainy clouds as daily false alarm ratio has increased from mountainous to glacial regions. Among RT products, CMORPH-RT is the most biased product. The Bias was almost removed on CMORPH-Adj thanks to the gauge adjustment. On a general way, all Adj versions outperformed their respective RT versions at all considered temporal scales and have confirmed the positive effects of gauge adjustment. CMORPH-Adj and TMPA-Adj have shown the best agreement with in situ data in terms of Bias, RMSE, and CC over the entire study area.     

Wet-bulb,dew point,and air temperature trends in Spain

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - This study analyses trends of mean (T m), maximum (T x), minimum (T n), dew point (T d), and wet-bulb temperatures (T w) on an annual, seasonal, and monthly...     

Physical,mineralogical and chemical properties of harmattan dust at Ile-Ife,Nigeria

Summary Meteorological conditions associated with the transport and deposition of harmattan dust particles in West Africa are discussed as well as particle-size distribution analyses of Saharan aeolian dust monitored at Ile-Ife (7.29 N, 4.34 E) nearly 2,000 km South-West of its predominant source region, the Chad Basin.Mineralogical analysis of the dust indicated that it is predominantly composed of quartz (> 70%) followed by microcline, kaolinite and traces of mica and halloysite. Chemical analyses indicated a predominance of SiO₂ (> 60%) followed by Al₂O₃ (17.4%), Na₂O (10.1%), Fe₂0₃ (5.6%), TiO₂ (3.33%), K₂O (1.88%), MgO (0.56%), and CaO (0.37%). The following trace elements were identified: Zn (931 ppm), Mn (834 ppm), Ni (113 ppm), Cr (103 ppm), Cu (106 ppm), Co (77 ppm) V (65 ppm) and Li (25 ppm).The effect of the poor visibility caused by the harmattan dust on aviation operation and safety as well as the health hazards posed on the respiratory system by the air-borne toxic elements should be of concern to relevant decision makers and should be further investigated.

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Zusammenfassung Vorliegende Studie behandelt meteorologische Bedingungen in Zusammenhang mit dem Transport und der Ablagerung von Harmattan-Staubpartikeln in Westafrika, als auch Partikelgrößenverteilungen, die in Ile-Ife (7.29N, 4.34E) aufgezeichnet wurden, beinahe 2000 km südwestlich von ihrer wichtigsten Ursprungsregion, dem Tschad-Becken.Die mineralogische Analyse des Staubes hat gezeigt, daß er im wesentlichen aus Quartz (> 70%) besteht. Chemische Analysen des Staubes wiesen hauptsächlich SiO₂ (> 60%), sowie Al₂O₃ (17,4%), Na₂O (10,1%), Fe₂O₃ (5,6%) TiO₂ (3,33%), K₂O (1,88%), MgO (0,56%) und CaO (0.37%) aus; an Spurenelementen wurden Zn (931 ppm), Mn (834 ppm), Ni (113 ppm), Cr (103 ppm), Cu (106 ppm), Co (77 ppm), V (65 ppm) und Li (25 ppm) nachgewiesen.Die Auswirkungen der durch den Harmattan-Staub stark geminderten Sichtweite auf den Flugverkehr und dessen Sicherheit sowie die gesundheitliche Beeinträchtigung der Atemwege durch giftige Aerosole sollten Gegenstand der Sorge staatstragender Kräfte als auch weiterer Forschungsbemühungen sein!

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With 5 Figures     

Preface to the Special Issue on Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity,Ozone,and PM_(2.5) Pollution: Quantification Methods,Formation Mechanisms,Simulation, and Control

正The atmospheric oxidation capacity(AOC) is the essential driving force of atmospheric chemistry in forming complex air pollution, which determines the removal rate of trace gases and the production rates of secondary pollutants. The processes and rates of species being oxidized in the atmosphere thus constitute the key factors to quantify the AOC. Currently,     

Field Measurements of Atmospheric Photolysis Frequencies for O3, NO2, HCHO, CH3CHO, H2O2, and HONO by UV Spectroradiometry

A calibrated spectroradiometer was used for the measurement of spectra of the absolute actinic flux F during the POPCORN field campaign in Pennewitt (53.8° N, 11.7° E, sea level) in August 1994. The obtained set of actinic flux spectra was used to determine the photolysis frequencies J(O1D), J(NO2), J(HCHO), J(H2O2), J(HONO), and J(CH3CHO), using molecular photodissociation data from literature. The accuracy of the actinic flux measurement was about ±5%. The accuracy of the photolysis frequency determination is limited by the uncertainties of the molecular absorption cross section and quantum yield data. A good agreement within the experimental uncertainties was found in comparison with measurements of J(O1D) and J(NO2) by filterradiometer which were calibrated absolutely against chemical actinometer. A comparison of this work's photolysis frequency measurements at 40° solar zenith angle with respective measured and modeled data from the literature also shows good agreement for most of the processes considered in this work. However, in the case of J(NO2) data reported in the literature as a function of solar zenith angle differences up to a factor of 1.6 with respect to this work's J(NO2) data are observed. Since this is far beyond the estimated experimental uncertainties, other atmospheric variables, such as aerosols, seem to affect J(NO2) to an extent that is underestimated by now and make indirect comparisons of J(NO2) measurements difficult.     

Parameterization and Explicit Modeling of Cloud Microphysics: Approaches,Challenges, and Future Directions

Cloud microphysical processes occur at the smallest end of scales among cloud-related processes and thus must be parameterized not only in large-scale global circulation models(GCMs) but also in various higher-resolution limited-area models such as cloud-resolving models(CRMs) and large-eddy simulation(LES) models. Instead of giving a comprehensive review of existing microphysical parameterizations that have been developed over the years, this study concentrates purposely on several topics that ...     

Benefits, Costs, and Cooperation in Greenhouse Gas Abatement

Abatement cost and benefit projections through 2100are computed, assembled and interpreted with respectto various levels of emission reduction. Mathematicalexpressions describing regional costs and benefits asa function of abatement strategy are developed. Usingthese data and expressions, optimal abatementstrategies are defined for noncooperative andcooperative (Pareto optimal) policies. Thecooperative solution calls for an average emissionsreduction of 16.6 percent over the 1990–2100 period,as compared to 5.8 percent in the noncooperative case. Achieving the cooperative solution would require sidepayments to China and potentially to the U.S., as wellas stringent (though beneficial) restrictions onnon-OECD countries. It is argued that Paretooptimality is technically achievable but possiblyinfeasible in the real world.     

Climate governance,justice, and transnational civil society

Justice dilemmas associated with climate change and the regulatory responses to it pose challenges for global governance, arguably hampering progress and raising concerns over efficacy and relevance. Scholarly literature suggests that transnational civil society groups can help address problems of governance and injustice that cross borders and pit states against each other. Findings of a comparative, qualitative study of climate justice advocacy suggest, however, that civil society groups' work in the US and EU is significantly shaped by institutional factors specific to those regimes, limiting advocates' broader impact. Moreover, political opportunities for the pursuit of climate action, and justice particularly, have diminished in those settings. By contrast, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides greater opportunities for discussions of justice, although civil society actors are significantly constrained within it. It is argued that greater roles for civil society in the UNFCCC could prove constructive in the face of current challenges connected with justice issues. Three themes in civil society advocacy linking principles of global justice with current climate policy debates are summarized. Finally, it is suggested that the first iteration of the UNFCCC Periodic Review provides timely opportunities to more fully draw upon civil society's potential contributions toward a fair and effective global climate regime.

Policy relevance

The roles of civil society organizations in climate governance were examined in three policy contexts: the UNFCCC, the US, and the EU, with special attention to advocacy addressing issues of equity and justice, identified as key challenges for a post-2012 global agreement. Findings suggest that (1) civil society roles are significantly constrained in each context, and (2) political opportunities for climate advocacy have diminished since 2009 in the US and EU, underlining (3) the continued salience of the UNFCCC as a forum for engagement and the construction of effective and equitable climate policy. Potential exists for increased civil society involvement at the UNFCCC to help resolve obstacles based in divergent national priorities. Three areas of justice-focused civil society activity are reviewed for current negotiation topics and the governance structure of the institution. The current UNFCCC Periodic Review is identified as an opportunity to increase civil society involvement.     

Acoustic echo-sounding techniques and their application to gravity-wave,turbulence, and stability studies

This paper is a brief summary of recent experimental studies conducted by the WPL staff in order to: (a) compare acoustic echo strengths with those predicted from measured turbulence intensities and scatter theory; (b) develop optimum experimental geometries for Doppler work, and (c) use the acoustic echo-sounder as a quantitative tool in studies of gravity wave dynamics in, and immediately above, the stable planetary boundary layer. We find that the observed acoustic echo strengths are roughly an order of magnitude greater than those predicted theoretically. This discrepancy might be in part due to partial reflection although the comparison is somewhat clouded by uncertainties in our knowledge of the equipment characteristics, propagation losses, etc. Comparisons between Doppler and in situ wind measurements give confidence in the Doppler results, but further experimentation and comparisons are needed. Preliminary use of acoustic Doppler data in a case study of gravity-wave dynamics in the planetary boundary layer has yielded boundary-layer wind speed and direction profiles which give insight into the mechanisms responsible for the wave generation. The Doppler data yield estimates of the wave associated momentum fluxes (a few dyn cm^–2) as well. The results derived from the acoustic techniques are quite encouraging, but thus far remain unsubstantiated by independent wind and flux measurements.     

An assessment of Canadian prairie drought: past, present, and future

Within Canada, the Canadian Prairies are particularly drought-prone mainly due to their location in the lee of the western cordillera and distance from large moisture sources. Although previous studies examined the occurrence of Canadian Prairie droughts during instrumental, pre-instrumental and to a lesser extent, future periods, none have specifically focused on all time three scales. Using two different drought indicators, namely the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), this investigation assesses the variability of summer drought duration and intensity over a core region of the Prairies during (a) the pre-instrumental record extending back several centuries (inferred from tree rings), (b) the instrumental record (1901–2005), and (c) the twenty-first century using statistically downscaled climate variables from several Atmosphere–Ocean Global climate models with multiple emission scenarios. Results reveal that observed twentieth century droughts were relatively mild when compared to pre-settlement on the Prairies, but these periods are likely to return (and even worsen) in the future due to the anticipated warming during the course of the twenty-first century. However, future drought projections are distinctly different between the two indices. All PDSI-related model runs show greater drought frequency and severity mainly due to increasing temperatures. Conversely, the precipitation-based SPI indicates no significant changes to future summer drought frequency although there tends to be a higher persistence of multi-year droughts in central and southern portions of Canadian Prairies. These findings therefore stress the importance of considering anticipated warming trends when assessing future regional-scale drought, especially given the uncertainties and lack of consistency in future precipitation signals among climate models. This study can be considered an initial step toward quantifying and understanding Canadian Prairie drought occurrence and severity over several centuries as determined from paleo, instrumental, and climate model data sources.     

BDA方案对台风背景高温天气预报的改进

广州地Ⅸ的高温天气主要是受副热带高压和台风外围下沉气流的影响所致.文中采用BDA(Bogus Data Assimila-tion)方法,探讨BDA方案对广州地区台风背景条件下高温预报的改进能力.选取2005年7月中旬广州地区出现的高温天气进行研究.这是比较典型的受副热带高压和台风(海棠)共同影响造成高温的天气过程.分析有无采用BDA方案的模式初始场.结果表明:采用BDA方案同化Bogus模型可以调整台风中心位置和强度,使所得到的初始场中心位置与观测更为接近,台风强度(气压梯度力、风速)比末用Bogus的情况强,与观测值更为接近.数值模拟的结果表明,采用了BDA方案的敏感试验可以更好地预撤台风路径和台风中心强度变化,从而更好地预报高温天气,对高温区分布、日平均温度大小等的预报都有改进.文中对引起这种预报差异的原因进行了讨论,并探讨高温预报改进的可能机制.大气下沉运动的增强是高温预报改进的主要原因.敏感试验由于广州中低层大气的水汽减少,大气的下沉增强,致使天空的云量减少,对太阳短波辐射的阻挡减小,从而地面吸收热量增多,温度升高,输送给大气的感热增加,大气气温升高.采用BDA方案可以改进模式在台风"海棠"过程对广州高温的预报.