Interdecadal variations of cold air activities in Northeast China during springtime

Based on the daily mean temperature data of CN05.2 from 1961 to 2012, cold events (CEs) are first divided into two categories according to their duration: strong cold events (SCEs) and weak cold events (WCEs). Then, the characteristics of CEs, SCEs, and WCEs during springtime are investigated. The results indicate that in the pre-1990s epoch, ENSO and Arctic Oscillation events in the previous winter are closely related to SCEs in the following spring. The multidecadal variations of CEs, SCEs, and WCEs are obvious. The intensity trend for SCEs is significantly negative, but it seems less apparent for WCEs. Further analysis reveals that when both SCEs and WCEs occur, a typical East Asian trough in the 850- hPa wind field, whose northwesterly wind component invades Northeast China (NEC) and causes freezing days, can be found in every decade. For the SCEs, a cold vortex, with its center located over Okhotsk and northeasterly current affecting NEC, is found as an additional feature. For the WCEs, the cold vortex is located in Karafuto and its northwesterly airflow intrudes into NEC. As for the difference between SCEs and WCEs, the northwestern flow is weaker while the northeastern counterpart is stronger during the SCEs, in all decades. In the Takaya–Nakamura flux and divergence fields, for the SCEs, a divergence center exists over NEC; and over its downstream regions, a stronger divergence center appears, not like a wave train. However, the opposite is the case for the WCEs; moreover, the wave train appears clearly during the WCEs, which means that the wave energy can propagate and dissipate more easily during WCEs.     

第二松花江流域夏季降水年际增量预测模型研究

利用1980—2016年第二松花江流域（SSR）夏季（6—8月）平均降水量资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析月平均环流场资料、NOAA的月平均海温场资料，采用年际增量预测方法，通过分析与SSR夏季降水年际增量相关的环流及海温，确定了超前12个月内的6个预测因子，包括：11月东亚200hPa纬向风、12月西藏高原-2指数、12月赤道中东太平洋200hPa纬向风、2月印度洋海温、10月西太平洋暖池海温、4月东亚100hPa经向风。在此基础上利用这 6个预测因子，利用1980—2010资料建立SSR夏季降水年际增量的统计预测模型，最后根据年际增量给出SSR夏季降水的预测结果。经检验，1981—2010年，SSR夏季降水年际增量的预测拟合系数是0.83，SSR夏季降水预测结果拟合系数为0.67，SSR夏季降水预测结果相对均方根误差为15%，均通过了显著性检验；对2011—2016年进行试报实验，该模型也很好的预测出降水的年际增量变化趋势，除2014年以外，SSR夏季降水预测结果相对均方根误差绝对值都控制在23%以内，2016年仅为-9.9%。因此，通过预测降水的年际增量，进而再预测降水的方法，具有一定的预测技巧，可作为有效方法投入实际业务应用。     

Vertical tilt structure of East Asian trough and its interannual variation mechanism in boreal winter

Vertical tilt structure of the East Asian trough (EAT) and its interannual variation mechanism in boreal winter are studied using NCEP/NCAR, ERA40, and NCEP/DOE reanalyses. A vertical tilt index (VTI) is defined as the mean slope of vertical trough line on the longitude-height cross section to describe the tilting extent of the EAT, with high index indicating a more west-tilted trough and vice versa. The VTI series derived from the three reanalysis datasets are highly correlated with each other during the corresponding periods. A significant positive correlation is found between the VTI and the zonal range of the vertical trough line. Based on the close relation, a possible physical mechanism is proposed to explain the interannual variation of VTI. It demonstrates that positive (negative) temperature anomalies within the mean zonal range of the EAT result in expansion (contraction) of the zonal range and lead to high (low) VTI years. The composite analyses based on the three reanalysis datasets well support the proposed mechanism. Furthermore, the general relationship between the VTI and the zonal temperature gradient is discussed based on the proposed mechanism. It is revealed that the asymmetric change of temperature gradient on the western and eastern sides of the EAT plays an important role in the variation of VTI, which suggests that the tilting extent of the EAT is strongly affected by the two-order zonal change of temperature instead of the zonal temperature gradient (i.e., one-order change). Climate variability not only in the simultaneous winter but also in the following spring and summer over East Asia is closely related to the variation of the VTI. This study on the vertical tilting of the EAT may enrich knowledge of the East Asian winter monsoon and the climate variability over East Asia and may be helpful in improving the regional climate prediction in East Asia.     

The intensified impact of El Niño on late-summer precipitation over East Asia since the early 1990s

Climate Dynamics - This study reveals a pronounced enhancement of the relationship between the winter El Niño and the following late-summer precipitation over East Asia since the early 1990s....     

Recent trends in winter temperature extremes in eastern China and their relationship with the Arctic Oscillation and ENSO

Interannual variations in the number of winter extreme warm and cold days over eastern China （EC） and their relationship with the Arctic Oscillation （AO） and E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO） were investigated using an updated temperature dataset comprising 542 Chinese stations during the period 1961- 2011. Results showed that the number of winter extreme warm （cold） days across EC experienced a significant increase （decrease） around the mid-1980s, which could be attributed to interdecadal variation of the East Asian Winter Monsoon （EAWM）. Probability distribution functions （PDFs） of winter temperature extremes in different phases of the AO and ENSO were estimated based on Generalized Extreme Value Distribution theory. Correlation analysis and the PDF technique consistently demonstrated that interannual variation of winter extreme cold days in the northern part of EC （NEC） is closely linked to the AO, while it is most strongly related to the ENSO in the southern part （SEC）. However, the number of winter extreme warm days across EC has little correlation with both AO and ENSO. Furthermore, results indicated that, whether before or after the mid-1980s shift, a significant connection existed between winter extreme cold days in NEC and the AO. However, a significant connection between winter extreme cold days in SEC and the ENSO was only found after the mid-1980s shift. These results highlight the different roles of the AO and ENSO in influencing winter temperature extremes in different parts of EC and in different periods, thus providing important clues for improving short-term climate prediction for winter temperature extremes.     

Improvement of a Snow Albedo Parameterization in the Snow–Atmosphere–Soil Transfer Model:Evaluation of Impacts of Aerosol on Seasonal Snow Cover

The presence of light-absorbing aerosols(LAA) in snow profoundly influence the surface energy balance and water budget.However,most snow-process schemes in land-surface and climate models currently do not take this into consideration.To better represent the snow process and to evaluate the impacts of LAA on snow,this study presents an improved snow albedo parameterization in the Snow–Atmosphere–Soil Transfer(SAST) model,which includes the impacts of LAA on snow.Specifically,the Snow,Ice and Aerosol Radiation(SNICAR) model is incorporated into the SAST model with an LAA mass stratigraphy scheme.The new coupled model is validated against in-situ measurements at the Swamp Angel Study Plot(SASP),Colorado,USA.Results show that the snow albedo and snow depth are better reproduced than those in the original SAST,particularly during the period of snow ablation.Furthermore,the impacts of LAA on snow are estimated in the coupled model through case comparisons of the snowpack,with or without LAA.The LAA particles directly absorb extra solar radiation,which accelerates the growth rate of the snow grain size.Meanwhile,these larger snow particles favor more radiative absorption.The average total radiative forcing of the LAA at the SASP is 47.5Wm~(-2).This extra radiative absorption enhances the snowmelt rate.As a result,the peak runoff time and "snow all gone" day have shifted 18 and 19.5 days earlier,respectively,which could further impose substantial impacts on the hydrologic cycle and atmospheric processes.     

北极涛动、极涡活动异常对北半球欧亚大陆冬季气温的影响

利用1951-2012年NCEP/NCAR全球月平均500 hPa高度场、气温场等再分析资料,北极涛动（AO）指数,北半球及其4个分区的极涡指数等资料,分析极涡和AO对北半球特别是欧亚大陆冬季气温异常分布的影响。北半球极涡面积指数与北半球气温相关场呈由北向南的“+、-”分布,显著正相关中心位于极区,显著负相关中心位于欧亚大陆中高纬度地区;AO指数与气温的相关场分布与此反位相。极涡各分区面积指数体现与各大洲气温显著相关的地域特征,尤其是亚洲极涡面积指数比AO的相关区域更偏向亚洲和中国东部及沿海地区,能表征亚洲大陆冬季风向中低纬度爆发的某些特征。2006年以来AO指数呈较明显的下降趋势,北半球、亚洲区极涡面积指数呈显著的上升趋势,这是有利于欧亚大陆近几年连续冬季气温异常偏低的年代际背景;2009-2011年北半球欧亚大陆冬季大范围低温事件,不仅与冬季AO负位相明显变强有关（2011年除外）,与北半球以及亚洲区极涡面积指数偏大联系更为密切,亦表明该区域冬季变冷的自然变率明显增强。     

应用岩性统计方法判别沉积相*——以珠江口盆地三角洲沉积为例

传统的沉积相分析方法人为影响因素较大,对于相同的沉积构造、曲线形态及地震反射特征,不同人可能会有不同的认识,而岩性相对比较容易识别,并且能通过精密的仪器准确获得,因此,利用岩性数据进行沉积相判别,可以避免沉积相分析过程中人为认识相标志不同造成的差异。作者以珠江口盆地三角洲沉积的岩性数据为基础,通过对能够反映沉积速率、沉积物供给量及沉积水动力条件的不同岩性地层的厚度和层数的统计,选取单层厚度、地层厚度比、出现频率及层数比等统计参数,以交汇图、岩性百分含量三角图及箱线图为依托,最终建立各沉积亚相的定量判别标准。通过检验,其准确率在75％左右,可见该方法基本可行,为沉积相定量化研究提供了一种可供借鉴的方法。