Rapid vegetation responses and feedbacks amplify climate model response to snow cover changes

We investigate the response of a climate system model to two different methods for estimating snow cover fraction. In the control case, snow cover fraction changes gradually with snow depth; in the alternative scenarios (one with prescribed vegetation and one with dynamic vegetation), snow cover fraction initially increases with snow depth almost twice as fast as the control method. In cases where the vegetation was fixed (prescribed), the choice of snow cover parameterization resulted in a limited model response. Increased albedo associated with the high snow caused some moderate localized cooling (3–5°C), mostly at very high latitudes (>70°N) and during the spring season. During the other seasons, however, the cooling was not very extensive. With dynamic vegetation the change is much more dramatic. The initial increases in snow cover fraction with the new parameterization lead to a large-scale southward retreat of boreal vegetation, widespread cooling, and persistent snow cover over much of the boreal region during the boreal summer. Large cold anomalies of up to 15°C cover much of northern Eurasia and North America and the cooling is geographically extensive in the northern hemisphere extratropics, especially during the spring and summer seasons. This study demonstrates the potential for dynamic vegetation within climate models to be quite sensitive to modest forcing. This highlights the importance of dynamic vegetation, both as an amplifier of feedbacks in the climate system and as an essential consideration when implementing adjustments to existing model parameters and algorithms.     

中国东北植被动态变化及其与气候因子的关系

基于GIMMS/NDVI数据,采用小波分析方法,在年内、年际尺度上研究了1982—2006年我国东北区域地表植被的动态变化,并分析了温度、降水等气候因子对植被动态变化的影响。结果表明:东北区域地表植被动态变化特征显著,总体上珋INDV(描述归一化植被指数(normalized difference vegetation index,NDVI)年际尺度平均状况)沿东北—西南方向递减,其中林地珋INDV及ΔINDV(描述NDVI年内变化)最大,分别为0.41和0.70,草地最小;草地区域珋INDV平均增加6.21%,耕地珋INDV有小幅增加,林地有所减小。温度、降水是影响地表植被动态变化的重要因素,总体上与温度的相关系数大于与降水的相关系数,年内尺度的相关系数大于年际尺度的相关系数;在年际尺度上,NDVI与温度的相关系数以耕地最大,平均为0.60,耕地和林地区域NDVI与降水的相关性不显著;在年内尺度上,NDVI与温度、降水的相关系数以林地最大,分别为0.90和0.75;滞后相关分析表明,在年际尺度上,温度对地表植被的影响随着滞后时间的延长以近似线性的趋势降低;在年内尺度上,温度、降水的影响随着滞后时间的延长而加速减小,温度和降水对林地的影响均较快;降水的影响较温度的持续时间更短。     

Responses of vegetation distribution to climate change in China

Climate plays a crucial role in controlling vegetation distribution and climate change may therefore cause extended changes. A coupled biogeography and biogeochemistry model called BIOME4 was modified by redefining the bioclimatic limits of key plant function types on the basis of the regional vegetation–climate relationships in China. Compared to existing natural vegetation distribution, BIOME4 is proven more reliable in simulating the overall vegetation distribution in China. Possible changes in vegetation distribution were simulated under climate change scenarios by using the improved model. Simulation results suggest that regional climate change would result in dramatic changes in vegetation distribution. Climate change may increase the areas covered by tropical forests, warm-temperate forests, savannahs/dry woodlands and grasslands/dry shrublands, but decrease the areas occupied by temperate forests, boreal forests, deserts, dry tundra and tundra across China. Most vegetation in east China, specifically the boreal forests and the tropical forests, may shift their boundaries northwards. The tundra and dry tundra on the Tibetan Plateau may be progressively confined to higher elevation.     

NDVI-based increase in growth of temperate grasslands and its responses to climate changes in China

This study analyzes the temporal change of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for temperate grasslands in China and its correlation with climatic variables over the period of 1982–1999. Average NDVI of the study area increased at rates of 0.5% yr⁻¹ for the growing season (April–October), 0.61% yr⁻¹ for spring (April and May), 0.49% yr⁻¹ for summer (June–August), and 0.6% yr⁻¹ for autumn (September and October) over the study period. The humped-shape pattern between coefficient of correlation (R) of the growing season NDVI to precipitation and growing season precipitation documents various responses of grassland growth to changing precipitation, while the decreased R values of NDVI to temperature with increase of temperature implies that increased temperature declines sensitivity of plant growth to changing temperature. The results also suggest that the NDVI trends induced by climate changes varied between different vegetation types and seasons.     

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.     

Transient responses of North-American grasslands to changes in climate

Our objective was to evaluate the transient responses of grasslands in the central grassland region of North America to changes in climate. We used an individual plant-based gap dynamics simulation model (STEPPE-GP) linked with a soil water model (SOILWAT) to evaluate the effects of changes in climate on the composition and structure of grassland vegetation. Five functional types of plants were simulated based upon lifeform, physiology, and rooting distribution with depth. C₃ and C₄ perennial grasses with either a shallow or deep rooting distribution, and deeply rooted C₃ shrubs were simulated under current climatic conditions and under a GFDL climate change scenario for nine sites representative of the temperature and precipitation regimes in the grassland region.Although vegetation at the sites responded differently to climate change, shifts in functional types occurred within 40 years of the start of the climate change. C₄ grasses increased in dominance or importance at all sites with a change in climate, primarily as a result of increases in temperature in all months at all sites. The coolest sites that arc currently dominated by C₃ grasses were predicted to shift to a dominance by C₄ grasses, whereas sites that are currently dominated by C₄ grasses had an increase in importance of this functional type with a change in climate. Current annual temperature was the best predictor of changes in C₃ biomass, and C₃ and C₄ biomass combined; current annual precipitation was the best predictor of changes in C₄ biomass. These predicted shifts in dominance and importance of C₃ versus C₄ grasses would have important implications for the management of natural grasslands as well as the cultivation of crops in the central grassland region.     

不同升温情景下中国东北地区平均气候和极端气候事件变化预估

利用区域气候模式RegCM4的逐日气温和降水资料,预估1.5℃和2.0℃升温情景下,东北地区平均气候和极端气候事件的变化。结果表明：RCP4.5排放情景下,模式预计在2030年和2044年左右稳定达到1.5℃和2.0℃升温;两种升温情景下,东北地区气温、积温、生长季长度均呈增加趋势,且增幅随着升温阈值的升高而增加;1.5℃升温情景下,年平均气温增幅为1.19℃,年平均降水距平百分率增幅为5.78%,积温增加247.1℃·d,生长季长度延长7.0 d;2.0℃升温情景下气温、积温、生长季长度增幅较1.5℃升温情景下显著,但是年和四季降水普遍减少,年降水距平百分率减小1.96%。两种升温情景下,极端高温事件显著增加,极端低温事件显著减少,极端降水事件普遍增加。霜冻日数、结冰日数均呈显著减少趋势,热浪持续指数呈显著增加趋势;未来东北地区降水极端性增强,不仅单次降水过程的量级增大,极端降水过程的量级也明显增大,随着升温阈值的增大,极端降水的强度也逐渐增大。     

不同年代际背景下AO与冬季中国东北气温的关系

采用1951—2006年北极涛动指数序列、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和我国160站气温资料,利用滑动相关分析研究了不同年代际背景下北极涛动与冬季中国东北气温年际异常关系的变化情况。结果表明,两者的关系在20世纪60年代中后期显著增强,在80年代中后期减弱。不同年代际背景下,与AO相关联的中高纬度大气环流异常发生的明显改变是AO与东北冬季气温关系发生年代际变化的原因。强相关年代,西伯利亚高压与阿留申低压均明显减弱,东亚冬季风偏弱,对流层中下层异常东南风控制东北地区,对流层中层东亚大槽明显减弱,环流的经向性减弱,使该地区冬季气温偏高;相关较弱的年代则以上表现不明显。     

Temporal change of climate zones in China in the context of climate warming

In China, ten climate types were classified using the K-means cluster analysis based on monthly temperature and precipitation data from 753 national meteorological stations for the period 1966–2005. However, 11 mountain climate stations, which are located in southeast China, were classified as one type due to their distinct climate characteristic that differentiated them from other stations. This type could not represent the climate characteristic of this region because all climate stations in this type were located at high-elevation mountains. Thus, it was eliminated when defining climate zones based on climate types. Therefore, nine climate zones were defined in China. Moreover, the temporal change of climate zones was detected in 20-year intervals (1966–1985 and 1986–2005). Although 48 stations changed their climate zones between these two periods, the whole pattern of all climate zones remained stable in these two periods. However, the boundaries between some climate zones changed slightly due to inconsistent variation of regional temperature and precipitation. The most obvious change was the eastern movement of the boundary between an arid temperate zone and a sub-humid temperate zone. There was also a northern shift of the boundary between a tropic zone and a southern subtropic zone. All these changes were probably connected with the climate change in recent 40 years.     

Global climate changes and moisture conditions in the intracontinental arid zones

In order to estimate a transient response of the local hydrological cycle and vegetation cover in the African monsoon area to global climate changes, a simple two-dimensional water vapor transport model coupled with a carbon cycle model for the soil was used. The key difference from other models is that we take into account a positive feedback between the precipitation and development of the vegetation root system in the underlying surface. As our calculation shows, this feedback is responsible for a long-term transient response of local hydrological cycles to the global temperature changes. In the case of a four component vegetation system - tropical forests, savannah, semi desert and desert, (and 2 °C ocean surface water warming), a new steady-state is reached in about 1500 years.In previous works of other authors, the increase of summer precipitations during Holocene or Last Interglacial could be explained only as a result of the surface temperature increase in the intracontinental parts of Africa. However, from paleodata indicates, the temperature in the intracontinental regions of Africa rather decreased during warm epochs of geological past: Holocene optimum, Last Interglacial and middle Pliocene climatic optimum. Our simple model simulations agree with both paleoprecipitation and paleotemperature data.     

Recent trends in vegetation dynamics in the African Sahel and their relationship to climate

Contrary to assertions of widespread irreversible desertification in the African Sahel, a recent increase in seasonal greenness over large areas of the Sahel has been observed, which has been interpreted as a recovery from the great Sahelian droughts. This research investigates temporal and spatial patterns of vegetation greenness and rainfall variability in the African Sahel and their interrelationships based on analyses of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series for the period 1982–2003 and gridded satellite rainfall estimates. While rainfall emerges as the dominant causative factor for the increase in vegetation greenness, there is evidence of another causative factor, hypothetically a human-induced change superimposed on the climate trend.     

中国建筑气候分区和采暖气候条件变化研究

利用1951-1980年和1981-2010年两个气候期的月平均气温数据,对中国大陆地区建筑气候分区进行对比,讨论建筑气候分区的变化;并基于近气候期的建筑气候分区以逐日气温为基础,讨论了1951-2018年不同分区采暖气候条件变化特征。结果表明：与1951-1980年相比,1981-2010年严寒地区范围有所缩减,南界北移;寒冷区、夏热冬冷区、夏热冬暖区北进,温和区西扩,夏热冬暖区范围增大。中国大陆采暖度日数、采暖日数、采暖日均强度分布一致,东部随纬向增加,西部随海拔增加;采暖度日数严寒地区最大,寒冷地区其次,夏热冬暖地区最小;1951-2018年,中国大陆各建筑分区的采暖度日数都呈显著减少趋势,减少速率严寒地区最大,温和地区最小;夏热冬冷地区距平百分率的波动最大,严寒地区波动最小。1998-2012年,全国各建筑气候分区采暖度日数和采暖日均强度在此期间均表现为增加,其中夏热冬暖地区增加趋势通过了0.05显著性检验。     

Reaction of boundaries of moistening zones of the Russian plains to the climate changes

Spatio-temporal moistening variations of subboreal plain landscapes of Russia and the reaction of boundaries of moistening zones to the climate changes as a whole are investigated for the period of 1936–2006 and for its certain intervals. The areas with homogeneous moistening variations and nonlinear moistening trends in every area are determined, coefficients are computed of linear trend of annual precipitation and evaporativity, of annual moistening, and of moistening for vegetation season on the whole territory. It is demonstrated that the boundaries of moistening zones of the territory for the period under consideration remained within the limits of interannual sample variability.     

Early Paleocene vegetation and climate in Jiayin, NE China

The pollen and spores of the Wuyun Formation (Danian, Early Paleocene) from Jiayin County, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, are studied in this paper. The Danian vegetation at Wuyun was composed of mixed temperate and subtropical broad-leaved forest, with an admixture of conifers. The climatic parameters, obtained by the Coexistence Approach based on the palynological and megafossil data, are Mean Annual Temperature of 14.8–16.8°C, Mean Annual Precipitation of 815.8–1,571.8 mm. Combining other climatic parameters in the Tertiary, we obtained the latitudinal temperature gradients: 0.24 in Paleocene, 0.1 in Eocene, 0.45 in Miocene and 0.55 in Pliocene, in the area of East Asia. All these values and modern latitudinal gradient of 0.7 suggest a climatic transition from Paleocene to today: the temperature at higher latitudes first increased then decreased gradually during last 65 Ma, while it changed slightly in lower latitudes.     

Interdecadal changes in the relationship between Southern China winter-spring precipitation and ENSO

Winter-spring precipitation in southern China tends to be higher (lower) than normal in El Niño (La Niña) years during 1953–1973. The relationship between the southern China winter-spring precipitation and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is weakened during 1974–1994. During 1953–1973, above-normal southern China rainfall corresponds to warmer sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial central Pacific. There are two anomalous vertical circulations with ascent over the equatorial central Pacific and ascent over southern China and a common branch of descent over the western North Pacific that is accompanied by an anomalous lower-level anticyclone. During 1974–1994, above-normal southern China rainfall corresponds to warmer SST in eastern South Indian Ocean and cooler SST in western South Indian Ocean. Two anomalous vertical circulations act to link southern China rainfall and eastern South Indian Ocean SST anomalies, with ascent over eastern South Indian Ocean and southern China and a common branch of descent over the western North Pacific. Present analysis shows that South Indian Ocean SST anomalies can contribute to southern China winter-spring precipitation variability independently. The observed change in the relationship between southern China winter-spring rainfall and ENSO is likely related to the increased SST variability in eastern South Indian Ocean and the modulation of the Pacific decadal oscillation.     

Past and future changes in climate and hydrological indicators in the US Northeast

To assess the influence of global climate change at the regional scale, we examine past and future changes in key climate, hydrological, and biophysical indicators across the US Northeast (NE). We first consider the extent to which simulations of twentieth century climate from nine atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) are able to reproduce observed changes in these indicators. We then evaluate projected future trends in primary climate characteristics and indicators of change, including seasonal temperatures, rainfall and drought, snow cover, soil moisture, streamflow, and changes in biometeorological indicators that depend on threshold or accumulated temperatures such as growing season, frost days, and Spring Indices (SI). Changes in indicators for which temperature-related signals have already been observed (seasonal warming patterns, advances in high-spring streamflow, decreases in snow depth, extended growing seasons, earlier bloom dates) are generally reproduced by past model simulations and are projected to continue in the future. Other indicators for which trends have not yet been observed also show projected future changes consistent with a warmer climate (shrinking snow cover, more frequent droughts, and extended low-flow periods in summer). The magnitude of temperature-driven trends in the future are generally projected to be higher under the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) mid-high (A2) and higher (A1FI) emissions scenarios than under the lower (B1) scenario. These results provide confidence regarding the direction of many regional climate trends, and highlight the fundamental role of future emissions in determining the potential magnitude of changes we can expect over the coming century.

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区域气候模式RegCM_NCC在东北地区的应用研究

引进国家气候中心业务化的区域气候模式RegCM_NCC,通过操作系统调试、模拟区域确定、模式分辨率调整等本地化工作,初步建立了针对东北地区的区域气候模式系统,并应用该模式以夏季为例,对东北地区的气候进行了15 a（1991—2005年）时间长度的数值积分试验。结果表明：模式对环流的特征和东北地区地面气温具有一定的模拟能力,对气温模拟存在系统性的暖偏差,对降水模拟能力较差。     

热带印度洋偶极子与中国夏季年际气候异常关系的年代际变化

利用中国站点观测逐月降水和月平均气温资料以及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,揭示了热带印度洋偶极子(IOD)与中国夏季气候异常关系的年代际变化.结果表明:IOD与中国夏季年际气候异常的关系既有稳定的一面,又存在着年代际变化.较为稳定的关系表现为:IOD与同年夏季长江黄河之间的降水变化存在显著负相关,与四川气温变化存在显著正相关;IOD与次年夏季四川降水存在显著正相关.伴随发生在20世纪70年代末的大尺度环流年代际转型,IOD与中国气候年际异常的联系亦发生变化:IOD正位相年的同年夏季降水异常型,由中国大部分地区偏少变为长江以南(北)偏多(少),气温由西南地区东部偏暖变为长江以南(北)偏冷(暖);次年夏季降水由全国大部分地区偏多变为长江以南(北)偏少(多),气温由全国大部分地区相关不显著变为黄河以南大部分地区显著偏暖.在IOD负位相年,中国夏季气候异常的特征与IOD正位相年相反.在20世纪70年代末的大尺度年代际气候转犁前后,与IOD相关的东亚大气环流异常特征明显不同.在IOD发展阶段,在70年代末以前,印度夏季风和南海季风偏强,副热带高压势力偏弱,导致中国华南大部分地区降水偏少,华北西部以及内蒙古中部等地降水偏多;70年代末以后,东亚大陆中纬度为弱的东风距平,导致新疆北部降水偏少,气温偏高,华南降水偏多.在IOD次年夏季,70年代末以前,华南、河套以及四川等地盛行偏南气流,降水偏多;70年代末以后,南亚高压和西太平洋副高偏西偏强,华南、江南降水偏少.