Some recent trends in precipitation in Western Canada and their possible link to rising carbon dioxide: Research note

Abstract

Observations of the changes in mean annual and seasonal precipitation with time in British Columbia and western Alberta between the periods 1931–60 and 1951–80 indicate that more stations show an increase than a decrease. Changes tend to be positive on the coast, negative in south‐central British Columbia, positive on the west slopes of the Rockies, and negative to the east. This suggests an orographic influence and increased flow from the southwest at mountain‐top.

The possibility that these changes in precipitation are associated with CO₂ warming is considered.

Both the surface air temperature and sea surface temperature were raised by 2°C for cyclogenesis events over the northeastern Pacific and the consequences were investigated with the aid of a limited‐area, 8‐level primitive equations model. The lows are deepened by as much as 6 mb and precipitation amounts are increased up to 8 mm owing to the increased mixing ratio and the feedback of latent heat energy.     

Temporal and spatial evolution trends of drought in northern Shaanxi of China: 1960–2100

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Drought prediction and assessment are the basis for addressing climate change and extreme weather. Northern Shaanxi is an important energy base and ecological...     

1964-2008年辽宁省旱涝时空分布特征及演变趋势

利用1964-2008年辽宁51站降水量资料,采用Z指数和区域旱涝HL指数分析了全区近45a旱涝变化.结果表明:近45 a辽西、辽北以及辽东南地区单站旱涝发生频率均明显高于辽中、辽东地区;区域性洪涝指数逐渐减小,区域性干旱指数逐步增大.对辽宁51站Z指数进行了EOF和REOF分析,可知辽宁旱涝的空间分布特征除受大尺度天...     

1964-2008年辽宁省旱涝时空分布特征及演变趋势

利用1964—2008年辽宁51站降水量资料,采用Z指数和区域旱涝HL指数分析了全区近45a旱涝变化。结果表明：近45a辽西、辽北以及辽东南地区单站旱涝发生频率均明显高于辽中、辽东地区;区域性洪涝指数逐渐减小,区域性干旱指数逐步增大。对辽宁51站Z指数进行了EOF和REOF分析,可知辽宁旱涝的空间分布特征除受大尺度天气系统所带来的降水量变化影响外,同时还受地理位置、海陆分布等多种因子影响。通过REOF方法可将全区分为4个区域,即Ⅰ辽西地区,Ⅱ辽北、辽西北地区,Ⅲ辽中、辽东地区和Ⅳ辽东南地区。     

Temperature and humidity spectra in the atmospheric surface layer

Temperature and humidity spectra have been measured at 3 and 12 m above the ground, together with profiles of wind, temperature and humidity, and flux measurements. Both temperature and humidity spectra appear to follow Monin-Obukov similarity as well as Kolmogorov's prediction for the inertial subrange. The standard deviations of temperature and humidity fluctuations support Monin-Obukov similarity and the predictions of local free convection. The spectral constants for the inertial subrange have been estimated as 0.8 for temperature and 0.6 for humidity.     

Analysis of recent trends in mean maximum and minimum temperatures in a region of the NW of Spain (Castilla y León)

Summary The present paper is an analysis of mean maximum and minimum temperatures carried out on monthly, seasonal and annual time-scales examining the data collected at 171 meteorological stations over a region in the North West of Spain (Castilla y León) for the period 1961–1997. Various statistical tools were used to detect and describe significant trends in these data. The magnitude of the trends was derived from the slopes of the regression lines using the least squares method, and the statistical significance was determined by means of the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test. The pattern obtained is quite similar for mean maximum and minimum temperatures with increases in all months of the year, and in the annual series. The seasonal series corresponding to winter and summer also followed this same pattern. Spring and autumn were found to be more irregular. Because maximum temperature increased at a higher rate than minimum temperature in this period, an increase in the annual diurnal temperature range (DTR) was observed. The correlation between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the regional maximum and minimum temperatures and DTR series for the period 1961–1997 have also be studied in this paper.     

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...     

Analysis of recent climatic variations in Castile and Leon (Spain)

This paper reports the results of the analysis of annual mean temperature and precipitation series from 171 meteorological stations distributed over Castile and Leon [Castilla y León in Spanish] in Spain on monthly, seasonal and annual time-scales for a 37-year study period (1961–1997). Various statistical tools were used to detect and characterize significant changes in these series. The magnitude of the trends was derived from the slopes of the regression lines using the least squares method, and the statistical significance was determined by means of nonparametric tests. Positive trends of about 0.33 °C in the annual mean temperature were found for the whole period. Mean temperatures increased in spring and winter, the winter trend being statistically significant. The months of December and March also showed significant trends. Decreases in rainfall were found for three seasons (winter, spring and autumn), with statistically significant trends in March. Summer precipitation showed slight increases over the 37-year period. On this basis, the authors consider that the increase in summer precipitation and the decrease in the range of average temperatures between the warmest and the coldest months of the year (continentality), point towards a trend to a more oceanic climate in Castile and Leon.     

近60年中国探空观测气温变化趋势及不确定性研究

基于118站探空资料研究了近60年中国850—100 hPa气温变化趋势及季节和区域特征,并通过与1979—2017年卫星微波气温的对比研究了中国探空气温均一化的不确定性。研究表明,1958—2017年中国平均对流层气温呈上升趋势,300 hPa升温最为显著,平流层下层（100 hPa）为降温趋势。冬季对流层上层升温趋势和夏季平流层下层降温趋势较强。1979—2017年较整个时段对流层升温趋势较强,平流层下层降温趋势较弱。青藏高原和西北地区对流层上层升温趋势较强。通过与卫星微波气温和邻近探空站探空气温的对比以及均一化前后日夜气温差值检测出中国探空均一化气温仍残存非均一性问题。由于参照序列的局限性,均一化未能完全去除21世纪最初10年中国探空系统变化造成的对流层中、上层至平流层下层气温系统性下降的影响,导致中国对流层上层升温趋势被低估和平流层下层降温趋势被高估。未来可通过参考卫星微波气温和邻近探空站序列调整非均一性订正顺序并增加合理性检验等方法改进中国探空气温均一化方案。      

Ascribing potential causes of recent trends in free atmosphere temperatures

We use globally gridded radiosonde temperature datasets in a simple climate change study. Two climate models, when run with historical and, particularly, anthropogenic forcings, exhibit a degree of agreement with radiosonde temperature observations for 1958–1998.     

Trend analysis of air temperature time series in Greece and their relationship with circulation using surface and satellite data: recent trends and an update to 2013

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - In this paper, the surface and lower tropospheric temperature trends in Greece and their relationship to the atmospheric circulation for the period...     

近3a岳阳暴雨时空分布规律及形势特征分析

利用岳阳市2015～2017年232个区域气象站、6个国家气象站降水资料和EC细网格风场资料,采用统计分析等方法总结了近三年暴雨日变化特征和空间分布特征,分析了暴雨产生的中低层影响系统的天气形势,结果表明：岳阳市暴雨过程日变化规律有集中型暴雨、持续型暴雨和波动型暴雨3个类型,集中型暴雨主要出现在华容站、平江站白天和汨罗站晚上;持续型暴雨主要出现在岳阳站全天和临湘站晚上;波动型暴雨出现在临湘、湘阴、汨罗站白天和华容、湘阴、平江站晚上。岳阳市暴雨过程的空间分布频次为东部高于西部,药姑山区暴雨次数最多,强度最大,是岳阳市暴雨中心,连云山区为次暴雨频次中心和局地暴雨强度中心,幕阜山区仅有局地暴雨频次中心,地形是岳阳市暴雨出现频率高和暴雨强度大的重要因素;全市性大范围暴雨受天气系统影响更明显,地形影响也是全市性大范围暴雨的重要影响因素,最强暴雨区范围在药姑山区及其新墙河流域。区域性暴雨在连云山区有暴雨重叠区域,连云山区也是区域性暴雨中心。影响岳阳市暴雨的中低层天气系统以急流和冷切变居多,低涡次之、暖切变(横切变)和低槽较少,大多数暴雨过程有多个天气系统配合出现。     

江苏春季霜冻气候变化特征及其未来可能变化趋势

在利用江苏省35站1961-2008年气象观测资料分析春霜冻发生时空演变特征的基础上,利用“WCRP”的耦合模式比较计划一阶段3的多模式未来气候数据,分析了未来不同气候变化情景下江苏省春霜冻变化趋势。结果表明：近48a来,江苏省终霜冻期显著提早、春霜冻日数明显减少;终霜冻期和春霜冻日数均在20世纪90年代后期发生气候突变。在未来全球气候变化背景下,江苏的终霜冻期将进一步明显提前,其中在中排放情景下（A1B）,2020s终霜冻期将比1961-1999平均终霜冻期提前4．6～9．6d,至2060s将提前14．6～17．7d;在高排放情景下（A2）,2020s将提前7．3～11．3d,至2060s将提前12．8～16．5d;在低排放情景下（B1）,2020s将提前5．3～10．2d,至2060s将提前9．4～14．2d。     

Impact of urbanization on recent temperature and precipitation trends in the Korean peninsula

Urbanization has a significant impact on climate in urban areas. In this study, we investigate urbanization impacts on temperature and precipitation trends in Korean peninsula based on statistical relationship between these trends and local population growth. We found that there is a significant positive correlation between temperature rise and local population growth, indicating that urbanization has a significant contribution to temperature increase in city climate. As for temperature, the population growth in Korean cities is positively correlated with precipitation trend. The positive correlation is higher during summer time when small-scale convective activity is dominant. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the correlation is significantly increased when stations in rural areas and small cities are excluded. Such nonlinear relation between precipitation and urbanization is also discussed.     

Recent trends in temperature and precipitation over the Balearic Islands (Spain)

Changes in climatic parameters are often given in terms of global averages even though large regional variability is generally observed. The study of regional tendencies provides not only supplementary conclusions to more large-scale oriented results but is also of particular interest to local policy-makers and resource managers to have detailed information regarding sensible and influential climatic parameters. In this study, changes in precipitation for the Balearic Islands (Spain) have been analyzed using data from 18 rain gauges with complete daily time series during the period 1951–2006 and two additional sites where only monthly totals were available. Tendencies for maximum and minimum 2-m temperatures have also been derived using data from three thermometric stations with daily time series for the period 1976–2006. The thermometric stations are located at the head of the runways in the airports of the three major islands of the archipelago, where urbanization has arguably not had a relevant impact on the registered values. The annual mean temperature in the mid-troposphere and lower stratosphere has also been analyzed using the Balearics radiosonde data for the period 1981–2006. Results show there is a negative tendency for annual precipitation (163 mm per century) with 85% significance on the sign of the trend. An abrupt decrease in mean yearly precipitation of 65 mm is objectively detected in the time series around 1980. Additionally, the analysis shows that light and heavy daily precipitation (up to 4 mm and above 64 mm, respectively) increase their contribution to the total annual, while the share from moderate-heavy precipitations (16–32 mm) is decreasing. Regarding the thermometric records, minimum temperatures increased at a rate of 5.8°C per century during the 31 years and maximum temperatures also increased at a rate of 5.0°C per century, both having a level of statistical significance for the sign of the linear trend above 99%. Temperatures in the mid-troposphere decreased at a rate of ??5.4°C per century while a tendency of ??7.8°C per century is found in the lower stratosphere. The level of statistical significance for the sign of both the tropospheric and stratospheric linear trends is above 98% despite the great inter-annual variability of both series.     

Spatial analysis of the annual and seasonal aridity trends in Extremadura,southwestern Spain

The knowledge of drought (or wetness) conditions is necessary not only for a rational use of water resources but also for explaining landscape and ecology characteristics. An increase in aridity in many areas of the world is expected because of climate change (global warming). With the aim of analysing annual and seasonal aridity trends in Extremadura, southwestern Spain, climate data from 81 locations within the 1951–2010 period were used. After computing the De Martonne aridity index at each location, a geographic information system (GIS) and multivariate geostatistics (regression kriging) were utilised to map this index throughout the region. Later, temporal trends were analysed using the Mann-Kendall test, and the Sen’s estimator was utilised to estimate the magnitude of trends. Maps of aridity trends were generated by ordinary kriging algorithm, providing a visualisation of detected annual and seasonal tendencies. An increase in aridity, as the De Martonne aridity index decreased, was apparent during the study period, mainly in the more humid locations of the north of the region. An increase of the seasonal De Martonne aridity index was also found, but it was only statistically significant in some locations in spring and summer, with the highest decreasing rate in the north of Extremadura. Change year detection was achieved using cumulative sum graphs, obtaining that firstly the change point occurred in spring, in the mid-1970s, later in the annual period in the late 1970s and finally in summer at the end of the 1980s.     

Stratospheric ozone depletion: a key driver of recent precipitation trends in South Eastern South America

On a hemispheric scale, it is now well established that stratospheric ozone depletion has been the principal driver of externally forced atmospheric circulation changes south of the Equator in the last decades of the 20th Century. The impact of ozone depletion has been felt over the entire hemisphere, as reflected in the poleward drift of the midlatitude jet, the southward expansion of the summertime Hadley cell and accompanying precipitation trends deep into the subtropics. On a regional scale, however, surface impacts directly attributable to ozone depletion have yet to be identified. In this paper we focus on South Eastern South America (SESA), a region that has exhibited one of the largest wetting trends during the 20th Century. We study the impact of ozone depletion on SESA precipitation using output from 6 different climate models, spanning a wide range of complexity. In all cases we contrast pairs of model integrations with and without ozone depletion, but with all other forcings identically specified. This allows for unambiguous attribution of the computed precipitation trends. All 6 climate models consistently reveal that stratospheric ozone depletion results in a significant wetting of SESA over the period 1960–1999. Taken as a whole, these model results strongly suggest that the impact of ozone depletion on SESA precipitation has been as large as, and quite possibly larger than, the one caused by increasing greenhouse gases over the same period.