Optical and radiative properties of aerosols over Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates

The present study is on the aerosol optical and radiative properties in the short-wave radiation and its climate implications at the arid city of Abu Dhabi (24.42 ^°N, 54.61 ^°E, 4.5 m MSL), in the United Arab Emirates. The direct aerosol radiative forcings (ARF) in the short-wave region at the top (TOA) and bottom of the atmosphere (BOA) are estimated using a hybrid approach, making use of discrete ordinate radiative transfer method in conjunction with the short-wave flux and spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements, over a period of 3 years (June 2012–July 2015), at Abu Dhabi located at the south-west coast of the Arabian Gulf. The inferred microphysical properties of aerosols at the measurement site indicate strong seasonal variations from the dominance of coarse mode mineral dust aerosols during spring (March–May) and summer (June–September), to the abundance of fine/accumulation mode aerosols mainly from combustion of fossil-fuel and bio-fuel during autumn (October–November) and winter (December–February) seasons. The monthly mean diurnally averaged ARF at the BOA (TOA) varies from ?13.2 Wm^?2 (～?0.96 Wm^?2) in November to ?39.4 Wm^?2 (?11.4 Wm^?2) in August with higher magnitudes of the forcing values during spring/summer seasons and lower values during autumn/winter seasons. The atmospheric aerosol forcing varies from + 12.2 Wm^?2 (November) to 28.2 Wm^?2 (June) with higher values throughout the spring and summer seasons, suggesting the importance of mineral dust aerosols towards the solar dimming. Seasonally, highest values of the forcing efficiency at the surface are observed in spring (?85.0 ± 4.1 W m^?2 τ ^?1) followed closely by winter (?79.2 ± 7.1 W m^?2 τ ^?1) and the lowest values during autumn season (?54 ± 4.3 W m^?2 τ ^?1). The study concludes with the variations of the atmospheric heating rates induced by the forcing. Highest heating rate is observed in June (0.39 K day ^?1) and the lowest in November (0.17 K day ^?1) and the temporal variability of this parameter is linearly associated with the aerosol absorption index.     

A Tale of Two Planets

Most of Earth's volcanism occurs at plate boundaries—mid-ocean ridges and island arcs. Most of the ³He and other noble gases also are expelled from the interior at these locations. A small amount, compared to the global budget, of magma (<10%) and 3He («1%) escapes at mid-plate volcanoes, the socalled “hotspots.” Locations of hotspots are controlled by stresses and cracks, not by deep, narrow mantle upwellings. Most, or all, of Earth's volatile inventory appears to have been brought in by a late veneer. The high ³He content and high He/Ne and He/Ar ratios of mid-ocean ridge basalts, plus the excess ¹²⁹Xe and ¹³⁶Xe, suggest that the ridge basalt reservoir is relatively undegassed and that there is no primordial undegassed reservoir. The two prevailing views of the origin of Earth are summarized in the context of this information.     

Radiation and energy flux characteristics of tea canopies in Kenya

This paper discusses the results of an experiment whereby all the major radiation and energy fluxes were measured/estimated for a mature tea canopy at Kericho, Kenya. The fluxes include incoming short-wave radiation, terrestrial radiation, latent heat flux and the sensible heat fluxes between the canopy and the air and that into and out of the soil. The pertinent data were simultaneously collected by use of 21X microloggers. Global radiation varied from 40 Wm^–2 to 1160 Wm^–2 depending on sky conditions. High values were observed early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Net radiation varied between — 100 Wm^–2 at night and 600 Wm^–2during the daytime. The largest proportion of net radiation was consumed by the latent heat flux. Advection was found to be minimal.     

Earth's spin and volcanic eruptions: evidence for mutual cause‐and‐effect interactions?

The angular velocity of Earth's rotation shows decadal oscillations due to the lunisolar gravitational torque, as well as inter‐ or intra‐annual changes arising from the angular momentum exchange between the atmosphere and the solid Earth. The energies involved in the Length of Day (LOD) variations may affect the crustal deformation rate and seismic energy release on a global scale. We found significant correlation between the occurrences of major volcanic eruptions and the LOD pattern since AD 1750. On a multiyear scale, eruption frequency worldwide increases with LOD changes. Moreover, the injection of sulphur gases into the atmosphere during major eruptions is accompanied by significant inter‐annual LOD variations. This provides evidence of complex mutual cause‐and‐effect interactions: stress changes induced by multiyear variations in Earth's spin may affect climactic volcanic activity; also, the atmosphere's dynamic response to volcanic plumes may result in global changes of wind circulation and climate, with consequent LOD variations.     

沙尘气溶胶与气候变化

沙尘气溶胶通过吸收和散射太阳辐射与长波辐射影响地球辐射收支和能量平衡,从而影响气候变化。另一方面,气候变化,土地利用、沙漠化和城市化等人类活动都是可能导致大气中矿物沙尘气溶胶的改变。沙尘气溶胶在全球及区域尺度气候和环境变化中起着十分重要的作用。     

Measurements of net all-wave radiation at a tropical location,Ile-Ife,Nigeria

Hourly averaged net all-wave radiation data spanning a complete three-year period (2010-2012) at a meteorological station located inside the Obafemi Awolowo University campus in Ile-Ife (7.52° N, 4.52° E), Nigeria is presented in this study to investigate its diurnal and seasonal variations. Using a high-sensitivity four-component net radiometer, the data represents so far the most consistent and detailed information available for a tropical location in West Africa. From the dataset, hourly maxima of the net radiation occurred at 14:00 LT (GMT + 1), whose values increased considerably from 337.6 ± 146.4 Wm⁻² in July, which is the peak of the wet season, to 441.7 ± 82.4 Wm⁻² in March, the end of the dry season. April and October, both of which mark the beginning and end of the raining season at Ile-Ife have recorded the highest values of 584.7 and 612.2 Wm⁻², respectively. There was strong intra/inter-seasonal variation observed in the monthly mean values of the net radiation due mainly to the fluctuations in cloudiness and humidity. In the study area, the data indicated a net radiative heating taking place at the surface, whose annual trend follows a bimodal distribution. The present data supports the results published in earlier studies by other authors.     

青海玉树隆宝高寒湿地近地面能量收支状况研究

基于青海玉树隆宝湿地2011年10月-2012年9月气象观测数据, 利用组合法计算其近地面的感热通量和潜热通量, 进而分析近地面能量收支状况. 结果表明: 隆宝湿地太阳辐射资源充足, 达6 770.8 MJ·m^-2, 受积雪影响, 冬季日反射率最高可达0.93; 11月和12月地面吸收的90%以上短波能量以辐射形式传给大气, 而6月份则不到30%. 地面全年以净辐射和土壤热通量吸收能量, 其中, 77%以潜热形式支出, 23%以感热形式支出, 但各月能量收支特征与之有所不同.     

Electron acceleration in the ionosphere of Io

A mechanism for the acceleration of electrons in the ionosphere of Io due to the moon's motion through the Jovian magnetic field and the presence of Io's ionosphere is considered. Attention is drawn to the important role of the anisotropic conductivity of the ionosphere, which results in the formation of a longitudinal (with respect to the planetary magnetic field) component of the charge-separation electric field. Owing to this anisotropy, the electric field induced by the motion of Io, E_i, produces in Io's ionosphere not only a Pedersen electrical current along E_i but also a Hall current that is approximately perpendicular to the moon's surface in the “upstream” and “downstream” parts of the ionosphere. However, this current cannot be closed through the surface, leading to the formation of a powerful charge-separation field in Io's ionosphere. This field has a component parallel to the magnetic field, with an amplitude comparable to that of the induced electric field. Electron runaway along the magnetic field is also considered, and the occurrence of “active longitudes” and preferred locations for the sources of decametric radio emission in the northern hemisphere of Jupiter are interpreted. The characteristic energies and fluxes of the accelerated electrons injected into Io's flux tube are estimated. The energy of these electron fluxes is sufficient to produce the electromagnetic radiation observed from Io's magnetic tube.     

Air–Water CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Fluxes and Net Ecosystem Production Changes in a Baja California Coastal Lagoon During the Anomalous North Pacific Warm Condition

The present study examines the temporal variability of air–water CO₂ fluxes (FCO₂) and seawater carbonate chemistry in a Baja California coastal lagoon during an exceptionally warm anomaly that was developed in Northeast Pacific coasts during 2014. This oceanographic condition led to a summer-like season (weak upwelling condition) during the study period, which reached a maximum surface temperature anomaly of 2 °C in September 2014. San Quintín Bay acts as a source of CO₂ to the atmosphere in 2014 (3.3 ± 4.8 mmol C m^?2 day^?1) with the higher positive fluxes mainly observed in summer months (9.0 ± 5.3 mmol C m^?2 day^?1). Net ecosystem production (NEP) switched seasonally between net heterotrophy and net autotrophy during the study period, with an annual average of 2.2 ± 7.1 mmol C m^?2 day^?1, which indicates that San Quintín Bay was a net autotrophic system during the atypical warm oceanographic condition in 2014. This pattern of seasonal variations in the carbon balance at San Quintín Bay appears to be linked to the life cycle of benthic communities, which play an important role in the whole-ecosystem metabolism. Under the limited input from external sources coupled with an increase in seawater temperatures, the recycled benthic carbon and nutrient fluxes play a major role to sustain water-column processes within the bay. Since the upwelling condition may influence the magnitude of the air–water CO₂ fluxes, our results clearly indicated that San Quintín Bay is a net source of carbon to the atmosphere regardless of the adjacent oceanic conditions. Our study sheds light on the carbon dynamics and its metabolic implications in a shallow coastal ecosystem under a regional warm anomaly and contributes potentially relevant information in view of the likely future scenario of global climate change.     

北极地区地面辐射量和云辐射强迫特征

In this paper the characteristics of surface radiative fluxes and cloud-radiative forcing are reviewed with a focus on the Arctic. Three aspects are addressed, including (i) changes in radiation flux over the global surface; (ii) characteristics of surface fluxes in the Arctic; and (iii) characteristics of cloud-radiative forcing in the Arctic. The clouds not only significantly reduce the peak summer radiative heating of the surface but also reduce the wintertime radiative cooling at the surface in　higher latitudes. The downward longwave fluxes dominates the incident radiative fluxes in the Arctic during most of the year. Incoming shortwave fluxes are negligible during late fall, winter and early spring, and even during the midsummer the incoming shortwave fluxes are only slightly greater than the downward longwave fluxes. The total net surface radiative flux is negative for most of the year and only positive during midsummer in the Arctic. The global net cloud-radiative forcing is negative, but the cloud-radiative forcing is positive in the Arctic, showing a warming effect, except for a short period in mid-summer. Positive cloud-radiative forcing in the Arctic is attributed　to the presence of snow and ice with high albedo and the absence of solar radiation during the polar night.     

俯冲板片的脱碳机制及通量估算:问题与进展SCIEI北大核心CSCD

地球98%以上的碳赋存在地球深部地幔和地核中。地球深部储库(地幔和地核)中的碳以各类岩浆作用释放到地表,而地球表层系统(大气圈、水圈、生物圈)中的碳又可以伴随板块俯冲作用进入地球深部地幔。然而俯冲过程中不同的脱碳机制会将俯冲板片中部分乃至全部碳带出板片,而后经由岛弧岩浆作用、流体扩散作用等途径返回地表。因此,板片俯冲过程中的脱碳机制及其通量深刻地影响了地质时间尺度中地表系统的二氧化碳浓度,进而改变地球的宜居性。本文总结了目前主流观点认可的五种俯冲板片脱碳机制:变质反应脱碳、流体溶解脱碳、熔融脱碳、底辟脱碳和氧化还原脱碳。另一方面,目前对于俯冲板片各种脱碳机制对应的脱碳效率还有很大的争议,因此本文进一步梳理了板片俯冲过程中不同脱碳机制相关的通量估算的研究进展与存在的问题,建议将来综合多种方法对比研究俯冲带碳循环问题,以期在俯冲带深部碳循环过程和通量方面取得突破性进展。     

岩溶动力系统与全球变化研究进展

碳酸盐岩是岩溶发育的物质基础,它记录着地球历史时期的环境变化,是地球最大的碳库,对地球大气和生命演变起到重要作用;现代全球岩溶分布面积2200万km~2,占陆地面积的15%,岩溶动力系统是地球表层系统的重要组成部分,全球25%的人口依赖岩溶地下水资源的供给,岩溶生态系统的脆弱性制约着区域经济社会发展;本文主要针对近30年以来,岩溶学科发展进行综述,包括岩溶动力学概念、内涵与发展,驱动岩溶发育的地质-生态机制,岩溶动力系统与碳循环新进展,岩溶动力系统与水循环新进展,岩溶动力系统与钙循环新进展;岩溶动力系统与全球环境变化研究发展展望(岩溶关键带下的资源环境效应及国际大科学计划的启动)。     

Impact of Conjugated Shear Joint of “X” Type on Macroscopic Karstification on the Basis of the Analysis of Google Earth Images

As viewed from space remote-sensing images (e.g. Google Earth images) of South Guizhou and North Guangxi, the authors found that macroscopic karst landscape on the Earth’s surface is strongly controlled by the Conjugated shear joint of “X” type. Joints of this kind constitute a huge infiltration network and act as channel-ways for the permeation of meteoric waters from the surface, thus, leading to the dissolution of carbonate rocks nearby. As a result, the karst landscape is formed, which is dominated by linear karst valleys. An “X” karst valley network structure appears in the area where horizontal strata are distributed, and a feather-like network structure appears in the area where vertical strata are distributed, respectively. When the water permeates downwards to the underground-water level, it will flow horizontally along the strike of “X” joints toward the local base level of erosion to form an “X” network system of underground conduits in the area where horizontal strata are distributed, but it is relatively complex, because of the joining of other joints. This is the first time we have made use of Google Earth images to study the karst environment. Therefore, it has been successful in research on the Earth’s geomorphology, which could only rely on aerial photos and satellite photos in the past. Google Earth images provide low-cost and applicable imaging materials for the study of Earth’s geomorphology and karst rocky desertification and its control.     

深部碳循环的环境气候效应SCIEI北大核心CSCD

地球表层温度主要由接收的太阳辐射能量及大气温室气体的保温能力共同控制。CO_(2)等温室气体通过对大气温度的调节影响着全球环境气候变化,工业革命以来全球CO_(2)排放量的增加被认为是全球变暖的重要原因,地质历史时期大气CO_(2)浓度的波动与温室和冰室气候的交替出现相对应。地球超过90%的碳赋存于深部,因此地球深部过程的些许波动便会影响到地表碳含量,进而深刻影响着地球的环境气候变化。以往的研究注重地表碳循环对环境气候的影响,对深部碳的贡献考虑不足。最近十余年全球开展了详细的深部碳循环研究,基于已经取得的重要成果,本文从大火成岩省、裂谷和俯冲带的视角对深部碳循环驱动的环境气候效应进行了系统回顾。认为未来的研究需要对地球深部碳循环通量和碳同位素组成进行更精确的定量,这是我们认识深部碳循环对地表环境气候影响的基础;除了碳元素本身我们还需要关注其他挥发性元素和有害金属元素的综合效应;俯冲带作为全球壳-幔相互作用和物质交换循环最重要的场所,应该是进行深部碳循环观察和环境气候效应研究的重点。     

Carbonate Chemistry and Air–Sea CO2 Flux in a NW Mediterranean Bay Over a Four-Year Period: 2007–2011

The Service d’Observation de la Rade de Villefranche-sur-Mer is designed to study the temporal variability of hydrological conditions as well as the abundance and composition of holo- and meroplankton at a fixed station in this bay of the northwest Mediterranean. The weekly data collected at this site, designated as “Point B” since 1957, represent a long-term time series of hydrological conditions in a coastal environment. Since 2007, the historical measurements of hydrological and biological conditions have been complemented by measurements of the CO₂–carbonic acid system parameters. In this contribution, CO₂–carbonic acid system parameters and ancillary data are presented for the period 2007–2011. The data are evaluated in the context of the physical and biogeochemical processes that contribute to variations in CO₂ in the water column and exchange of this gas between the ocean and atmosphere. Seasonal cycles of the partial pressure of CO₂ in seawater (pCO₂) are controlled principally by variations in temperature, showing maxima in the summer and minima during the winter. Normalization of pCO₂ to the mean seawater temperature (18.5 °C), however, reveals an apparent reversal of the seasonal cycle with maxima observed in the winter and minima in the summer, consistent with a biogeochemical control of pCO₂ by primary production. Calculations of fluxes of CO₂ show this area to be a weak source of CO₂ to the atmosphere during the summer and a weak sink during the winter but near neutral overall (range ?0.3 to +0.3 mmol CO₂ m^?2 h^?1, average 0.02 mmol CO₂ m^?2 h^?1). We also provide an assessment of errors incurred from the estimation of annual fluxes of CO₂ as a function of sampling frequency (3-hourly, daily, weekly), using data obtained at the Hawaii Kilo Nalu coastal time-series station, which shows similar behavior to the Point B location despite significant differences in climate and hydrological conditions and the proximity of a coral reef ecosystem.     

云量对祁连山老虎沟12号冰川表面能量平衡的影响

为探讨云量对冰川表面能量平衡(SEB)的影响,利用架设在老虎沟12号冰川(简称12号冰川)消融区(4 550m a. s. l.)的自动气象站资料,结合能量平衡模型计算各能量分量并分析其季节变化,通过云量参数化方案获取云量因子并量化其对冰川表面能量收支的影响。结果表明:净短波辐射为冰川表面主要的能量来源(92%),净长波辐射为主要能量支出(61%),二者均受云量影响,但云的短波辐射效应更强(-37W·m^-2)。云量通过影响辐射收支和湍流通量进而影响冰川表面能量收支,随云量的增加,冰川表面获得的能量减少,冰川消融速率降低。与其他区域的冰川表面能量收支对比,除地理位置、反照率、气温等因素外,海拔和云量的影响也非常显著。     

Symmetry of the Earth's planetary relief

The order in structure of planetary relief is characterized by the following symmetrical attitudes of forms: antisymmetry of the north and south hemisphere (polar antisymmetry), underlined by availability of antianalogical forms; symmetry of cone in the Laurasian continental massif in the north hemisphere; symmetry of axis of the 4th order in the south hemisphere. In the West Pacific region the summation of private dissymetries of planetary relief structure occurs. The Earth's equatorial belt has a system of sinistral oroclines. Symmetrical peculiarities of planetary relief structure may allow us to suppose that the main process of the Earth's development during the Post-Gondwanian epoc (middle-Jurassic-Cenozoic period) was anisotropic expansion, mainly in the south hemisphere. Other tectonic processes, including lithospheric plate displacements, occur simultaneously with the normal process of the Earth's expansion.     

Earth's atmosphere – Hadean to early Proterozoic

The chemistry of Earth's atmosphere during its first 2–2.5 Ga bears on several branches of geoscience including the origin of prebiotic molecules and life itself, early surface processes, the “faint young sun” problem, carbon isotope systematics, and the transition to an oxidized surface. The geologic record, as sparse as it is for this era, presents several difficulties for attempts to model the atmosphere and its changes through time. The prevailing view for the past 50 years has centered around a moderately oxidized atmosphere of CO₂ and N₂, and most modeling efforts have been directed at reconciling geologic data, and atmospheric and chemical constraints, with such a composition. Improvements in modeling of early Earth processes and increased knowledge of Archean geology, including new geochemical methods and data, have largely helped support this view of the early atmosphere over the last 25 years, but have also left several nagging questions unanswered. How was a sufficient reservoir (and concentration) of prebiotic molecules produced? What were the major reservoirs for carbon, and how did they develop their isotopic signatures? Is there a solution to the problem of the “faint young sun”? Why was surface oxidation delayed following the advent of oxygenic photosynthesis? Lately, some attempts at answering these questions have suggested the importance of more reducing capacity at the early Earth's surface, but without abandoning the idea of a mainly CO₂–N₂ atmosphere. It may be that returning to ideas of the early atmosphere current during the 1940s and earliest 1950s could help resolve some of these problems. Such an approach may not only be consistent with the atmospheres of the other terrestrial planets, but may help answer significant questions about the surface history of Mars.