Is resilience socially constructed? Empirical evidence from Fiji,Ghana, Sri Lanka,and Vietnam

The objective of this paper is to better understand the various individual and household factors that influence resilience, that is, people⬢s ability to respond adequately to shocks and stressors. One of our hypotheses is that resilience does not simply reflect the expected effects of quantifiable factors such as level of assets, or even less quantifiable social processes such as people⬢s experience, but is also determined by more subjective dimensions related to people⬢s perceptions of their ability to cope, adapt or transform in the face of adverse events. Data collected over two years in Fiji, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Vietnam confirms the importance of wealth in the recovery process of households affected by shocks and stressors. However our results challenge the idea that within communities, assets are a systematic differentiator in people⬢s response to adverse events. The findings regarding social capital are mixed and call for more research: social capital had a strong positive influence on resilience at the community level, yet our analysis failed to demonstrate any tangible positive correlation at the household level. Finally, the data confirm that, like vulnerability, resilience is at least in part socially constructed, endogenous to individual and groups, and hence contingent on knowledge, attitudes to risk, culture and subjectivity.     

新一代天气雷达对局地强风暴预警的改善

介绍美国新一代天气雷达 (WSR 88D)与传统天气雷达在探测和预警局地强风暴方面的评分对比。评分系统采用命中率POD、误警率FAR和警报提前时间。这有助于了解正在布网的我国新一代天气雷达可能带来的对局地强对流风暴预警能力的改善程度。     

晴空回波在强对流天气临近预报中的应用

该文介绍了利用多普勒天气雷达资料判断环境风场辐合、辐散的两种方法:径向速度图像特征定性识别法和EVAD技术定量计算法,并结合2009年8月两次强对流天气过程详细介绍了两种方法的具体应用。统计分析了2005-2008年5-9月晴空回波特征以及不同高度散度和对流出现时间的关系,晴空回波出现在距离雷达中心50km范围之内,反射率因子多在10～20dBZ,径向速度大部分为-5～5m/s;强对流天气出现之前,对流层低层均会出现辐合,可以利用低层连续5个体扫出现辐合作为环境场具有辐合条件的指标。根据统计结果建立了强对流天气临近预警系统,该系统在2009年6-8月试运行,预警命中率为88.9%,虚警率为29.8%,临界成功指数为64.5%,辐合提前对流天气出现时间平均为7.1h,对降低强对流天气漏报率,提高强对流天气的临近预报水平有重要意义。     

Rapid-Scan and Polarimetric Phased-Array Radar Observations of a Tornado in the Pearl River Estuary

The strong destructive winds during tornadoes can greatly threaten human life and destroy property. The increasing availability of visual and remote observations, especially by Doppler weather radars, is of great value in understanding tornado formation and issuing warnings to the public. In this study, we present the first documented tornado over water detected by a state-of-the-art dual-polarization phased-array radar (dual-PAR) in China. In contrast to new-generation weather radars, the dual-PAR shows great advantages in tornado detection for its high spatial resolution, reliable polarimetric variables, and rapid-scan strategy. The polarimetric signature of copolar cross-correlation coefficient with anomalously low magnitude appears to be effective for verifying a tornado and thus is helpful for issuing tornado warnings. The Guangdong Meteorological Service has been developing an experimental X-band dual-PAR network in the Pearl River Delta with the goal of deploying at least 40 advanced dual-PARs and other dual-polarization weather radars before 2035. This network is the first quasi-operational X-band dual-PAR network with unprecedented high coverage in the globe. With such high-performance close-range PARs, efficient operational nowcasting and warning services for small-scale, rapidly evolving, and damaging weather (e.g., tornadoes, localized heavy rainfall, microbursts, and hail) can be expected.     

青海省三江源灾害性天气预警应急系统设计

针对青海三江源地区地形复杂、基础设施薄弱、公共通讯网络落后等问题及其对作业监测的制约,以工作流、软件度量和配置管理等技术为基础,利用面向CMM标准,设计和开发灾害性天气预警应急系统,实现信息安全高速传输,提高了灾害性天气预警应急水平.灾害性天气数据库的建立即是对各类灾害性天气(洪水、干旱、台风、风沙尘暴等)数据的管理实现电子化与智能化,为领导决策提供支撑保障和系统支持.系统与Internet实现无缝结合,可为项目信息管理提供图、文、表、管一体化服务.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ua ‘afa le Aso</Emphasis> Stormy weather today: traditional ecological knowledge of weather and climate. The Samoa experience

This paper examines traditional ecological knowledge of weather and climate in Samoa, a Polynesian community in the South Pacific. The research found Samoans have their own unique seasonal calendar. The Samoan seasonal calendar is predominantly based on the observations of local environmental changes, which are in turn influenced by weather and climate. Monitoring changes in plants and animal behaviour, for example, are key indicators used by the Samoans to forecast changes in weather and climate. In addition, their communal and family social activities like hunting, fishing and feasting are driven by the seasonal calendar. The Samoans knowledge of cloud formation, conditions conducive to the formation and onset of severe weather systems and seasonal changes in climate, helped them anticipate, plan and adapt to extreme weather and climate events. The ability and knowledge of the Samoans to forecast the onset of extreme weather and climate events, relying predominantly on local environmental changes are vital tools that should be incorporated in the formulation of human induced climate change adaptation strategies.     

Staying cool in a changing climate: Reaching vulnerable populations during heat events

The frequency and intensity of hot weather events are expected to increase globally, threatening human health, especially among the elderly, poor, and chronically ill. Current literature indicates that emergency preparedness plans, heat health warning systems, and related interventions may not be reaching or supporting behavior change among those most vulnerable in heat events. Using a qualitative multiple case study design, we comprehensively examined practices of these populations to stay cool during hot weather (“cooling behaviors”) in four U.S. cities with documented racial/ethnic and socio-economic disparities and diverse heat preparedness strategies: Phoenix, Arizona; Detroit, Michigan; New York City, New York; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews we conducted with 173 community members and organizational leaders during 2009–2010, we assessed why vulnerable populations do or do not participate in health-promoting behaviors at home or in their community during heat events, inquiring about perceptions of heat-related threats and vulnerability and the role of social support. While vulnerable populations often recognize heat's potential health threats, many overlook or disassociate from risk factors or rely on experiences living in or visiting warmer climates as a protective factor. Many adopt basic cooling behaviors, but unknowingly harmful behaviors such as improper use of fans and heating and cooling systems are also adopted. Decision-making related to commonly promoted behaviors such as air conditioner use and cooling center attendance is complex, and these resources are often inaccessible financially, physically, or culturally. Interviewees expressed how interpersonal, intergenerational relationships are generally but not always protective, where peer relationships are a valuable mechanism for facilitating cooling behaviors among the elderly during heat events. To prevent disparities in heat morbidity and mortality in an increasingly changing climate, we note the implications of local context, and we broadly inform heat preparedness plans, interventions, and messages by sharing the perspectives and words of community members representing vulnerable populations and leaders who work most closely with them.     

西南干旱特征及其成因研究进展

在全球变暖背景下,中国极端天气气候事件频发.近年来,发生在中国西南的严重干旱事件给当地造成了重大的经济损失和严重的社会影响,引起政府部门和科学界的高度重视.因此,总结西南干旱的观测事实和规律,探讨干旱成因,为西南干旱的预测预警提供依据,是一项具有现实意义也极具理论价值的研究课题.文章根据近年来有关西南干旱的研究进展,从影响干旱的几个主要方面着手,总结西南干旱的最新研究成果,并分析研究中尚存在的不足,以期对今后的工作有所帮助.     

Assessing adaptive capacity to tropical cyclones in the East coast of India: a pilot study of public response to cyclone warning information

Ability to respond positively to climate hazards (also called adaptive capacity) first requires a perception of the risk due to that hazard and then formulation, evaluation and implementation of response by the exposed units with the view to reducing impacts. From a policy perspective, facilitating the process of perception of risk (and sometimes formulation, evaluation and implementation of response) often requires some kind of generation and communication of information for use by the exposed units. For example, the cyclone early warning system is a policy intervention which aims to generate and communicate information to the people about a possible cyclone occurrence, so as to facilitate timely and appropriate response such as evacuating the risk prone areas and/or taking refuge in a cyclone shelter by the people in danger. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many a time the cyclone warning message is not able to generate the desired response from the target audience. An understanding of the factors underlying the process of perception, formulation, evaluation and response by the exposed units to manage cyclone risk is required to close the gap between the desired response and the actual response by the exposed units to the warning information. In this paper we attempt to identify such factors in the Indian context. We conducted an exploratory study on the East coast of India to identify the factors that affect the perceptual and evaluative processes underlying the ‘warning-response’ process i.e. evacuation behavior of the exposed units once they have received the cyclone warning. The findings highlight some important factors that could be addressed to improve the warning-response process and hence enhance the ability of people to respond to cyclone risk.     

冰雹云卫星早期识别与自动预警

利用陕西、山东、贵州和新疆等地近十年日间降雹记录和对应的极轨卫星数据,采用卫星云微物理反演技术,定量分析冰雹云微物理特征,比较不同地区间差异,并利用FY-4A静止卫星定量分析一次冰雹过程云微物理特征演变,探讨冰雹云卫星识别预警应用潜力。结果表明:（1）陕西、山东等地冰雹云微物理特征具有一致性,卫星早期识别指标为:晶化温度（T_g）较冷,均值为?33°C;全部冰晶化时T_g对应的云粒子有效半径r_e（表征为r_eg）未饱和（<40 μm）,均值36.9 μm,且r_eg 越小冰雹云越强;云顶呈现r_e随高度减小带。（2）各地冰雹云早期识别指标在数值上存在一定差异,实际应用时应针对各地进行相应调整。（3）在静止卫星上,冰雹云微物理特征与极轨卫星相一致,将早期识别指标应用于FY-4A静止卫星,跟踪云团发展演变,实现自动预警。（4）经过4次降雹过程中应用,FY-4A卫星自动预警与实况吻合22次,漏报2次,自动预警平均提前约2小时。FY-4A卫星自动预警对及时有效组织实施人工防雹作业具有重要现实意义。     

首都北京及周边地区大气、水、土环境污染机理与调控原理

科技部科研院所社会公益专项资金重点项目“突发性强灾害天气预警系统（EWSSWE）”2006年6月6日通过验收。该系统是一个依托动力模式的数值预警系统，以WWW为平台，融贯了多种天气预报新技术，集富含信息量的强对流指数诊断预测、基于卫星和雷达产品的外推以及动力模式数值天气预报于一体；该系统开发的冰雹预报产品使本来并非预报量的冰雹作为动力模式后处理的产品输出从而赋予动力模式以直接预报冰雹的功能；     

灾害性天气监测预警平台设计与开发

为解决基层气象台站现代天气业务中灾害性天气监测、识别报警、天气联防、上下级业务指导与信息反馈、产品共享、集约化业务管理等关键业务问题,基于B/S架构,采用Web、GIS、数据库等技术,研究、设计开发了省市县三级灾害性天气监测预警平台,与已有的MICAPS等系统形成互补,实现了山东天气业务、重大天气过程服务及重大活动、突发事件气象保障等为一体的业务化平台支持,不仅较好地满足了省、市、县三级气象部门现代天气业务发展对业务平台建设的迫切需求,也为优化省内集约化业务流程提供了支撑平台。     

基于北斗卫星的预警信息发布技术研究及实现

利用北斗卫星短报文通信功能,以广播方式发布预警信息,可提高预警信息的覆盖范围和时效性, 填补我国海洋及陆地边远地区预警信息发布空白。但北斗卫星预警信息发布存在传输速率低、冗余信息量大、长预警信息发布成功率低的问题。该文对北斗卫星预警信息发布系统的系统结构、协议体系和关键问题开展研究,通过指挥机并联、预警信息编码、影响区域识别、联合补包等方法,解决了北斗卫星预警信息发布系统建设的关键问题。在此基础上,该文设计了预警信息网络发布协议、预警信息北斗发布协议和预警信息北斗传输协议,并开发了原型系统。     

Current Status and Future Challenges of Weather Radar Polarimetry: Bridging the Gap between Radar Meteorology/Hydrology/Engineering and Numerical Weather Prediction

After decades of research and development, the WSR-88 D(NEXRAD) network in the United States was upgraded with dual-polarization capability, providing polarimetric radar data(PRD) that have the potential to improve weather observations,quantification, forecasting, and warnings. The weather radar networks in China and other countries are also being upgraded with dual-polarization capability. Now, with radar polarimetry technology having matured, and PRD available both nationally and globally, it is important to understand the current status and future challenges and opportunities. The potential impact of PRD has been limited by their oftentimes subjective and empirical use. More importantly, the community has not begun to regularly derive from PRD the state parameters, such as water mixing ratios and number concentrations, used in numerical weather prediction(NWP) models.In this review, we summarize the current status of weather radar polarimetry, discuss the issues and limitations of PRD usage, and explore potential approaches to more efficiently use PRD for quantitative precipitation estimation and forecasting based on statistical retrieval with physical constraints where prior information is used and observation error is included. This approach aligns the observation-based retrievals favored by the radar meteorology community with the model-based analysis of the NWP community. We also examine the challenges and opportunities of polarimetric phased array radar research and development for future weather observation.     

Integrated multi-scalar analysis of vulnerability to environmental hazards: Assessing extreme flooding in western Amazonia

Environmental change is significantly altering hydrological systems worldwide, with substantial impacts for the people who live on floodplains and depend on rivers for their livelihoods and lifeways. Amazonia is a region significantly affected by these changes, particularly more severe flooding. This paper proposes a multi-scalar approach to vulnerability, applying it empirically to the analysis of household vulnerability to the 2011 flood—the second largest flood event along the Ucayali River in 30 years—in terms of exposure, impacts, and responses. Locally relevant indicators for assets, social identity, and social networks at the community and household levels are used to examine their role in shaping flood vulnerability, the interplay of community-level and household-level factors, and differential vulnerability across exposure, impacts, and responses to the same hazard event. We find that the most common impacts of severe flooding in rural Amazonia are on agriculture and that fishing is the dominant response strategy. This study suggests that covariate shocks, like floods, can have distinct idiosyncratic impacts and responses among households. We demonstrate that more integrated approaches to vulnerability analysis offer potential for better understanding differential vulnerabilities within populations as well as for drawing comparisons across hazard events and different settings.     

Amplification or suppression: Social networks and the climate change—migration association in rural Mexico

Increasing rates of climate migration may be of economic and national concern to sending and destination countries. It has been argued that social networks—the ties connecting an origin and destination—may operate as “migration corridors” with the potential to strongly facilitate climate change-related migration. This study investigates whether social networks at the household and community levels amplify or suppress the impact of climate change on international migration from rural Mexico. A novel set of 15 climate change indices was generated based on daily temperature and precipitation data for 214 weather stations across Mexico. Employing geostatistical interpolation techniques, the climate change values were linked to 68 rural municipalities for which sociodemographic data and detailed migration histories were available from the Mexican Migration Project. Multi-level discrete-time event-history models were used to investigate the effect of climate change on international migration between 1986 and 1999. At the household level, the effect of social networks was approximated by comparing the first to the last move, assuming that through the first move a household establishes internal social capital. At the community level, the impact of social capital was explored through interactions with a measure of the proportion of adults with migration experience. The results show that rather than amplifying, social capital may suppress the sensitivity of migration to climate triggers, suggesting that social networks could facilitate climate change adaptation in place.     

Coping with extreme weather: communities in Fiji and Vanuatu share their experiences and knowledge

Local communities across the Pacific Island region have long prepared for and managed extreme weather events. Strategies to cope with extreme weather, particularly cyclones and droughts, have involved using particular planting techniques, initiating innovative water storage practices, and employing food preservation tactics to survive. These local experiences and knowledge have been passed on between generations through stories and sharing practical know-how; however, very little formal documentation has transpired to date. This research attempts to document and synthesis these experiences and knowledge to safeguard them through written accounts but also demonstrate how Pacific communities can provide valuable, appropriate and effective strategies to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. In-depth interviews (n?=?40) were conducted with community members from three villages in Fiji (Naselesele, Qeleni and Yanuca) and three villages in Vanuatu (Piliura, Tassiriki and Lonamilo). While typically missing from community vulnerability and risk assessments in the Pacific, local experiences and knowledge are a core strength in enhancing adaptive capacity and planning community-based activities.     

1822号“山竹”台风龙卷过程观测与预警分析

2018年9月17日09:37—10:00,在登陆台风“山竹”外围螺旋雨带中,广东省佛山市三水区到肇庆市四会区发生了EF2级强龙卷,龙卷路径长度18 km,持续时间23 min,平均时速47 km/h,导致不少建筑物损毁。本次过程佛山市进行了龙卷预警试验,提前37 min发布了龙卷预警,龙卷没有造成人员伤亡。利用观测资料对产生强龙卷的环境场特征、地面自动站和雷达观测的中小尺度特征以及龙卷预警试验进行了分析,结果表明:产生龙卷的微型超级单体出现在台风外围和副高边缘之间的强东南急流中,具有低层辐合、高层辐散、水汽充足等典型台风外围龙卷环流形势特征;强的低空0~1 km垂直风切变、大的风暴相对螺旋度和低的抬升凝结高度等环境条件利于龙卷的生成;龙卷影响时,邻近地面自动气象站观测要素表现出明显的信号,瞬时大风和最低气压的极值区呈东南至西北向带状分布,与龙卷路径一致,龙卷过境前后,单站气压“漏斗”明显,5 min降压/升压幅度达-2.5 hPa/+2.1 hPa;广州多普勒天气雷达探测到龙卷母体风暴的低层钩状回波和入流缺口特征,以及低层强中气旋和类TVS特征。预警试验初步表明,对台风龙卷高发区,在环境场有利情况下,若低层出现中等或以上强度中气旋,其底高在1 km以下,可以考虑发布龙卷预警。