Areal extent and vertical structure of radar weather echoes at Montreal

A large sample of radar data from the period May–August 1976 was analyzed to provide information on the total areal coverage of precipitation echoes at 1-km steps in altitude ranging from 2 km up to 10 km. A transformation based on known statistics of surface rainfall rate was employed to express this information in terms of the probability of certain reflectivities being exceeded at a randomly chosen point at a given altitude. The same data base was used to construct a family of average vertical profiles of precipitation reflectivity. The profiles were conditioned by the reflectivity value at the lowest level (2 km), thus providing a basis for estimating the reflectivity aloft, given the low level or surface rainfall rate. Analyses of this kind have been reported for other geographical locations and for a variety of applications, such as hydrology, rain effects on earth-space radio propagation, and precipitation modeling. Similarities in the results from these two quite different analysis procedures, possibly not hitherto recognized, were found in the present study.     

利用CloudSat卫星资料分析热带气旋的结构特征

利用2006-2010年的CloudSat热带气旋过境数据集资料,定量分析了大西洋地区飓风的云、降水和热力结构在不同演变阶段内的分布特征,结果表明:雷达反射率的发生概率以5 km高度为"拐点"呈现不同的分布特点,且成熟阶段的回波强度明显大于发展和消亡阶段.各径向环内深对流云发生概率始终最大,积云和雨层云始终最小.冰水含量的最大值位于内核区且沿径向不断减小,有效粒子半径和分布宽度参数随高度减小而粒子数浓度却增大.温度距平在距离中心200 km以内随飓风演变不断增大,而200 km以外始终较小.各阶段8 km以下存在湿心区,而其上方正好对应暖心区.内核区发展阶段存在近饱和区而成熟和消亡阶段存在向外倾斜的未饱和区.各阶段不同径向环内4 km以上主要为稳定层结而4 km以下的层结特性各异,且假相当位温沿径向逐渐减小.     

First observation of mesospheric wind shear as high as 330 m s−1 km−1

Mesospheric wind profiles with an altitude resolution of 25 m have been obtained by means of radar tracking of foil chaff clouds. Such experiments were performed during winter 1990 at Biscarrosse, France (44^°N, 1^°W). On one flight, a wind shear as high as 330 m s⁻¹ km⁻¹ at 87.4 km and a region of dynamical instability between 86 and 88 km was measured. This wind shear is believed to be the largest value ever measured in the mesosphere. The region of dynamical instability results from a superposition of two wave motions, and is found to link well with enhanced turbulence and small-scale wave activity.     

Climate change effects on hydrological system conditions influencing generation of storm runoff in small Alpine catchments

Floods and debris flows in small Alpine torrent catchments (<10 km²) arise from a combination of critical antecedent system state conditions and mostly convective precipitation events with high precipitation intensities. Thus, climate change may influence the magnitude–frequency relationship of extreme events twofold: by a modification of the occurrence probabilities of critical hydrological system conditions and by a change of event precipitation characteristics. Three small Alpine catchments in different altitudes in Western Austria (Ruggbach, Brixenbach and Längentalbach catchment) were investigated by both field experiments and process‐based simulation. Rainfall–runoff model (HQsim) runs driven by localized climate scenarios (CNRM‐RM4.5/ARPEGE, MPI‐REMO/ECHAM5 and ICTP‐RegCM3/ECHAM5) were used in order to estimate future frequencies of stormflow triggering system state conditions. According to the differing altitudes of the study catchments, two effects of climate change on the hydrological systems can be observed. On one hand, the seasonal system state conditions of medium altitude catchments are most strongly affected by air temperature‐controlled processes such as the development of the winter snow cover as well as evapotranspiration. On the other hand, the unglaciated high‐altitude catchment is less sensitive to climate change‐induced shifts regarding days with critical antecedent soil moisture and desiccated litter layer due to its elevation‐related small proportion of sensitive areas. For the period 2071–2100, the number of days with critical antecedent soil moisture content will be significantly reduced to about 60% or even less in summer in all catchments. In contrast, the number of days with dried‐out litter layers causing hydrophobic effects will increase by up to 8%–11% of the days in the two lower altitude catchments. The intensity analyses of heavy precipitation events indicate a clear increase in rain intensities of up to 10%.     

Summertime Characteristics of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Relationships to Ozone Levels over the Eastern United States

— This paper examines the spatial and temporal distributions of the mixing height, ventilation coefficient (defined as the product of mixing height and surface wind speed), and cloud cover over the eastern United States during the summer of 1995, using the high-resolution meteorological data generated by MM5 (Version 1), a mesoscale model widely used in air quality studies. The ability of MM5 to simulate the key temporal and spatial features embedded in the time series of observations of temperature, wind speed, and moisture is assessed using spectral decomposition methods. Also, mixing heights estimated from the MM5 outputs are compared with those derived from observations at a few locations where data with high temporal resolution are available in the Northeast. In addition, the uncertainties associated with the estimation of the evolution of the boundary layer during the morning time are examined. The results indicate that nighttime mixing heights averaged <200?m, rising to 1 km by 10 EST, and to about 2.5?km in the afternoon. Ventilation coefficients followed a similar diurnal pattern, increasing from 500?m²/s at night?to 15,000?m²/s in the afternoon; the increase due to the growing mixing height and increasing surface wind speeds. Spatial variability of these parameters was relatively small (coefficient of variation=0.25) at?night and in the afternoon when conditions were quasi-stationary, but increased (to 0.5) during morning?and evening hours when mixing heights and wind speeds were changing rapidly. Analyses of surface ozone observations from about 400 sites throughout the eastern United States indicate that days with numerous stations reporting surface ozone concentrations in excess of 80 ppb (i.e., “high ozone” days) generally had less daytime cloud cover, lower surface wind speeds, higher mixing heights, and lower ventilation coefficients than did comparable “low ozone” days. Such meteorological features are consistent with a synoptic anticyclone centered over the mid-south region (Kentucky, Tennessee). Low ozone days were characterized by more disturbed weather conditions (low pressure systems, fronts, greater cloud cover, and precipitation events). Ozone observations at two elevated platforms (～400?m agl) in Garner, NC, and Chicago, IL, indicated that ozone concentrations aloft were about 40% larger on “high ozone” days than on “low ozone” days. On average, high levels of ozone persist aloft for about 2 to 3 days. Strong vertical mixing in the daytime can bring this pool of upper-level ozone downward to augment surface ozone production. Since ozone can be transported downwind several hundred kilometers from its source region over this time scale, depending on upper-level winds, effective ozone control strategies must take into consideration spatial scales ranging from local to regional, and time scales of the order of several days.     

Seasonal variation of the auroral E-region neutral wind for different solar activities

Seasonal variations in the auroral E-region neutral wind for different solar activity periods are studied. This work is based on neutral wind data obtained over 56 days between 95–119 km altitude under geomagnetic quiet conditions (A_p<16) during one solar cycle by the European Incoherent Scatter radar located in northern Scandinavia. In general, the meridional mean wind shifts northward, and the zonal mean wind increases in eastward amplitude from winter to summer. The zonal mean wind blows eastward in the middle and lower E-region for each season and for each solar condition except for the equinox, where the zonal mean wind blows westward at and below 104 km. Solar activity dependence of the mean wind exists during the winter and equinox seasons, while in summer it is less prominent. Under high solar activity conditions, the altitude profiles of the horizontal mean winds in winter and the equinoxes tend to resemble those in summer. The horizontal diurnal tide is less sensitive to solar activity except during summer when the meridional amplitude increases by ∼10 m s⁻¹ and the corresponding phase shifts to a later time period (1–2 h) during high solar activity. Seasonal dependence of the semidiurnal tide is complex, but is found to vary with solar activity. Under low solar activity conditions the horizontal semidiurnal amplitude shows seasonal dependence except at upper E-region heights, while under high solar activity conditions it becomes less sensitive to seasonal effects (except for the meridional component above 107 km). Comparisons of mean winds with LF and UARS observations are made, and the driving forces for the horizontal mean winds are discussed for various conditions.     

Volcanic plumes and wind: Jetstream interaction examples and implications for air traffic

Volcanic plumes interact with the wind at all scales. On smaller scales, wind affects local eddy structure; on larger scales, wind shapes the entire plume trajectory. The polar jets or jetstreams are regions of high [generally eastbound] winds that span the globe from 30 to 60° in latitude, centered at an altitude of about 10 km. They can be hundreds of kilometers wide, but as little as 1 km in thickness. Core windspeeds are up to 130 m/s. Modern transcontinental and transoceanic air routes are configured to take advantage of the jetstream. Eastbound commercial jets can save both time and fuel by flying within it; westbound aircraft generally seek to avoid it.Using both an integral model of plume motion that is formulated within a plume-centered coordinate system (BENT) as well as the Active Tracer High-resolution Atmospheric Model (ATHAM), we have calculated plume trajectories and rise heights under different wind conditions. Model plume trajectories compare well with the observed plume trajectory of the Sept 30/Oct 1, 1994, eruption of Kliuchevskoi Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia, for which measured maximum windspeed was 30–40 m/s at about 12 km. Tephra fall patterns for some prehistoric eruptions of Avachinsky Volcano, Kamchatka, and Inyo Craters, CA, USA, are anomalously elongated and inconsistent with simple models of tephra dispersal in a constant windfield. The Avachinsky deposit is modeled well by BENT using a windspeed that varies with height.Two potentially useful conclusions can be made about air routes and volcanic eruption plumes under jetstream conditions. The first is that by taking advantage of the jetstream, aircraft are flying within an airspace that is also preferentially occupied by volcanic eruption clouds and particles. The second is that, because eruptions with highly variable mass eruption rate pump volcanic particles into the jetstream under these conditions, it is difficult to constrain the tephra grain size distribution and mass loading present within a downwind volcanic plume or cloud that has interacted with the jetstream. Furthermore, anomalously large particles and high mass loadings could be present within the cloud, if it was in fact formed by an eruption with a high mass eruption rate. In terms of interpretation of tephra dispersal patterns, the results suggest that extremely elongated isopach or isopleth patterns may often be the result of eruption into the jetstream, and that estimation of the mass eruption rate from these elongated patterns should be considered cautiously.     

The concentration of molecular H2 and CH4 in the stratosphere

Stratospheric profiles of CH₄ and H₂ over eastern Texas have been derived up to 31 km altitude from air samples collected aboard a balloon and analyzed by gas chromatography. For H₂, contamination during flight and measurement presented a problem which has been resolved only recently. The earlier profiles require corrections which are rather large for the highest altitudes.The three profiles indicate an increase of the H₂ concentration in the lower stratosphere from about 0.5 p.p.m. per volume at the tropopause to about 0.8 p.p.m. at around 27 km altitude. Above that altitude the H₂ concentration decreases again. An air sample collected between 44 and 62 km by a rocket-borne cryogenic sampler had an H₂ concentration of 0.4 p.p.m.The five CH₄ profiles showed a decrease in CH₄ concentration with altitude generally with a steeper gradient directly above the tropopause and a weaker gradient at higher altitudes reaching 0.9 p.p.m. at 30 km altitude. The CH₄ concentration in the rocket sample was 0.25 p.p.m., in good agreement with the gradient obtained from the balloon samples.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Statistics on the sizes and internal structures of rainshowers

A large sample of radar reflectivity data from essentially a full summer of operation was analyzed to determine the horizontal extents and internal structure of rain areas observed at altitude levels from 2 to 10 km. Results are given on the size distributions of individual cells or patches defined by reflectivity thresholds approximately 4 dBz apart, on the dependence of mean size on altitude and reflectivity threshold, and on the interior structure of the patches as characterized by the number and sizes of higher-threshold patches contained in each echo. In a more detailed analysis of internal structure, the data were restricted to convective echoes in which certain prescribed reflectivities, ranging from about 30 to 50 dBz, were exceeded. It was found that the dependence of mean quantities, such as patch area, on reflectivity and altitude could be approximately described by simple functions, but that the scatter of observations about the mean was usually large.     

西南印度洋中脊三维地震探测中炮点与海底地震仪的位置校正

在海上实施三维地震探测过程中,人工震源枪阵中心与船上GPS的距离及地震探测作业中的船行方向造成炮点实际位置与预设位置有一定偏差;自由落体投放的OBS由于海流的影响会偏离原定设计位置(投放点),因此,炮点与海底地震仪(OBS)的位置校正是三维地震结构研究中的基本环节.本文利用艏向信息校正了炮点位置;采用蒙特卡洛和最小二乘法方法对海底地震仪的位置进行了校正,并探讨了直达水波曲线特征.结果表明 OBS位置一般偏离设计点1 km左右,其误差范围在20 m以内,校正后的OBS记录剖面展示了真实的记录情况.该研究结果为下一步西南印度洋的三维层析成像研究提供了坚实数据基础,同时为今后南海的三维深部地壳结构探测提供经验与借鉴.     

Interpretation,reliability and accuracies of parameters deduced by the spaced antenna method in middle atmosphere applications

The spaced antenna method has proved to be an important and relatively inexpensive radar technique for making measurements of atmospheric wind velocities and other parameters. This discussion examines the reliability and accuracies of various parameters which can be measured with the technique.After a brief introduction, a series of comparisons of winds measured by the spaced antenna method and simultaneously by other techniques are presented. It is concluded that when using weak partial reflections in the height range 0–100km, the spaced antenna technique provides reliable estimates of the neutral air motion. Following this the assumptions made in applying the method are considered in more detail. The possibility of systematic errors and the likelihood of erroneous measurements are examined, and the accuracy of any particular measurement of wind speed is discussed. Previous objections to the technique are discussed, and in general shown to be invalid.Other parameters apart from wind speeds can be measured with the spaced antenna technique, such as pattern scale, the rate of natural fading, and angles of arrival. The meanings of these parameters are discussed in terms of physical quantities such as turbulent energy dissipation rates, small-scale gravity wave velocity fluctuations, and aspect sensitivities of scatterers, and it is indicated when and how these derived parameters can be applied to deduce meaningful physical quantities. The need for great caution in making these interpretations is discussed; for example it is not always possible to use the rate of natural fading to estimate the intensity of turbulence, although in some cases this is possible. Finally, interferometric applications of spaced antenna systems are discussed.     

The initial giant umbrella cloud of the May 18th, 1980, explosive eruption of Mount St. Helens

The initial eruption column of May 18th, 1980 reached nearly 30 km altitude and released 10¹⁷ joules of thermal energy into the atmosphere in only a few minutes. Ascent of the cloud resulted in forced intrusion of a giant umbrella-shaped cloud between altitudes of 10 and 20 km at radial horizontal velocities initially in excess of 50 m/s. The mushroom cloud expanded 15 km upwind, forming a stagnation point where the radial expansion velocity and wind velocity were equal. The cloud was initiated when the pyroclastic blast flow became buoyant. The flow reduced its density as it moved away from the volcano by decompression, by sedimentation, and by mixing with and heating the surrounding air. Observations indicate that much of the flow, covering an area of 600 km², became buoyant within 1.5 minutes and abruptly ascended to form the giant cloud. Calculations are presented for the amount of air that must have been entrained into the flow to make it buoyant. Assuming an initial temperature of 450°C and a magmatic origin for the explosion, these calculations indicate that the flow became buoyant when its temperature was approximately 150°C and the flow consisted of a mixture of 3.25 × 10¹¹ kg of pyroclasts and 5.0 × 10¹¹ kg of air. If sedimentation is considered, these figures reduce to 1.1 × 10¹¹ kg of pyroclasts and 1.0 × 10¹¹ kg of air.     

Statistics on the vertical structure of rainshowers

A large sample of summertime data from the McGill Radar Weather Observatory was analyzed to determine the variation with altitude of the horizontal extent of individual rainshowers. For echoes defined by a reflectivity factor of 39 dBz (equivalent to a rainfall rate of about 10 mm/h) it was found that the mean area of the total population of echoes decreases linearly with altitude from approximately 20 km² at 2 km to 11 km² at 8 km. Subsets of the total population were investigated, consisting of only the echoes penetrating the altitudes of 6, 7, and 8 km. On the average these relatively tall echoes are much greater in horizontal extent than the total population. Whereas the sizes of the total population of echoes at any altitude are distributed approximately exponentially in terms of the square root of area, the sizes of the “survivors” that extend to high altitudes may be described by the gamma distribution with a mean value decreasing approximately linearly with height above 3 km and a dispersion of 0.55. Some characteristics are also reported for echoes defined by reflectivities of 31 dBz and 47 dBz. Estimates are given of the fraction of the total area in a horizontal plane that contains echoes in each of these categories.     

Topographical effects on the distributions of rainfall and 18O distributions: a case in Miyake Island,Japan

In this paper, we try to calculate precipitation in Miyake Island, Japan. In order to know the temporal and spatial variations of precipitation, we have set 15 rain gauges randomly in the island to collect the monthly precipitation data since June 1994. It is found that the precipitation is very different from point to point. First, we used statistical methods to get the correlations between the monthly precipitation at our survey points and that at the weather station. Next, regression analyses were used to establish formulae to calculate precipitation as a function of altitude, aspect of the geomorphological surface and wind direction. Based on these results, distributions of monthly and yearly precipitation and δ¹⁸O over the island were assessed. The results show that landscape patterns strongly influence precipitation distribution over the island, with the highest precipitation being found on the windward side, about 400–600 m above sea level. Even at places at the same altitude, the precipitation was different because of the aspect of the landscape. At the same time, altitude effects for δ¹⁸O on both the windward and leeward sides were −0·10‰/100 m and −0·15‰/100 m, respectively. Comparing with the distribution of precipitation distribution, it was also found that δ¹⁸O for the windward and leeward sides was different from that for precipitation, which means that both topographical effects must be considered separately. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ranges of AGW propagation in the Earth’s atmosphere

The propagation of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) is studied in the context of geometrical optics in the nonisothermal, viscous, and thermal-conductive atmosphere of Earth in the presence of wind shifts. Parametric diagrams are plotted, determining the regions of allowed frequencies and horizontal phase velocities of AGWs depending on the altitude. It is shown that a part of the spectrum of AGWs propagates in stationary air in an altitude range from the Earth’s surface through the ionospheric F1 layer. AGW from nearearth sources attenuate below 250 km, while waves generated at altitudes of about 300 km and higher do not reach the Earth’s surface because of the inner reflection from the thermosphere base. The pattern changes under strong thermospheric winds. AGW dissipation decreases with an adverse wind shift and, hence, a part of the wave spectrum penetrated from the lower atmosphere to the altitudes of F2 layer.     

Stable isotopic characteristic of Taiwan's precipitation: A case study of western Pacific monsoon region

The stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic features of precipitation in Taiwan, an island located at the western Pacific monsoon area, are presented from nearly 3,500 samples collected during the past decade for 20 stations. Results demonstrate that moisture sources from diverse air masses with different isotopic signals are the main parameter in controlling the precipitation's isotope characteristics. The air mass from polar continental (Pc) region contributes the precipitation with high deuterium excess values (up to 23‰) and relatively enriched isotope compositions (e.g., ? 3.2‰ for δ¹⁸O) during the winter with prevailing northeasterly monsoon. By contrast, air masses from equatorial maritime (Em) and tropical maritime (Tm) supply the precipitation with low deuterium excess values (as low as about 7‰) and more depleted isotope values (e.g., ? 8.9‰ and ? 6.0‰ for δ¹⁸O of Tm and Em, respectively) during the summer with prevailing southwesterly monsoon. Thus seasonal differences in terms of δ¹⁸O, δD, and deuterium excess values are primarily influenced by the interactions among various precipitation sources. While these various air masses travel through Taiwan, secondary evaporation effects further modify the isotope characteristics of the inland precipitation, such as raindrop evaporation (reduces the deuterium excess of winter precipitation) and moisture recycling (increases the deuterium excess of summer precipitation). The semi-quantitative estimations in terms of evaluation for changes in the deuterium excess suggest that the raindrop evaporation fractions for winter precipitation range 7% to 15% and the proportions of recycling moisture in summer precipitation are less than 5%. Additionally, the isotopic altitude gradient in terms of δ¹⁸O for summer precipitation is ? 0.22‰/100 m, greater than ? 0.17‰/100 m of winter precipitation. The greater isotopic gradient in summer can be attributed to a higher temperature vs. altitude gradient relative to winter. The observed spatial and seasonal stable isotopic characteristics in Taiwan's precipitation not only contribute valuable information for regional monsoon research crossing the continent–ocean interface of East Asia, but also can serve as very useful database for local water resources management.     

利用瑞利激光雷达观测北京地区上平流层地形重力波活动

本文利用中国科学院空间科学与应用研究中心的瑞利激光雷达首次观测到了平流层地形重力波活动的现象,并结合美国国家环境预报中心(NCEP)的全球预报系统(GFS)的风场数据分析了该地形重力波的基本参数.与惯性重力波相比较,地形重力波的密度扰动没有下传的相位,在同一高度上,其扰动相位保持不变.北京空间科学与应用研究中心瑞利激光雷达自2012年开始观测实验以来,已经观测到多起地形重力波活动事件.本文以2013年11月11日的观测数据为例,研究北京上空的地形重力波活动,并结合GFS风场数据分析了北京上平流层地形重力波的波长、传播方向、传播速度等参量.通过分析得到在2013年11月11日北京上空存在一列传播方向为北偏西52.4°,水平波长为5.5km,平均垂直波长约为6.0km的地形重力波.     

HWM07模式风场在高度60～100km的精度及建模初步研究

HWM07模式是一个应用广泛的国际标准参考大气风场模式,其在航天飞行器的设计阶段具有重要作用.因此,研究该模式风场精度具有重要意义,本文以廊坊中频雷达的风场资料(2014—2016年)为基准,利用偏差、绝对差、相关系数、相对偏差和Lomb-Scargle周期图方法,研究HWM07模式风场在高度60～100km的精度,最后,对本文建立的60～100km风场预报模型(UV_(DerM)模型)精度进行分析.结果表明,在高度60～100km范围内,(1)HWM07模式的纬向风偏差、绝对差、相关系数、相对偏差的平均值分别为14.0039 m·s-1、34.4750 m·s-1、0.1832、-75.4822%,经向风偏差、绝对差、相关系数、相对偏差的平均值分别为-2.0019m·s-1、25.3689m·s-1、0.1442、-88.9980%;经向风、纬向风的统计特征均与高度、季节有密切关系;(2)Lomb-Scargle周期图结果表明,中频雷达、HWM07模式风场在同一高度层显著(通过90%显著性检验)含有的波周期及功率谱存在较明显差异,不同高度、不同季节显著含有的波周期和功率谱也存在明显差异;(3)在高度86～92km,准全日潮汐波、准半日潮汐波分别在冬季、夏季的HWM07模式风场变化特征中为主要作用,而对中频雷达风场变化特征起主要作用的大气波动特征与高度、季节有关;(4)相对于HWM07模式风场,由UVDerM模型得到的纬向风更接近实况资料,但经向风无改进效果.     

青藏高原一次地闪放电过程的分析

利用成像率为1000 幅/s的高速摄像系统和快、慢电场变化仪以及宽带干涉仪系统等探测仪器在青藏高原那曲地区所观测的地闪资料,对一次地闪回击及其之前的持续时间较长的云内放电过程进行了分析.结果表明：地闪先导前的云内放电过程发生于雷暴云下部正电荷区和中部负电荷区之间;云中部负电荷区距离地面的高度为28～45 km;闪电的起始放电发生区域距离地面的高度为10～17 km;初始流光在云外发展时具有很大的水平分量和较多的分支;梯级先导的速度为1×105 m/s,在向地面发展时出现较大的弯曲;首次回击放电过程与低海拔地区没有差异,通道中的峰值电流有241 kA;继后回击相对较弱.     

Relation between the atmospheric characteristics in the antarctic regions and the space weather factors

Considerable variations in the cloud cover level and air temperature, related to the variations in GCRs and IMF, have been revealed based on an analysis of the meteorological and aerological data obtained at Vostok station from 1974 to 1994. It has been found out that the cloud cover at Vostok decreased, on average, by 35% a day after powerful Forbush decreases in GCRs following a considerable increase in the southward IMF component. In the years of solar activity minimum, when the variations in SCRs and GCRs are insignificant, the cloudiness and surface temperature increase on a day of B _z minimum and decrease on a day of maximum as compared to the average level. On days of B _z minimum, the air temperature rises at altitudes of h = 3.5–7 km, remains almost unchanged at an altitude of h = 8 km, and slightly decreases at higher altitudes. An increase in cloudiness at altitudes below 8 km causes warming, probably due to the greenhouse effect, because the temperature of the Earth’s surface decreases.