Possible Impacts of Global Warming on the Hydrology of the Ogallala Aquifer Region

The Ogallala or High Plains aquifer provides water for about 20% of the irrigated land in the United States. About 20 km³ (16.6 million acre-feet) of water are withdrawn annually from this aquifer. In general, recharge has not compensated for withdrawals since major irrigation development began in this region in the 1940s. The mining of the Ogallala has been pictured as an analogue to climate change in that many GCMs predict a warmer and drier future for this region. In this paper we attempt to anticipate the possible impacts of climate change on the sustainability of the aquifer as a source of water for irrigation and other purposes in the region. We have applied HUMUS, the Hydrologic Unit Model of the U.S. to the Missouri and Arkansas-White-Red water resource regions that overlie the Ogallala. We have imposed three general circulation model (GISS, UKTR and BMRC) projections of future climate change on this region and simulated the changes that may be induced in water yields (runoff plus lateral flow) and ground water recharge. Each GCM was applied to HUMUS at three levels of global mean temperature (GMT) to represent increasing severity of climate change (a surrogate for time). HUMUS was also run at three levels of atmospheric CO₂ concentration (hereafter denoted by [CO₂]) in order to estimate the impacts of direct CO₂ effects on photosynthesis and evapotranspiration. Since the UKTR and GISS GCMs project increased precipitation in the Missouri basin, water yields increase there. The BMRC GCM predicts sharply decreased precipitation and, hence, reduced water yields. Precipitation reductions are even greater in the Arkansas basin under BMRC as are the consequent water yield losses. GISS and UKTR climates lead to only moderate yield losses in the Arkansas. CO₂-fertilization reverses these losses and yields increase slightly. CO₂ fertilization increases recharge in the base (no climate change) case in both basins. Recharge is reduced under all three GCMs and severities of climate change.     

全球变暖在继续

基于全球和中国的观测资料指出,无论全球还是中国,2001-2010年都是有仪器观测记录以来最暖的10年。虽然这10年内的温度上升趋势很弱,但并不意味着气候变暖已经停止。分季节来看,近10年（2001-2010年）冬季中国东北及新疆的气温低于前10年（1991-2000年）。然而,这种区域性和季节性的温度下降并没有影响全国、全年保持变暖的趋势。     

全球变暖的科学

全球变暖已经是不争的事实.根据目前主要的3个全球温度序列,1910-2009年的变暖趋势为0.70 ～0.75℃/100a[1].粗略地讲,目前已经变暖了0.8℃.如果把气候变化的阈值限制为2℃,则今后只有1.2℃的上升空间,这就是我们面临的严峻形势[2].根据全球气候系统的概念[3],全球变暖不仅仅是地面温度的上升,还包含了冰雪的融化、海平面的上升、多年冻土的退化及全球植被的变化等等.这些变化已经、正在或将来可能影响到人类生活的方方面面.     

Global Warming and Coastal Erosion

One of the most certain consequences of global warming is an increase of global (eustatic) sea level. The resulting inundation from rising seas will heavily impact low-lying areas; at least 100 million persons live within one meter of mean sea level and are at increased risk in the coming decades. The very existence of some island states and deltaic coasts is threatened by sea level rise. An additional threat affecting some of the most heavily developed and economically valuable real estate will come from an exacerbation of sandy beach erosion. As the beach is lost, fixed structures nearby are increasingly exposed to the direct impact of storm waves, and will ultimately be damaged or destroyed unless expensive protective measures are taken. It has long been speculated that the underlying rate of long-term sandy beach erosion is two orders of magnitude greater than the rate of rise of sea level, so that any significant increase of sea level has dire consequences for coastal inhabitants. We present in this paper an analytical treatment that indicates there is a highly multiplicative association between long-term sandy beach erosion and sea level rise, and use a large and consistent data base of shoreline position field data to show that there is reasonable quantitative agreement with observations of 19th and 20th century sea levels and coastal erosion. This result means that the already-severe coastal erosion problems witnessed in the 20th century will be exacerbated in the 21st century under plausible global warming scenarios.     

Global Warming and the Greenland Ice Sheet

The Greenland coastal temperatures have followed the early 20th century global warming trend. Since 1940, however, the Greenland coastal stations data have undergone predominantly a cooling trend. At the summit of the Greenland ice sheet the summer average temperature has decreased at the rate of 2.2 °C per decade since the beginning of the measurements in 1987. This suggests that the Greenland ice sheet and coastal regions are not following the current global warming trend. A considerable and rapid warming over all of coastal Greenland occurred in the 1920s when the average annual surface air temperature rose between 2 and 4 °C in less than ten years (at some stations the increase in winter temperature was as high as 6 °C). This rapid warming, at a time when the change in anthropogenic production of greenhouse gases was well below the current level, suggests a high natural variability in the regional climate. High anticorrelations (r = ?0.84 to?0.93) between the NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) index and Greenland temperature time series suggest a physical connection between these processes. Therefore, the future changes in the NAO and Northern Annular Mode may be of critical consequence to the future temperature forcing of the Greenland ice sheet melt rates.     

Mitigating the Rate and Extent of Global Warming

Editorial Introduction

Mitigating the Rate and Extent of Global Warming     

全球变暖背景下西北干旱区雨季的降水时空变化特征

利用西北干旱区1961—2007年77个观测站的逐日降水资料序列,将西北干旱区分为5个主要气候区,分析了全球变暖背景下西北干旱区雨季的降水时空变化特征,并预测降水的未来变化趋势。结果表明：西北干旱区降水存在显著的年际和年代际变化,其西部降水量呈显著上升趋势,尤其在新疆北部与伊犁河谷地区。降水具有5～6年或2～3年的年际周期与8～11年的年代际周期,但河西走廊地区例外。干旱区降水转型时期的空间差异显著,最早在1980年代初期从南疆开始,1980年代中期新疆北部降水出现异常偏多,伊犁河谷和河西走廊地区降水突变期则出现在1990年代初,但变化趋势相反;阿拉善高原地区降水没有明显的突变时间。由周期外推方法得到,在未来一个年代际周期中,西北干旱区的西部降水将以偏少的气候特征为主,直到2015年前后才会再次回到偏多的周期中来;阿拉善高原地区在未来8～11年中有可能向着降水增加的趋势发展。     

全球气候变暖原因的争议

综合分析了政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)与非政府间国际气候变化专门委员会(NIPCC)针锋相对的观点:是人类活动还是自然因素主导了过去近百年的气候变化.指出20世纪中期以来温度变化的事实支持人类活动影响的观点,但是在近百年中自然因素如太阳活动、火山活动或大洋热盐环流的变化,对温度的年代际变化有重要影响.有充分的古...     

气候变暖对新疆乌昌地区棉花种植区划的影响

在对新疆乌昌地区1961-2010年≥10℃积温、最热月（7月）平均气温和无霜期等热量要素时空变化进行分析的基础上,结合北疆棉区区划指标,完成了2004年前、后乌昌地区棉花种植气候区划。并对未来年平均气温升高1～4℃时,棉花种植气候区划的可能变化进行了预估。结果表明：乌昌地区热量资源在空间分布上表现为“平原多,山区少”的格局。1961-2010年≥l0℃积温、最热月平均气温和无霜期分别以每10年52.3℃• d、0.1℃和3.3 d的速率增多（升高、延长）,并分别于1995年、2004年和1987年发生了突变。受其影响,2004年后乌昌地区宜棉区较之前明显扩大,次宜棉区、风险棉区和不宜棉区有不同程度的缩小。未来气候变暖将对乌昌地区棉花种植气候区划产生较大影响,年平均气温每升高1℃,宜棉区面积将扩大6600 km²,次宜棉区和不宜棉区分别缩小2100 km²和4700 km²,风险棉区面积变化不大。     

Somali Jet Changes under the Global Warming

Somali Jet changes will influence the variability of Asian monsoon and climate. How would Somali Jet changes respond to the global warming in the future climate？ To address this question, we first evaluate the ability of IPCC-AR4 climate models and perform the 20th century climate in coupled models （20C3M） experiments to reproduce the observational features of the low level Somali Jet in JJA （June-July-August） for the period 1976 1999. Then, we project and discuss the changes of Somali Jet under the climate change of Scenario A2 （SRESA2） for the period 2005 2099. The results show that 18 IPCC-AR4 models have performed better in describing the climatological features of Somali Jet in the present climate simulations. Analysis of Somali Jet intensity changes from the multi-model ensemble results for the period 2005-2099 shows a weakened Somali Jet in the early 21st century （2010-2040）, the strongest Somali Jet in the middle 21st century （2050 2060）, as well as the weakest Somali Jet at the end of the 21st century （2070-2090）. Compared with the period 1976-1999, the intensity of Somali Jet is weakening in general, and it becomes the weakest at the end of the 21st century. The results also suggest that the relationship between the intensity of Somali Jet in JJA and the increment of global mean surface air temperature is nonlinear, which is reflected differently among the models, suggesting the uncertainty of the IPCC-AR4 models. Considering the important role of Somali Jet in the Indian monsoon and East Asian monsoon and climate of China, the variability of Somali Jet and its evolvement under the present climate or future climate changes need to be further clarified.     

为减缓全球变暖而奋斗

随着对气候变暖问题认识的逐步深入,人们开始意识到,要为减缓气候变暖而奋斗。但是,这显然不是少数科学家,乃至个别政府机构能够做到的。因为大气中温室气体浓度增加带来的温室效应加剧所造成的气候影响是全球性的,而且温室气体也不是个别国家排放的。因此,气候变化及其应对本身的性质就注定了这是一个全球性的问题。1988     

Fine-Scale Observations of Summertime Precipitation in an Intra-Alpine Region

Summary ?Intra-mountain summertime precipitation was studied in the Alps in a 40×20 km² area centered around Innsbruck, Austria, from June through September 1997. An observational network with a mean separation distance of 9 km and forecasts from the ECMWF model were used to examine the role the strong forcing from the lower boundary plays in creating “hot spots” for the formation of thunderstorms and the location of heavy precipitation as well as systematic precipitation patterns for different weather situations, which can be used to downscale forecasts from global scale routine numerical weather prediction models. Received March 16, 1999/Revised August 20, 1999     

Nonmarket Valuation and the Estimation of Damages from Global Warming

This paper is concerned with nonmarket valuation in the context of global warming. First, concerning the impact of global warming: what are the prospects for the inclusion of nonmarket values in estimates of the damages of warming? The second question relates to the role of the Principles and Guidelines as the supporting document for water resource projects. Are tools for nonmarket valuation, as found in the Principles and Guidelines satisfactory for water resource project evaluation with a changing climate? The potential effects of climate change are so numerous and subtle that it would be prohibitively costly to measure them all. Thus a comprehensive program for including nonmarket damages as part of the costs of global warming seems ill-advised. Where specific concerns arise, researchers may learn from small scale studies. Many of the damages of global warming are diminished by the ability of humans to adapt at small costs, especially the nonuse component of nonmarket values. When the question concerns minor water resource projects, the gains from including extra effects induced by global warming seem to be small compared with the costs. The Principles and Guidelines does not reflect current practices in benefit estimation. However, it is not clear that this is a serious problem, because most practitioners continue to revise their understanding of valuation methods. If the Principles and Guidelines were to be revised, it would make sense to provide more current guidelines for all of the behavioral models and contingent valuation. Revisions of the Principles and Guidelines should not do anything special for anthropocentrically induced climate change.     

北太平洋的年代际振荡与全球变暖

通过回顾和总结前人工作,特别是有关北太平洋年代际振荡的研究,针对近50年来北太平洋中纬度海温变冷的现象进行了分析与讨论。从全球气候变化的角度,总结了影响北太平洋中纬度海温变冷现象的几种可能机制,推测了全球气温变暖可能会对北太平洋的直接或间接影响,归纳指出了研究该问题的复杂性与目前面临的困难。     

Summertime Thermally-Induced Circulations over the Lake Nam Co Region of the Tibetan Plateau

Performance of the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University/National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model(MM5) over the Lake Nam Co region of the Tibetan Plateau was evaluated based on the data from five surface observation sites in 2006. The interaction between two thermally-induced circulations(lake breezes and mountain-valley winds) was also investigated. The results show that MM5 could be used to simulate 2-m air temperature; however, MM5 needs improvement in wind field simulation.Two numerical simulations were conducted to study the effect of the lake on the local weather and wind system. The original land cover of the model was used in the control experiment, and the lake was replaced with grassland resembling the area surrounding the lake in the sensitive experiment. The results of the simulations indicate that the lake enhanced the north slope mountain-valley wind and the mountain changed the offshore flow direction at the north shore. During the day, a clear convergent zone and a strong upflow were observed over the north slope of the Nyainq?entanglha Range, which may cause frequent precipitation over the north slope. During the night, the entire area was controlled by a south flow.     

全球变暖趋缓研究进展

近十几年来,全球年平均表面温度上升趋势显示出停滞状态,即全球变暖趋缓,这引起了国际社会的广泛关注,同时也引发了对全球变暖的质疑,各国气候学家正努力就全球变暖趋缓的事实、原因及其可能影响展开研究。本文综述了目前国内外对全球变暖趋缓的研究结果。多数科学家认可近十几年来全球变暖停滞的事实,并认为太阳活动处于低位相、大气气溶胶（自然和人为）增加以及海洋吸收热量是变暖停滞的可能影响因子,其中海洋（尤其是700米以下的深海）对热量的储存可能是变暖停滞的关键。国际耦合模式比较计划第5阶段中的模式并未精确地描述各种有利降温影响因子的近期位相演变,因而其模拟的近期增暖趋势较观测偏强。由此推断,变暖停滞主要是自然因素造成的,并且预测变暖趋缓将在近几年或几十年内结束（依赖于太平洋年代际振荡的位相转变）,未来气温将仍主要受到温室气体增加的影响而表现出明显的上升趋势。因此,目前的全球变暖趋缓不大可能改变到本世纪末全球大幅度变暖带来的风险。本综述展望未来的研究热点包括:精确估算全球气温和海洋热含量的变率及其不确定性,海洋年代际信号（太平洋以及大西洋的年代际振荡）的转型机制,存储在深海的热量将在何时返回海洋表面及其对区域气候的潜在影响。     

与当前全球增暖有关的古气候学问题

根据最新研究成果,对从古气候学角度展望未来全球气候变化问题的可能性和方法进行了讨论和总结。过去温室气体含量、温度、降水、海平面和突然气候变化等古资料记录及其分析加深了我们对于气候系统物理过程的理解,古气候类比方法以及古资料在气候模式校准中的应用也显示了古气候学对于未来气候预测的潜在意义。     

全球气候变暖的检测及成因分析

文章对近年来有关全球气候变暖中一些问题的研究进展作了总结,主要结论如下：全球平均地面气温在过去一百年来上升0.5℃。80年代是近百年来最暖的10年。90年代初继续变暖。1990年是近百年来最暖的一年。1991年仅次於1990年。但是近百年气候变暖的幅度仍未超过自然变率。近千年中,中世纪暖期（900—1300年）的温暖程度就可能与20世纪相当,而小冰期（1550—1850年）气温则可能比20世纪低1.0—1.5℃。已经证实,对几十年到几百年尺度,太阳活动强时太阳总辐射也强,但变化幅度尚待进一步确定。强火山爆     

20世纪两次全球增暖事件的比较

20世纪20年代和70年代全球出现了两次突变增暖,本文分析比较了这两次全球增暖的起源地,空间分布特点,影响范围,以及北半球增温和降温最大地区的气温变化与其相对应的大气环流变化的联系等.发现,第一次全球增暖始于北半球新地岛西北、冰岛及以北的极地地区,主要增暖区在北大西洋、格陵兰岛、冰岛和北半球中、高纬大陆地区,主要增暖季节是夏季.第二次全球增暖最早可能始于南半球南印度洋海盆及南极大陆地区,增暖中心有明显向北半球方向移动的倾向并广泛影响到全球热带、副热带海洋,没有明显的区域和季节增暖差异;北半球第二次增暖比南半球约晚10年,主要增温区在东亚大陆和北美西部,主要增暖季节在冬季.分析还发现,20世纪北半球增暖最强的东亚大陆、北美西北部和降温显著的冰岛、格陵兰岛、北大西洋以及中北太平洋等地的气温变化与其相应的大气环流系统的异常变化关系密切.     

全球变暖情况下中国季节的变化

利用中国1961-2008年752站逐日地面气温、气压、相对湿度和降水量资料,采用非线性相似度量方法对中国四季进行了划分,研究了近50年全球显著变暖情形下中国四季的时空演变特征。结果表明：(1)气候增暖背景下中国大部分地区冬季持续时间明显缩短,缩短幅度达到10天以上,尤其在20世纪80年代中后期发生转折后缩短趋势突然增强,平均为0.29 d·a-1;夏季持续时间自1961年以来增加了2.8天,秋季增加了4.7天,且80年代中后期都发生了一次转折变化,春季持续时间总体48年增加2.6天的变化相对较小,但在90年代后期发生转折变化后呈现明显的增加趋势;(2)与持续天数的变化相对应,中国春、夏季的起始时间呈现提前的趋势,而秋、冬季则呈现推后的趋势,尤其是80年代中后期以后变化更为明显;(3)不同季节的变化存在一定的差异,中国大部分地区冬季持续天数和起始时间变化最为明显,春、夏、秋三季相对较弱;同一季节不同区域的响应也不同,就全国而言,北方比南方的响应更明显,而以黑龙江为代表的东北地区、以新疆为代表的西北地区以及以海南为代表的华南等地变化最为明显。