Prediction of temperature and precipitation in Sudan and South Sudan by using LARS-WG in future

Global warming has brought great pressure on the environment and livelihood conditions in Sudan and South Sudan. It is desirable to analyze and predict the change of critical climatic variables, such as temperature and precipitation, which will provide valuable reference results for future water resources planning and management in the region. The aims of this study are to test the applicability of the Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG) model in downscaling daily precipitation and daily maximum (Tmax) and daily minimum (Tmin) temperatures in Sudan and South Sudan and use it to predict future changes of precipitation; Tmin and Tmax for nine stations in Sudan and South Sudan are based on the SRA2 scenario of seven General Circulation Models (GCMs) outputs for the periods of 2011–2030, 2046–2065, and 2080–2099. The results showed that (1) the LARS-WG model produces good performance in downscaling daily precipitation and excellent performance in downscaling Tmax and Tmin in the study region; (2) downscaled precipitation from the prediction of seven GCMs showed great inconsistency in these two regions, which illustrates the great uncertainty in GCMs' results in the regions; (3) predicted precipitation in rainy season JJA (June, July, and August) based on the ensemble mean of seven GCMs showed a decreasing trend in the periods of 2011–2030, 2046–2065, and 2080–2099 in Sudan; however, an increasing trend can be found in SON (September, October, and November) in the future; (4) precipitation in South Sudan has an increasing trend in most seasons in the future except in MAM (March, April, and May) season in 2011–2030; and (5) predictions from seven GCMs showed a similar and continuous increasing trend for Tmax and Tmin in all three future periods, which will bring severe negative influence on improving livelihoods and reducing poverty in Sudan and South Sudan.     

基于CMIP5模式的中国地区未来洪涝灾害风险变化预估

利用22个CMIP5全球气候模式模拟结果,结合社会经济以及地形高度数据,分析了RCP8.5温室气体排放情景下21世纪近期（2016-2035年）、中期（2046-2065年）和后期（2080-2099年）中国洪涝致灾危险性、承灾体易损性以及洪涝灾害风险。结果表明,洪涝灾害危险等级较高的地区集中在中国的东南部,洪涝承灾体易损度高值区位于中国的东部地区。在RCP8.5情景下,未来我国洪涝灾害高风险区主要出现在四川东部、华东的大部分地区、华北的京津冀地区、陕西和山西的部分地区以及东南沿海部分地区。东北地区的各大省会城市面临洪涝灾害的风险也很高。与基准期（1986-2005年）相比,21世纪后期,虽然发生洪涝灾害的区域变化不大,但高风险区域有所增加。鉴于模式较粗的分辨率以及确定权重系数的方法学等问题,洪涝灾害风险的预估还存在较大的不确定性。     

Model Projections of Precipitation Minus Evaporation in China

Changes in precipitation minus evaporation (P -E) are analyzed to investigate the possible impacts of climate change on water resource conditions in China. Simulations of SRES A1B and 20C3M scenarios from the WCRP CMIP3 GCMs are employed in the study. Time slice analysis shows that there would be more annual mean P -E across China in 2040-2055 and 2080-2099, compared to 1980-1999, with the largest percentage change over Northwest China and the Bohai Rim area. Precipitation and evaporation would also increase over entire China during these two periods. Annual mean P -E, precipitation, and evaporation averaged over the whole China and its eight sub-areas all yield generally upward trends during the 21st century. This indicates that on annual mean scale, the global warming related precipitation dominates the hydroclimate conditions in China. On seasonal mean scale, although precipitation is projected to increase over China, P -E exhibits both decreasing and increasing trends over certain regions of China. This suggests that the variation of global warming related evaporation dominates hydroclimate conditions over some parts of China, especially in northern China. Therefore, in hydroclimate condition projections, considering both evaporation and precipitation changes should be more reasonable than considering only precipitation.     

Evaluation of machine learning tools as a statistical downscaling tool: temperatures projections for multi-stations for Thames River Basin, Canada

Many impact studies require climate change information at a finer resolution than that provided by global climate models (GCMs). This paper investigates the performances of existing state-of-the-art rule induction and tree algorithms, namely single conjunctive rule learner, decision table, M5 model tree, and REPTree, and explores the impact of climate change on maximum and minimum temperatures (i.e., predictands) of 14 meteorological stations in the Upper Thames River Basin, Ontario, Canada. The data used for evaluation were large-scale predictor variables, extracted from National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis dataset and the simulations from third generation Canadian coupled global climate model. Data for four grid points covering the study region were used for developing the downscaling model. M5 model tree algorithm was found to yield better performance among all other learning techniques explored in the present study. Hence, this technique was applied to project predictands generated from GCM using three scenarios (A1B, A2, and B1) for the periods (2046–2065 and 2081–2100). A simple multiplicative shift was used for correcting predictand values. The potential of the downscaling models in simulating predictands was evaluated, and downscaling results reveal that the proposed downscaling model can reproduce local daily predictands from large-scale weather variables. Trend of projected maximum and minimum temperatures was studied for historical as well as downscaled values using GCM and scenario uncertainty. There is likely an increasing trend for T _max and T _min for A1B, A2, and B1 scenarios while decreasing trend has been observed for B1 scenarios during 2081–2100.     

气候变化对水文季节性迁移的影响：以水库汛期分期和极值降水为例

气候变化影响下水利工程的可靠设计和安全运行是广大决策者、研究者和公众共同关注的热点问题。以清江流域为研究对象,首先采用模糊集合分析法对不同温室气体排放情景(A2、A1B和B1)下的逐日降水资料进行汛期分期,再通过广义极值分布(GEV)函数对各分期的极值降水序列进行频率分析。结果表明,降水季节性迁移直接影响汛期分期;3种排放情景下未来各时段(2011—2030年、2046—2065年和2080—2099年)的主汛期较基准期均推迟且有缩短趋势。对于极值降水量级,未来情景下明显小于基准期,且这种差距随着重现期的增大而增大;主汛期明显大于前汛期和后汛期,且在时段之间的差异明显大于排放情景之间的差异。     

基于CMIP5模式的中国地区未来高温灾害风险预估

本文利用CMIP5中22个全球气候模式模拟结果和相关社会经济数据,对RCP8.5情景下中国未来近期（2016-2035年）、中期（2046-2065年）、远期（2080-2099年）3个时段高温灾害风险的变化趋势进行了定量预估。结果表明：中国未来不同时期高温致灾危险度可能逐步增加;未来不同时期高温风险也趋于升高。III级及以上的高温灾害风险等级范围将增大,特别是东北三省、内蒙古、陕西、宁夏、贵州、福建等省（区）处于高风险等级的面积明显增大,山东、河北、河南、安徽在近期将出现V级高温灾害风险,中期和远期V级高温灾害风险将扩展到江苏、湖南、湖北、江西、四川、广西和广东等省（区）。     

Assessment of projected agro-climatic indices over Awun river basin,Nigeria for the late twenty-first century

This paper examines changes in rainfall effectiveness indices of the Awun basin in Nigeria during the late twenty-first century for agricultural applications with outputs from high-resolution regional climate model (RCM) simulations. The RCM simulations are driven by two global climate models for a reference period (1985–2004) and a future period (2080–2099) and for RCP4.5 (a scenario with some mitigation) and RCP8.5 (a business as usual scenario) forcings. Simulations are provided for the control (1985–2004) and scenario (2080–2099) periods. Observations from synoptic station are used for bias-correction. Three indices being local onset date, seasonality index (SI), and hydrologic ratio (HR) are analyzed. Onset and HR are tested with two evapotranspiration (ET_p) models. Farmers’ perceptions are also collected to validate trends of rainfall indices for the present-day climate. We found that onset dates do not depend much on the ET_p models used, and farmers’ perceptions are consistent with predicted rainfall patterns. Present-day climate trend shows an early onset. However, onset is projected to be late in future and the delay will be magnified under the business as usual scenario. Indeed, average onset date is found on the 5th May for present-day while in the future, a delay about 4 and 8 weeks is projected under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios respectively. SI is between 0.80 and 0.99, and HR is less than 0.75 for all scenarios, meaning respectively that (i) the rainy season will get shorter and (ii) the area will get drier in the future compared to the present-day. Local stakeholders are forewarned to prepare for potential response strategies. A continuous provision of forecast-based rainfall indices to support farmer’s decision making is also recommended.     

中国干湿变化的高分辨率区域气候模式预估

本文使用三个全球气候模式驱动下的高分辨率区域气候模式RegCM4的试验数据,首先评估了RegCM4对参考时段（1986～2005年）中国干燥度指数（AI）的模拟能力,而后根据典型浓度路径中等排放（RCP4.5）情景下RegCM4试验对中国未来干湿变化进行了预估研究。结果表明,RegCM4能够合理模拟中国区域AI的空间分布。两种潜在蒸散发计算方法得到的参考时段AI在空间分布和数值上存在一定差异,尤其是在中国西部高海拔地区和北方地区。在三个全球气候模式驱动场作用下的RegCM4预估试验中,21世纪中期（2046～2065年）和末期（2081～2098年）中国区域平均AI较参考时段分别减小2%～4%和2%～5%,其中西北中部变湿,其他地区均变干。不同地区未来干湿变化的主要影响因素存在差异,西北中部降水变化为主导因素,其他地区主要受控于升温所引起的潜在蒸散发变化。     

全球气候模式对未来中国风速变化预估

利用世界气候研究计划之第三次耦合模式比较计划 (WCRP/CMIP3) 提供的, 参加IPCC AR4的19个气候模式和国家气候中心为IPCC第五次报告研发的新一代气候模式 (BCC_CSM1.0.1) 及模式集成, 考虑高排放 (A2)、 中等排放 (A1B) 和低排放 (B1) 三种人类排放情景, 预估21世纪中国近地层 (离地10 m) 风速变化。预估结果表明: (1) 21世纪全国平均的年平均风速呈微弱的减小趋势, 且随着预估情景人类排放的增加, 中国年平均风速减小趋势越显著。 (2) 冬季 (夏季) 全国平均风速呈减小 (增大) 趋势, 人类排放量越多, 冬季 (夏季) 风速减小 (增加) 程度越大。21世纪我国风速夏季 (冬季) 增大 (减小) 与全球变暖的背景下未来亚洲夏季风 (冬季风) 增强 (减弱) 有一定关系。 (3) 与20世纪末期 (1980～1999年) 相比, 21世纪初期 (2011～2030年) 中国区域年平均风速A2情景下略偏小, A1B和B1情景下年平均风速无明显变化; 21世纪中期 (2046～2065年) 和后期 (2080～2099年), 三种排放情景下中国年平均风速均比20世纪末期风速小。 (4) 21世纪初期、 中期和后期均表现为冬季 (夏季) 平均风速比20世纪末期冬季 (夏季) 平均小 (大)。 (5) 夏季中国中北部和东北地区风速偏大, 其余地区风速无明显变化或略偏小; 冬季除了东北北部和西藏东南部外, 中国大部地区风速偏小。绝大部分地区超过50%模式一致地预估上述风速变化形式, 具有一定的可信度。     

Responses of the Leading Mode of Coldwave Intensity in China to a Warming Climate

Regional extreme cold events have changed notably with recent global warming.Understanding how these cold extremes change in China is an urgent issue.This study examines the responses of the dominant mode of China coldwave intensity （CWI） to global warming by comparing observations with simulations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change （IPCC） Fourth Assessment Report （AR4）.The leading modes of the CWI derived from empirical orthogonal function （EOF） analysis have different features in different epochs.During the cold period （1957-1979）,the leading mode is characterized by centers of extreme values of CWI in northern China; while during the warm period （1980-2009）,the leading mode features two maximum loading centers over northern and southern China.The southward extension of the extreme value center is associated with an increase in the intensity of coldwave variations in southern China relative to previous decades.A multi-model ensemble of seven state-of-the-art climate models shows an extension of the maximum loading of the CWI leading mode into southern China by the end of the 21st century （2080-2099） under the A1B global warming scenario （atmospheric CO2 concentration of 720 ppm）.These results indicate that the primary response of the leading mode of CWI to global warming might be a southward extension of the extreme value center.This response may be associated with the southward shift of the storm track observed during recent decades.A significant change in the baroclinic growth rates around 40°N is accompanied by a consistent change in synoptic eddies in the troposphere,which may indicate a shift in the preferred latitude for the growth of eddies.As a result,the storm track tends to move southward,suggesting that southern China may experience increased storminess due to increased baroclinic instability in the troposphere.     

近50年中国风速变化多气候模式模拟检验

近年来,随着气候模式研究的快速发展,全球气候模式在模拟20世纪气候和气候变化特征,尤其是在模拟温度、降水等要素特征和变化及其人类活动对这些要素的影响等方面取得了丰硕的成果.然而,全球气候模式对近地层风速的模拟情况如何,目前仍缺少分析和检验.本文利用中国区域近地层风速观测资料,检验评估了参与IPCC AR4"20世纪气候耦合模式模拟"(20C3M)的19个伞球气候模式和国家气候中心新一代伞球气候模式(BCC_CSM1.0.1)模拟的1956-1999年中国近地层(10m)风速及其变化的模拟能力.研究发现,20个伞球气候模式基本上都能模拟出中国多年年(或季)平均风速分布状况,但模式模拟的平均风速一般小于观测值,尤以观测风速较大的北部和西北部地区模拟值偏小显著.气候模式模拟秋冬季风速分布的能力强于模拟夏春季的能力.模式基本上能模拟出冬、春季平均风速大于夏、秋季平均风速,但是模拟不出春、冬、夏、秋季平均风速依次减小的季节变化特征.模式及模式集成难以模拟出观测到的近50年中国年(或季)平均风速明显减小的变化趋势,少数模式能模拟出年(或季)平均风速略呈减小的变化趋势,但与观测值比相差约一个量级.模式对北部和西南部地区平均风速的变化模拟效果较好,而模式难以模拟东南-南部地区风速变化特征.     

Projection of snow cover changes over China under RCP scenarios

Snow cover changes in the middle (2040–2059) and end (2080–2099) of the twenty-first century over China were investigated with a regional climate model, nested within the global model BCC_CSM1.1. The simulations had been conducted for the period of 1950–2099 under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. Results show that the model perform well in representing contemporary (1986–2005) spatial distributions of snow cover days (SCDs) and snow water equivalent (SWE). However, some differences between observation and simulation were detected. Under the RCP4.5 scenarios, SCDs are shortened by 10–20 and 20–40 days during the middle and end of the twenty-first century, respectively. Whereas simulated SWE is lowered by 0.1–10 mm in most areas over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). On the other hand, the spatial distributions of SWE are reversed between the middle and end terms in the northeast China. Furthermore, compared with the changes of RCP4.5 scenario, SCDs are reduced by 5–20 days in the middle period under RCP8.5 scenario with even larger decreasing amplitude in the end term. SWE was lowered by 0.1–2.5 mm in most areas except the northeast of China in middle term under RCP8.5 scenario. The great center of SCDs and SWE changes are always located over TP. The regional mean of SCDs and SWE for the TP and for China display a declining trend from 2006 to 2099 with more pronounced changes in the TP than in China as a whole. Under the RCP8.5 scenario, the changes are enhanced compared to those under RCP4.5.     

基于高分辨率模拟数据RCP4.5情景下的华中区域气候变化预估

基于RegCM4.4高分辨率区域气候模式数据和华中区域1986—2005年逐日气象观测资料,在对模式模拟性能检验的基础上,对中国华中区域未来不同时期、1.5℃和2℃温升阈值下气候变化进行预估.结果表明:模拟结果能较准确反映出区域气温、降水年内变化特征及空间分布特征;与观测值相比,气温模拟值偏低、降水模拟值偏大;与198...     

Cumulative CO2 emissions: shifting international responsibilities for climate debt

In contrast to many discussions based on annual emissions, this article presents calculations and projections of cumulative contributions to the stock of atmospheric CO₂ by the major players, China, Europe, India, Japan and the USA, for the period 1900–2080. Although relative contributions to the climate problem are changing dramatically, notably due to the rapid industrialization of China, long-term responsibilities for enhanced global warming have not been transparently quantified in the literature. The analysis shows that if current trends continue, by the middle of this century China will overtake the USA as the major cumulative contributor to atmospheric concentrations of CO₂. This has enormous implications for the debate on the ethical responsibilities of the major greenhouse gas emitters. Effective climate policy will require both the recognition of shared responsibility and an unprecedented degree of cooperation.     

Sources of uncertainty in projections of twenty-first century westerly wind changes over the Amundsen Sea,West Antarctica,in CMIP5 climate models

The influence of changes in winds over the Amundsen Sea has been shown to be a potentially key mechanism in explaining rapid loss of ice from major glaciers in West Antarctica, which is having a significant impact on global sea level. Here, Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate model data are used to assess twenty-first century projections in westerly winds over the Amundsen Sea (U _AS ). The importance of model uncertainty and internal climate variability in RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenario projections are quantified and potential sources of model uncertainty are considered. For the decade 2090–2099 the CMIP5 models show an ensemble mean twenty-first century response in annual mean U _AS of 0.3 and 0.7 m s^?1 following the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios respectively. However, as a consequence of large internal climate variability over the Amundsen Sea, it takes until around 2030 (2065) for the RCP8.5 response to exceed one (two) standard deviation(s) of decadal internal variability. In all scenarios and seasons the model uncertainty is large. However the present-day climatological zonal wind bias over the whole South Pacific, which is important for tropical teleconnections, is strongly related to inter-model differences in projected change in U _AS (more skilful models show larger U _AS increases). This relationship is significant in winter (r = ?0.56) and spring (r = ?0.65), when the influence of the tropics on the Amundsen Sea region is known to be important. Horizontal grid spacing and present day sea ice extent are not significant sources of inter-model spread.     

Projecting impacts of climate change on surface water temperatures of a large subalpine lake: Lake Tahoe, USA

Predicted increases in atmospheric CO₂ concentration are expected to cause increases in air temperatures in many regions around the world, and this will likely lead to increases in the surface water temperatures of aquatic ecosystems in these regions. Using daily air and littoral water temperature data collected from Lake Tahoe, a large sub-alpine lake located in the Sierra Nevada mountains (USA), we developed and tested an empirical approach for constructing models designed to estimate site-specific daily surface water temperatures from daily air temperature projections generated from a regional climate model. We used cluster analysis to identify thermally distinct groups among sampled sites within the lake and then developed and independently validated a set of linked regression models designed to estimate daily water temperatures for each spatially distinct thermal group using daily air temperature data. When daily air temperatures projections, generated for 2080–2099 by a regional climate model, were used as input to these group models, projected increases in summer surface water temperatures of as much as 3 °C were projected. This study demonstrates an empirical approach for generating models capable of using daily air temperature projections from established climate models to project site specific impacts on littoral surface waters within large limnetic ecosystems.     

Projected 21st-century changes to Arctic marine access

Climate models project continued Arctic sea ice reductions with nearly ice-free summer conditions by the mid-21st century. However, how such reductions will realistically enable marine access is not well understood, especially considering a range of climatic scenarios and ship types. We present 21st century projections of technical shipping accessibility for circumpolar and national scales, the international high seas, and three potential navigation routes. Projections of marine access are based on monthly and daily CCSM4 sea ice concentration and thickness simulations for 2011–2030, 2046–2065, and 2080–2099 under 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 W/m² radiative forcing scenarios. Results suggest substantial areas of the Arctic will become newly accessible to Polar Class 3, Polar Class 6, and open-water vessels, rising from ~54 %, 36 %, and 23 %, respectively of the circumpolar International Maritime Organization Guidelines Boundary area in the late 20th century to ~95 %, 78 %, and 49 %, respectively by the late 21st century. Of the five Arctic Ocean coastal states, Russia experiences the greatest percentage access increases to its exclusive economic zone, followed by Greenland/Denmark, Norway, Canada and the U.S. Along the Northern Sea Route, July-October navigation season length averages ~120, 113, and 103 days for PC3, PC6, and OW vessels, respectively by late-century, with shorter seasons but substantial increases along the Northwest Passage and Trans-Polar Route. While Arctic navigation depends on other factors besides sea ice including economics, infrastructure, bathymetry, and weather, these projections are useful for strategic planning by governments, regulatory agencies, and the global maritime industry to assess spatial and temporal ranges of potential Arctic marine operations in the coming decades.     

Predicted changes in fire weather suggest increases in lightning fire initiation and future area burned in the mixedwood boreal forest

Forecasting future fire activity as a function of climate change is a step towards understanding the future state of the western mixedwood boreal ecosystem. We developed five annual weather indices based on the Daily Severity Rating (DSR) of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System and estimated their relationship with annual, empirical counts of lightning fire initiation for 588 landscapes in the mixedwood boreal forest in central-eastern Alberta, Canada from data collected between 1983 and 2001 using zero-inflated negative binomial regression models. Two indices contributed to a parsimonious model of initiation; these were Seasonal Severity Rating (SSR), and DSR-sequence count. We used parameter estimates from this model to predict lightning fire initiation under weather conditions predicted in 1 × CO₂ (1975–1985), 2 × CO₂ (2040–2049) and 3 × CO₂ (2080–2089) conditions simulated by the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM). We combined predicted initiation rates for these conditions with existing empirical estimates of the number of fire initiations that grow to be large fires (fire escapes) and the fire size distribution for the region, to predict the annual area burned by lightning-caused fires in each of the three climate conditions. We illustrated a 1.5-fold and 1.8-fold increase of lightning fire initiation by 2040–2049 and 2080–2089 relative to 1975–1985 conditions due to changes in fire weather predicted by the CRCM; these increases were calculated independent of changes in lightning activity. Our simulations suggested that weather-mediated increases in initiation frequency could correspond to a substantial increase in future area burned with 1.9-fold and 2.6-fold increases in area burned in 2040–2049 and 2080–2089 relative to 1975–1985 conditions, respectively. We did not include any biotic effects in these estimates, though future patterns of initiation and fire growth will be regulated not only by weather, but also by vegetation and fire management.     

Climate change impact assessment on flow regime by incorporating spatial correlation and scenario uncertainty

Flooding risk is increasing in many parts of the world and may worsen under climate change conditions. The accuracy of predicting flooding risk relies on reasonable projection of meteorological data (especially rainfall) at the local scale. The current statistical downscaling approaches face the difficulty of projecting multi-site climate information for future conditions while conserving spatial information. This study presents a combined Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG) stochastic weather generator and multi-site rainfall simulator RainSim (CLWRS) approach to investigate flow regimes under future conditions in the Kootenay Watershed, Canada. To understand the uncertainty effect stemming from different scenarios, the climate output is fed into a hydrologic model. The results showed different variation trends of annual peak flows (in 2080–2099) based on different climate change scenarios and demonstrated that the hydrological impact would be driven by the interaction between snowmelt and peak flows. The proposed CLWRS approach is useful where there is a need for projection of potential climate change scenarios.

     

RegCM4对华北区域21世纪气候变化预估研究

利用国家气候中心完成的RegCM4区域气候模式在RCP4.5和RCP8.5两种排放路径下的气候变化动力降尺度试验结果,在检验模式对基准期(1986—2005年)气温和降水模拟能力基础上,进行华北区域21世纪气候变化预估分析。结果表明:RegCM4对华北区域基准期气温和降水的模拟能力较好。未来21世纪,两种情景下华北区域气温、降水、持续干期(consecutive dry days, CDD)和强降水量(R95p)变化逐渐增大,但变化幅度在高排放的RCP8.5情景下更为显著,其中近期(2021—2035年)、中期(2046—2065年)、远期(2080—2098年)RCP8.5情景下年平均气温分别升高1.77、3.44、5.82℃,年平均降水分别增加8.1%、14%、19.3%,CDD分别减少3、3、12 d, R95p分别增加30.8%、41.9%、69.8%。空间上,未来21世纪华北区域内年、冬季、夏季平均气温将一致升高,夏季升温幅度最大;年、冬季、夏季平均降水整体以增加为主,冬季降水增加幅度最大;CDD以减少为主,但近期和中期在山西和京津冀有所增加,而R95p以增加为主,表明21世纪华北区域干旱事件逐渐减少、极端降水事件不断增加。