Extreme climatic events in the Amazon basin

During 2009 the Amazon basin was hit by a heavy flooding with a magnitude and duration few times observed in several decades. Torrential rain in northern and eastern Amazonia during the austral summer of 2008–2009 swelled the Amazon River and its tributaries. By July 2009, water levels of the Rio Negro, a major Amazon tributary, reached at Manaus harbor a new record, the highest mark of the last 107?years. During the 2008–2009 hydrological year, the rainy season on northern and northwestern Amazonia started prematurely, and was followed by a longer-than-normal rainy season. An anomalously southward migration of the ITCZ during May–June 2009, due to the warmer than normal surface waters in the tropical South Atlantic, was responsible for abundant rainfall in large regions of eastern Amazonia and Northeast Brazil from May to July 2009. We also compared the flood of 2009 with other major events recorded in 1989 and 1999. The hydrological consequences of this pattern were earlier than normal floods in Amazon northern tributaries, which peak discharges at their confluences with the main stem almost coincided with the peaks of southern tributaries. Since the time displacement of the contribution to the main stem of northern and southern Amazon tributaries is fundamental for damping flood waves in the main stem, the simultaneous combinations of peak discharges of tributaries resulted in an extreme flood.     

Diurnal variation of surface wind over central eastern China

Hourly wind observations from 452 meteorological stations are used to document the diurnal cycle of the surface wind over the central eastern China (100°–122°E, 20°–42.5°N). Both the surface wind speed and the wind direction show large diurnal variation with pronounced topographic effects. At most stations, the surface wind speed reaches the maximum in the afternoon and the minimum in early-morning. This diurnal phase shows small seasonal variation, whereas the diurnal amplitude varies significantly in different seasons. The diurnal amplitude of the surface wind speed reaches maximum in spring over the northern and southwestern China and in summer over the southern China. The diurnal cycle of the wind direction is more complicated. Over the coastal (mountain) regions, the diurnal wind direction is greatly influenced by the land–sea (mountain–valley) breezes with large (small) seasonal variation. Over the northern plain region, the wind direction exhibits small diurnal variation but with remarkable seasonal rotation. The surface wind over the stations located on the top of mountains shows distinct diurnal variation, which represents the diurnal cycle of the tropospheric low-level wind. The wind speed over these stations is highest in pre-dawn and lowest in the afternoon. The wind anomaly rotates clockwise from late night to late afternoon, and shows significant seasonal variation as influenced by the annual cycle of the monsoon system. The contribution of the diurnal surface wind to the diurnal feature of precipitation is briefly discussed.     

Low-level wind response to mesoscale pressure systems

Observations are presented which show a strong correlation between low-level wind behaviour (e.g., rotation near the surface) and the passage of mesoscale pressure systems. The latter are associated with frontal transition zones, are dominated by a pressure-jump line and a mesoscale high pressure area, and produce locally large horizontal pressure gradients. The wind observations are simulated by specifying a time sequence of perturbation pressure gradient and subsequently solving the vertically-integrated momentum equations with appropriate initial conditions. Very good agreement is found between observed and calculated winds; in particular, (i) a 360 ° rotation in wind on passage of the mesoscale high; (ii) wind-shift lines produced dynamically by the pressure-jump line; (iii) rapid linear increase in wind speed on passage of the pressure jump.     

巢湖流域典型站点的风场特征分析

研究巢湖流域流场特征对于认识该地区热量、水汽交换和水流运动规律具有重要意义。利用2006年合肥、肥东、巢湖、庐江站以及姥山岛自动气象站的风场资料,分析了巢湖流域典型站点的风速和风向变化特征。结果表明,陆面站点年平均风速为2.17m/s,湖面站点风速为2.41m/s。所有站点春夏季风速大于秋冬季,陆上风速具有明显的日变化,白天风速大于夜间,而湖面风速日变化较不显著。陆面站点风向季节变化明显,春夏季以偏南风为主,秋冬季以偏北风为主,春夏季的风向日变化特征较秋冬季明显,湖面站风向没有明显的季节变化。陆面站点不同程度地受到湖陆风的影响,距离湖面较近的站点受到的影响较大。湖面和陆面站点风向差距平与气温差距平的日变化保持一致,表明湖陆温差是影响巢湖流域湖陆风的关键因子。     

Energy flux partitioning over the Amazon forest

The present study involved determination of the experimental energy receipt partitioning over the tropical Amazon forest. Diurnal variation of net radiation (Q ^*), sensible heat flux (Q _H) and latent heat flux (Q _E) is presented. The daytimeQ _E is in phase withQ ^* and it is always an important term in the energy balance. The daily averagedQ _E is 59 to 100% of the dailyQ ^* whereasQ _H is 5 to 28% at the Amazon forest site (2° 57 S; 59° 57 W) for the sample periods. The results present evidence thatQ _E over the Amazon forest is greater thanQ ^* in the afternoon hours. The role of sensible heat advection in maintaining largeQ _E over the forest surface is discussed. Hourly Bowen ratio () values for two campaigns of the Amazon forest micrometeorological experiment are presented. During daylight hours, the differences in are not significant, and exhibit a systematic pattern. The only time that the variation in Bowen ratio increased significantly was at sunrise and sunset when the thermal structure of the air was changing from a strong inversion to lapse and vice versa. The diurnal values changed from –3.50 to 0.85. The mean hourly calculated from values from 07.00 to 16.00 h, varied from 0.05 to 0.85.Diese Studie beschäftigt sich mit der Aufteilung der empfangenen Energie über dem tropischen Amazonasurwald. Es wird der Tagesgang der Strahlungsbilanz (Q ^*), des fühlbaren (Q _H) und des latenten Wärmestromes (Q _E) vorgestellt. Während der Tagesstunden istQ _E in Phase mitQ ^* und ist immer ein wichtiger Term der Energiebilanz. Das Tagesmittel vonQ _E beträgt 59 bis 100%,Q _H 5 bis 28% des täglichenQ ^* an den Meßtagen bei der Amazonasurwaldstation (2° 57 S; 59° 57 W). Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, daß in den NachmittagsstundenQ _E über dem Amazonasurwald größer ist alsQ ^*. Die Rolle der Advektion von fühlbarer Wärme zur Aufrechterhaltung des großenQ _E über der Waldoberfläche wird diskutiert. Für zwei Meßkampagnen wurden die stündlichen Bowenverhältnisse () vorgestellt. Während der Tagesstunden ergaben sich keine signifikanten Änderungen von, während bei Sonnenaufgang und -untergang, wenn der thermische Aufbau der Luft von einer starken Inversion zu neutral und umgekehrt wechselt, die Unterschiede deutlich anstiegen. Die Tageswerte von lagen zwischen –3.50 und 0.85. Die Stundenmittel von 7.00 bis 16.00 Uhr schwankten zwischen 0.05 und 0.85.

---

With 3 Figures     

Interdecadal variability and trends of rainfall across the Amazon basin

Summary An analysis of decadal and long-term patterns of rainfall has been carried out using a combination of raingauge and gridded rainfall datasets, for the entire Amazon basin and for its northern and southern sub-basins. The study covers the period 1929–98. Rainfall variability and variations in circulation and sea surface temperature fields have been analysed in more detail for the period 1950–98. Negative rainfall trends were identified for the entire Amazon basin, while at the regional level there is a negative trend in northern Amazonia and positive trend in southern Amazonia. Decadal time scale variations in rainfall have been discovered, with periods of relatively drier and wetter conditions, with different behaviour in northern and southern Amazonia. Spectral analyses show decadal time scale variations in southern Amazonia, while northern Amazonia exhibits both interannual and decadal scale variations. Shifts in the rainfall regime in both sections of the Amazon basin were identified as occurring in the mid-1940s and 1970s. After 1975–76, northern Amazonia received less rainfall than before 1975. Changes in the circulation and oceanic fields after 1975 suggest an important role of the warming of the tropical central and eastern Pacific on the decreasing rainfall in northern Amazonia, due to more frequent and intense El Niño events during the relatively dry period 1975–98.     

Moisture recycling over the Mackenzie basin

Abstract

Moisture recycling over the Mackenzie basin is investigated by estimating the precipitation recycling ratio (the ratio of precipitation derived from local evaporation to the total precipitation within the basin) for the region with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis dataset and the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) precipitation climatology. The results suggest that recycling is very active over the region during the warm season (April – August) and extremely inactive during the cold season. The annual recycling ratio estimated for the basin is about 0.25, which is close to that estimated by others for the Mississippi and Amazon basins despite the lower annual evapotranspiration over the Mackenzie basin.

The high recycling ratios and the recycling patterns estimated for the basin during the warm season are found to be consequences of the unique topographical and climatic settings characterizing the region. Analysis of conditions during the years having anomalous spring and summer precipitation suggests that the large‐scale atmospheric setting could act in concert with the basin's unique topographic and surface characteristics to increase or to decrease precipitation and its recycling over the basin, depending on whether the basin is under the influence of a persistent large‐scale low or a high pressure system. In the former case, much of the recycled precipitation would fall over the north‐western parts of the basin where the runoff ratios are relatively high, and thus enhance the summer discharge from the basin. When the basin is under the influence of a persistent high pressure system, much of the recycled precipitation would fall over the southern part of the basin where the runoff ratios are relatively low, and thus reduce the discharge from the basin. It is suggested that this latter effect might have contributed to the record low summer discharge from the basin during 1995.     

50年一遇最大风速估算

根据榆林气象站1961—2016年逐年及该地区某一风电观测场2007年逐时最大风速资料,在探讨最大风速突变点的基础上,利用极值Ⅰ型分析法及1d、5d设计风速取样法对风电观测场50a一遇最大风速进行估算,同时参考《建筑结构荷载规范》,最终确定风电观测场最大风速的取值。结果表明:榆林气象站历年最大风速有下降趋势,并在1980年发生突变;利用突变点前风电观测场最大风速序列计算的50a一遇风速修正后,得到的结果与建筑结构荷载规范的值相近,可以互相验证,最终确定50a一遇最大风速为25.3m/s,相应风压为0.4kN/m^2。     

Spatiotemporal variability of methane over the Amazon from satellite observations

The spatiotemporal variability of the greenhouse gas methane(CH_4) in the atmosphere over the Amazon is studied using data from the space-borne measurements of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder on board NASA's AQUA satellite for the period 2003–12. The results show a pronounced variability of this gas over the Amazon Basin lowlands region, where wetland areas occur. CH_4 has a well-defined seasonal behavior, with a progressive increase of its concentration during the dry season, followed by a decrease during the wet season. Concerning this variability, the present study indicates the important role of ENSO in modulating the variability of CH_4 emissions over the northern Amazon, where this association seems to be mostly linked to changes in flooded areas in response to ENSO-related precipitation changes. In this region, a CH_4 decrease(increase) is due to the El Nino-related(La Ni ?na-related) dryness(wetness). On the other hand, an increase(decrease) in the biomass burning over the southeastern Amazon during very dry(wet) years explains the increase(decrease) in CH_4 emissions in this region. The present analysis identifies the two main areas of the Amazon, its northern and southeastern sectors, with remarkable interannual variations of CH_4. This result might be useful for future monitoring of the variations in the concentration of CH_4, the second-most important greenhouse gas, in this area.     

最大风速的估算方法与应用

本文利用ECMWF的1979-2012年空间分辨率为0.75°×0.75°的REA每日4个时次的多层10 min平均风速格点资料,提取了研究区域(18°-26.25°N,108.75°-118.5°E)内的年最大风速序列,并对其年际变化特征和空间分布特征进行了分析。在分析空间分布特征的基础上,分类选择代表格点,建立最大风速序列,分别利用第Ⅰ型极值分布和皮尔逊Ⅲ型分布方法估算了各个代表格点不同高度层在不同重现水平下的最大风速极值,并比较两种方法估算结果的异同。在东南沿海年最大风速从近海到沿海岸线地带,再到内陆山地丘陵依次递减。在最大风速估算中发现两种估算方法所得结果相近,都可用于最大风速估算。估算结果与实际最大风速序列极大值相比较偏小,在实际应用中可按适线原则通过调整参数获得更准确的估算结果。通过分析估算方法和估算结果,为确定工程设计最大风速提供了新的思路和方法,有利于提高气象部门的专业气象服务质量水平。     

A case study of nocturnal wind and temperature profiles over the inhomogeneous terrain of Northern Germany with some considerations of turbulent fluxes

Soundings in the stably-stratified boundary layer were executed over the rough terrain of Northern Germany during a night with a low-level jet (LLJ) development. Vertical wind and temperature profiles were obtained at 5 m height intervals using a tethersonde transported up and down along a 300 m high radio tower by an elevator. From these profiles, turbulent fluxes of heat and momentum, coefficients of eddy diffusivity and boundary-layer parameters were estimated. The nocturnal mean state analysis agrees well with the second-order model results of Brost and Wyngaard (1978) and our own first-order numerical testing while the time histories of different profile groups are in accordance with the observations of Izumi and Barad (1963).     

On nocturnal wind shear with a view to engineering applications

Wind shear data from 14 clear nights with low-level jet development are analysed up to heights of 200 m. Temporal variations of the magnitude of the shear vector and of the power-law exponent p are shown. The frequencies of occurrence of maximum shear and of p are examined and the effect of the product of geostrophic surface wind speed and mean layer temperature gradient on the shear is investigated.     

Nocturnal Low-level Winds and Their Impacts on Particulate Matter over the Beijing Area

Three-month wind profiles, 260 m PM1 concentrations [i.e., particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 μm], and carrier-to-noise ratio data at two Beijing sites 55 km apart (urban and suburban) were collected to analyze the characteristics of low-level nocturnal wind and PM in autumn and winter. Three mountain-plain wind events with wind shear were selected for analysis. The measurements indicated that the maximum wind speeds of the northerly weak low-level jet (LLJ) below 320 m at the suburban site were weaker than those at the urban site, and the LLJ heights and depths at the suburban site were lower than those at the urban site. The nocturnal 140 m mean vertical velocities and the variations in vertical velocity at the urban site were larger than those at the suburban site. A nocturnal breeze with a weak LLJ of ～3 m s-1 noticeably offset nocturnal PM transport due to southerly flow and convergence within the northern urban area of Beijing. Characteristics of the nocturnal LLJ, such as start-up time, structure, intensity, and duration, were important factors in determining the decrease in the nocturnal horizontal range and site-based low-level variations in PM.     

Mean wind speed profiles in the air basin of Moscow

Results of measurements of mean wind speed profiles and direction during two years in the center of the city of Moscow are presented. These measurements were performed with a Doppler acoustic profiler (sodar), which was used for continuous monitoring of the wind speed within the height range from 40 to 250–500 m. The averaged seasonal mean profiles are presented along with other observational data, including diurnal cycle parameters, wind speed and direction frequencies at chosen levels, and frequencies and duration of strong winds and calm weather.     

An investigation into the contraction of the hurricane radius of maximum wind

The radius of the maximum tangential wind (RMW) associated with the hurricane primary circulation has been long known to undergo continuous contraction during the hurricane development. In this study, we document some characteristic behaviors of the RMW contraction in a series of ensemble real-time simulations of Hurricane Katrina (2005) and in idealized experiments using the Rotunno and Emanuel (Mon Weather Rev 137:1770–1789, 1987) axisymmetric hurricane model. Of specific interest is that the contraction appears to slow down abruptly at the middle of the hurricane intensification, and the RMW becomes nearly stationary subsequently, despite the rapidly strengthening rotational flows. A kinematic model is then presented to examine such behaviors of the RMW in which necessary conditions for the RMW to stop contracting are examined. Further use of the Emanuel’s (J Atmos Sci 43:585–605, 1986) analytical hurricane theory reveals a connection between the hurricane maximum potential intensity and the hurricane eye size, an issue that has not been considered adequately in previous studies.     

Characteristics of nocturnal low-level jets over Ulsan airport

We analyzed wind profiler data collected over Ulsan airport during the period from 2008 to 2009 to examine the characteristics of low level jets (LLJs). The Ulsan airport is located within the narrow valley with north-south axis. The frequency analysis results indicates that the nearly 19% of the total nocturnal periods have the presence of jets and LLJ occurrence rate is high in winter (32%) and low in summer (10%). The mode in the wind speed histogram is 4?C6 m s^?1. A majority of jet occurs below 100 m (about 77.8 m) above ground. The predominant wind direction of jet is northerly. In order to examine the favorable conditions for LLJ formation of Ulsan airport, we investigated temperature difference between valley and plain at the surface and synoptic wind direction and speed at 850 hPa. Our results show that air temperature in the valley is lower than over the plain during the nighttime, indicating the existence of thermal forcing for along-valley wind. Under a significant temperature difference along the valley, westerly wind speed at 850 hPa is slightly weaker on LLJs event night than no event night, indicating weaker north-south large-scale pressure gradient on LLJ event night. The magnitude of northerly wind at 850 hPa is much stronger on event night than no event night, implying higher downward transfer of northerly wind on event night. Our findings suggest that jet formation over Ulsan airport is related to the strong northerly wind at 850 hPa in the presence of thermal forcing due to temperature contrast between valley and plain.     

High-resolution sea wind hindcasts over the Mediterranean area

The goal of this study is to develop a high-resolution atmospheric hindcast over the Mediterranean area using the WRF-ARW model, focusing on offshore surface wind fields. In order to choose the most adequate model configuration, the study provides details on the calibration of the experimental saet-up through a sensitivity test considering the October–December 2001 period (the 2001 super-storm event in the West Mediterranean). A daily forecast outperforms the spectral technique of previous products and the boundary data from ERA-Interim reanalysis produces the most accurate estimates in terms of wind variability and hour-to-hour correspondence. According to the sensitivity test, two data sets of wind hindcast are produced: the SeaWind I (30-km horizontal resolution for a period of 60 years) and the SeaWind II (15-km horizontal resolution for 20 years). The validation of the resulting surface winds is undertaken considering two offshore observational datasets. On the one hand, hourly surface buoy stations are used to validate wind time series at specific locations; on the other hand, wind altimeter satellite observations are considered for spatial validation in the whole Mediterranean Sea. The results obtained from this validation process show a very good agreement with observations for the southern Europe region. Finally, SeaWind I and II are used to characterize offshore wind fields in the Mediterranean Sea. The statistical structure of sea surface wind is analyzed and the agreement with Weibull probability distribution is discussed. In addition, wind persistence and extreme wind speed (50 year return period) are characterized and relevant areas of wind power generation are described by estimating wind energy quantities.     

哈尔滨站高空盛行风向的统计

高空测风的目的是为了测定自由大气中各个不同高度的风向和风速,藉以了解大气的结构,作为天气预报和气象服务的重要资料。为了能使有关单位更方便,更直观地了解、使用高空风的资料,特将近年来的高空风风向作一统计(见表)。此表的数据是历年来所统计的哈尔滨站资料中最全的一次,使用价值较高,它较为直观的反映了哈尔滨市上空各不同高度盛行风向。为各方面的应用有着重要的参考价值。表哈尔滨探空站高空盛行风平均风向统计表高度月份地面0.51.02.03.04.05.05.57.08.09.010121416182022242612101912592732622622572522622662762832792762732722…