Surface Energy Exchanges during Pre-monsoon Thunderstorm Activity over a Tropical Station Kharagpur

In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the variation of surface energy fluxes such as net radiation, sensible, latent and soil heat during different epochs of thunderstorm activity at Kharagpur. The study also focuses in delineating the difference in the surface energy budget from the days of thunderstorm activity to fair weather days in the pre-monsoon months (April and May) which is locally known as thunderstorm season. For this purpose, experimental data obtained from the Severe Thunderstorms- Observations and Regional Modeling (STORM) programme during pre-monsoon months of 2007, 2009 and 2010 at Kharagpur (22°30′N, 87°20′E), West Bengal, India are used. The present study reveals quick response, in the order of a few days, in the variations of transport of energy fluxes at soil-atmosphere interface to the upper atmosphere vis-à-vis to the occurrence of thunderstorm activity. Rise of surface sensible heat flux to the level of surface latent heat flux a day or two before the occurrence of a thunderstorm has been identified as a precursor signal for the thunderstorm occurrence over Kharagpur. Distinguishable differences are found in the partitioning of the surface energy fluxes to that of net radiation between thunderstorm and non-thunderstorm days. The present study reveals more Bowen’s ratio during thunderstorm days to that of nonthunderstorm days. These results are useful in validating mesoscale model simulations of thunderstorm activity.     

Oscillation of wind temperature humidity in the atmospheric surface layer over tropical semi-arid stations

Analysis of wind, air temperature, humidity and rainfall data from Land Surface Processes Experiment (LASPEX) in the surface layer at Anand (22°35′N, 72°55′E) and Khandha (22°02′N, 73°11′E) during January to December 1997 is presented. Wind and temperature at various levels showed prominent diurnal variation. Progression of daily wind and temperature revealed the intra-seasonal, quasi-biweekly and 6–9 day oscillations indicated large-scale convection, transport of heat and water vapor from Arabian Sea towards these stations.Power spectrum of wind and humidity corroborated the planetary scale Madden–Julian oscillation in the surface layer. Periodic oscillations of 21, 6–9, 1 day and 12 h were prominent in the spectrum of all variables. Low-frequency spectral peaks showed the energy in wind is 2–3 times higher over Khandha than at Anand whereas temperature is 3 times higher at Anand than Khandha.     

Discussion and reassessment of the method used for accepting or rejecting data observed by a Bowen ratio system

The Bowen ratio energy balance method often produces extremely inaccurate magnitudes of the flux due to resolution limits of the instruments. We analysed the criteria used for rejecting inaccurate data observed using a Bowen ratio system and the resolution limit of the sensors to analytically determine the reliable values of the Bowen ratio (β) and the latent and sensible heat fluxes. The formula used to calculate the error limit of the Bowen ratio (β) was corrected based on the theory of error analysis. An example was proposed for the common case with 0.2 °C resolution limit of temperature measurement and 0.08 kP_a resolution limit of water vapour pressure measurement, to show the steps of accepting or rejecting data observed by a Bowen ratio system. The acceptance or rejection of data observed by a Bowen ratio system is a dynamic process, which should be performed based on the excluded interval of the Bowen ratio and the qualitative relationships among the data observed by a Bowen ratio system. The excluded interval of the Bowen ratio can be structured based on the accuracy of the sensors used. Data are excluded first if they do not satisfy the qualitative relationships between the vapour pressure difference, the temperature difference, Bowen ratio, and the available energy, whereas the data in the rejection region range of the Bowen ratio are excluded second. It is necessary to improve the accuracy of the temperature and humidity probes to improve the acceptance rate for data collected using the Bowen ratio system, apart from improving the observed precision of available energy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

南京城市化进程对大气边界层的影响研究

为了研究城市化进程对城市边界层结构的影响,通过高分辨率的卫星遥感资料获得土地利用类型,以及地表反照率、植被指数等地表参数,以南京为例,运用数值模拟手段进行了研究,结果显示这是一种可行的手段.数值模拟结果表明,随着城市的发展,城市反照率减小、植被减少、地表湿度减小,蒸发耗热减少,感热通量增加140 W/m2,城市波恩比增加.地表和大气之间热量交换加强,湍流热量通量增大了一倍,湍流交换发展加剧,14：00混合层高度抬高了500 m.地表湍流水汽通量和空气中水汽含量都减小,这也使更多的热量用于加热地表和大气,使地温、气温的日变化幅度增加.     

Estimation of seasonal crop water consumption in a vineyard using Bowen ratio‐energy balance method

Information about seasonal crop water consumption is useful to develop the appropriate irrigation scheme. Measurements of energy balance components using the Bowen ratio method were made for a complete growing season at a vineyard in the arid region of northwest China. Vine in the experiment was furrow‐irrigated using a trellis system. The measured evapotranspiration was compared with estimates using the soil water balance method. It is shown that the Bowen ratio method provided accurate estimates of evapotranspiration from the vineyard and this requires that the Bowen ratio system is appropriately installed. The energy balance components showed typical diurnal pattern with peaks that occurred around the midday, except for the ground heat flux which delayed its peak by 2–3 h. The sensible heat flux was greater than the latent heat flux and followed the net radiation closely. The ratio of the latent heat flux to net radiation was low in the early growing season and increased over time. Under the limited irrigation experienced in the vineyard, the latent heat flux was controlled by available soil moisture and the total evapotranspiration in the growing season was 253 mm. The seasonal progression of the crop coefficient is similar to that reported in the literature, with the maximum occurring during the month of September. The crop coefficient can be estimated as a non‐linear function of day of year (DOY) and used to estimate evapotranspiration from vineyards in the region. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamics behind warming of the southeastern Arabian Sea and its interruption based on in situ measurements

A study of the inter-annual variability of the warming of the southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) during the spring transition months was carried out from 2013 to 2015 based on in situ data from moored buoys. An attempt was made to identify the roles of the different variables in the warming of the SEAS (e.g., net heat flux, advection, entrainment, and thickness of the barrier layer during the previous northeast monsoon season). The intense freshening of the SEAS (approximately 2 PSU) occurring in each December, together with the presence of a downwelling Rossby wave, supports the formation of a thick barrier layer during the northeast monsoon season. It is known that the barrier layer thickness, varying each year, plays a major role in the spring warming of the SEAS. Interestingly, an anomalously thick barrier layer occurred during the northeast monsoon season of 2012–2013. However, the highest sea surface temperature (31 °C) was recorded during the last week of April 2015, while the lowest sea surface temperature (29.7 °C) was recorded during the last week of May 2013. The mixed layer heat budget analysis during the spring transition months proved that the intense warming has been mainly supported by the net heat flux, not by other factors like advection and entrainment. The inter-annual variability analysis of the net heat flux and its components, averaged over a box region of the SEAS, showed a substantial latent heat flux release and a reduction in net shortwave radiation in 2013. Both factors contributed to the negative net heat flux. Strong breaks in the warming were also observed in May due to the entrainment of cold sub-surface waters. These events are associated with the cyclonic eddy persisting over the SEAS during the same time. The entrainment term, favoring the cooling, was stronger in 2015 than that in 2013 and 2014. The surface temperatures measured in 2013 were lower than those in 2014 and 2015 despite the presence of a thick barrier layer. The substantial decrease in net heat flux along with entrainment cooling has been identified as causes for this behavior.     

Some Atmospheric Surface Layer Characteristics over Varanasi from MONTBLEX-90

—An attempt has been made to study the atmospheric surface layer characteristics such as Richardson number (Ri). Monin-Obukhov length scale (L), friction velocity (U _* ?), friction temperature (θ _*?), roughness length (Z ₀?), turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), ratio of eddy conductivity to eddy diffusivity (K _m ?/K _h ?) over a semi-moist convective regime. Data which were collected at Varanasi (25°18′N, 83°E) as part of the experiment known as MONTBLEX-90 (Monsoon Trough Boundary Layer Experiment) during the summer monsoon season was used in the present study. The variation of the above parameters with stability has been discussed. The differences within the surface layer are also pointed out. Some broad features are found to coincide with that of Businger et al. (1971). The heterogeneity and the anisotropic turbulence typical of monsoon tropical atmosphere are shown to be responsible for the deviations noticed within the surface layer.     

Upper oceanic response to tropical cyclone Phailin in the Bay of Bengal using a coupled atmosphere-ocean model

A numerical simulation of very severe cyclonic storm ‘Phailin’, which originated in southeastern Bay of Bengal (BoB) and propagated northwestward during 10–15 October 2013, was carried out using a coupled atmosphere-ocean model. A Model Coupling Toolkit (MCT) was used to make exchanges of fluxes consistent between the atmospheric model ‘Weather Research and Forecasting’ (WRF) and ocean circulation model ‘Regional Ocean Modelling System’ (ROMS) components of the ‘Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport’ (COAWST) modelling system. The track and intensity of tropical cyclone (TC) Phailin simulated by the WRF component of the coupled model agrees well with the best-track estimates reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Ocean model component (ROMS) was configured over the BoB domain; it utilized the wind stress and net surface heat fluxes from the WRF model to investigate upper oceanic response to the passage of TC Phailin. The coupled model shows pronounced sea surface cooling (2–2.5 °C) and an increase in sea surface salinity (SSS) (2–3 psu) after 06 GMT on 12 October 2013 over the northwestern BoB. Signature of this surface cooling was also observed in satellite data and buoy measurements. The oceanic mixed layer heat budget analysis reveals relative roles of different oceanic processes in controlling the mixed layer temperature over the region of observed cooling. The heat budget highlighted major contributions from horizontal advection and vertical entrainment processes in governing the mixed layer cooling (up to ?0.1 °C h^?1) and, thereby, reduction in sea surface temperature (SST) in the northwestern BoB during 11–12 October 2013. During the post-cyclone period, the net heat flux at surface regained its diurnal variations with a noontime peak that provided a warming tendency up to 0.05 °C h^?1 in the mixed layer. Clear signatures of TC-induced upwelling are seen in vertical velocity (about 2.5 × 10^?3 m s^?1), rise in isotherms and isohalines along 85–88° E longitudes in the northwestern BoB. The study demonstrates that a coupled atmosphere-ocean model (WRF + ROMS) serves as a useful tool to investigate oceanic response to the passage of cyclones.     

黄土高原定西地区陆面物理量变化规律研究

本文利用在黄土高原定西地区长期观测的陆面物理量资料,在分析了土壤温度和湿度等基本特征的基础上,比较系统地研究了陆面辐射分量、能量分量、地表反照率和Bowen比等陆面土要物理量的变化特征,讨论了陆面能量不平衡差额的分布规律,发现黄土高原定西地区陆面物理量特征与其他地医很不同,揭示出的土壤温度日波动向深层的传播规律和8～9...     

青藏高原闪电活动的时空分布特征

利用卫星上携带的闪电探测仪所获取的8年闪电资料(1995～2002)对青藏高原闪电活动的时空分布以及高原季风期间闪电活动对地面热力学特征的响应进行了研究.结果表明,高原上的平均闪电密度为3fl·a-1·km-2,并在高原中部（32°N, 88°E）出现闪电密度峰值5.1fl·a-1·km-2.闪电活动主要发生在6～8月,并在6月下旬至7月中旬最为活跃.大部分地区的闪电活动日变化峰值出现在14:00～16:00 LT,在中西部的显著高山地区早于这一时刻,而在显著低海拔的塔里木和柴达木盆地晚于这一时刻.夏季季风期间高原上的闪电活动明显依赖于地表的热力学特征,并与地表鲍恩比和感热通量呈明显的线性正相关,相关系数分别为0.7和0.6,鲍恩比有可能作为调整闪电产生效率的量度.     

Estimation of spatially distributed surface energy fluxes using remotely‐sensed data for agricultural fields

Land surface energy fluxes are required in many environmental studies, including hydrology, agronomy and meteorology. Surface energy balance models simulate microscale energy exchange processes between the ground surface and the atmospheric layer near ground level. Spatial variability of energy fluxes limits point measurements to be used for larger areas. Remote sensing provides the basis for spatial mapping of energy fluxes. Remote‐sensing‐based surface energy flux‐mapping was conducted using seven Landsat images from 1997 to 2002 at four contiguous crop fields located in Polk County, northwestern Minnesota. Spatially distributed surface energy fluxes were estimated and mapped at 30 m pixel level from Landsat Thematic Mapper and Enhanced Thematic Mapper images and weather information. Net radiation was determined using the surface energy balance algorithm for land (SEBAL) procedure. Applying the two‐source energy balance (TSEB) model, the surface temperature and the latent and sensible heat fluxes were partitioned into vegetation and soil components and estimated at the pixel level. Yield data for wheat and soybean from 1997 to 2002 were mapped and compared with latent heat (evapotranspiration) for four of the fields at pixel level. The spatial distribution and the relation of latent heat flux and Bowen ratio (ratio of sensible heat to latent heat) to crop yield were studied. The root‐mean‐square error and the mean absolute percentage of error between the observed and predicted energy fluxes were between 7 and 22 W m⁻² and 12 and 24% respectively. Results show that latent heat flux and Bowen ratio were correlated (positive and negative) to the yield data. Wheat and soybean yields were predicted using latent heat flux with mean R² = 0·67 and 0·70 respectively, average residual means of −4·2 bushels/acre and 0·11 bushels/acre respectively, and average residual standard deviations of 16·2 bushels/acre and 16·6 bushels/acre respectively (1 bushel/acre ≈ 0·087 m³ ha⁻¹). The flux estimation procedure from the SEBAL‐TSEB model was useful and applicable to agricultural fields. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of land surface heat and water exchange under different soil freeze/thaw conditions over the central Tibetan Plateau

Freezing and thawing processes at the soil surface play an important role in determining the nature of Tibetan land and atmosphere interactions. In this study, land surface water and heat exchanges under different freezing and thawing conditions over the central Tibetan Plateau were investigated using observations from the Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period/Asia‐Australia Monsoon Project on the Tibetan Plateau, and the Simultaneous Heat and Water Model. During the freezing and thawing stages, significant diurnal variation of soil temperature resulted in a diurnal cycle of unfrozen water content at the surface. Radiation and energy components and evapotranspiration averaged over four freeze/thaw stages also changed diurnally. On average, the surface albedo (0·68) during the completely frozen stage was sharply higher than those during the freezing, thawing, and completely thawed stages due to the snow cover. The Bowen ratios were 3·1 and 2·5 in the freezing and thawing stages, respectively, but the ratio was only 0·5 in the completely thawed stage. Latent heat flux displayed distinctly better correlation with unfrozen soil water content during the freezing and thawing stages than during the completely frozen and thawed stages. This implies that the diurnal cycle of unfrozen soil water, resulting from diurnal freeze/thaw cycles at the surface, has a significant impact on latent heat flux. A surface energy imbalance problem was encountered, and the possible sources of error were analysed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical Study of the Intertropical Convergence Zone Over the Indian Ocean During the 1997 and 1998 Northeast Monsoon Episodes

—?The hydrostatic Naval Research Laboratory/North Carolina State University (NRL/NCSU) model was used to study the mesoscale dynamics and diurnal variability of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the Indian Ocean in the short-range period. To achieve this objective the initial conditions from two northeast monsoon episodes (29 January, 1997 and 29 January, 1998) were run for 48-hour simulations using a triple-nested grid version of the model with 1.5°?×?1.5°, 0.5°?×?0.5° and 0.17°?×?0.17° resolutions. The 1997 case represents a typical northeast monsoon episode, while the 1998 case depicts an abnormal monsoon episode during an El Niño event.¶Comparisons between the model-produced and analyzed mean circulation, wind speed, and associated rainfall for different spatial scales are presented. During the active northeast monsoon season in 1997, the major low-level westerly winds and associated high rainfall rates between 0° and 15°S were simulated reasonably well up to 24 hours. During the 1998 El Niño event, the model was capable of simulating weak anomalous easterly winds (between 0° and 15°S) with much lower rainfall rates up to 48 hours. In both simulations, the finest grid size resulted in largest rainfall rates consistent with Outgoing Longwave Radiation data.¶The model performance was further evaluated using the vertical profiles of the vertical velocity, the specific humidity and temperature differences between the model outputs and the analyses. It is found that during a typical northeast monsoon year, 1997, the water vapor content in the middle troposphere was largely controlled by the low-level convergence determined by strong oceanic heat flux gradient. In contrast, during the 1998 El Niño year moisture was present only in the lower troposphere. Due to strong subsidence associated with Walker circulation over the central and eastern Indian Ocean, deep convection was not present. Finally, the diurnal variations of the maximum rainfall, vertical velocity and total heat flux were noticeable only during the 1997 northeast monsoon year.     

海面动量、感热和水汽输送的动力学分析

基于大气边界层动量、感热和水汽通量的基本方程,定量地计算了波动海面的动量、感热和水汽通量。首先,应用Prandtl的混合长概念,推导出贴海面大气层中风速、位温和比湿的涡动交换率及其贴海面层厚度,并且证明了波面上位温或比湿贴海面层厚度与速度贴海面层厚度的比值,和平面上的相应比值完全相等。随后,利用空气动力学理论讨论了贴海面动量、感热和水汽输送的参数化问题。最后,对现有五种理论模式进行了比较说明。     

TOGA-COARE IOP期间的海气通量观测结果

在TOGA－COAREIOP期间用涡度相关法对海气热通量进行了船载直接观测．对垂直风速、温度和湿度湍流脉动观测数据的谱分析显示它们在高频区基本满足"－2／3次方律"．对船体简谐震荡影响的讨论从理论上证明该影响在热通量计算中可被忽略．根据以此方法得到的通量求出了中性层结条件下感热和潜热的整体输送系数分别为2．25×10^－3和1．26×10^－3．对海气边界层特性的分析表明该海域的近海层主要呈中性或弱不稳定层结．海气通量的变化与背景环流形势密切相关,潜热通量主要受海面风场强度的影响,而感热通量变化除了风场的影响外,层结变化也是一个重要因素．用整体输送法计算TOGA－COAREIOP期间以及TOGA期间8个航次的通量结果而得到的Bowen比约为0．1,显示潜热通量是暖池大气的主要热源．     

An anomalous cooling event observed in the Bay of Bengal during June 2009

Sea surface temperature (SST) variability over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) has the potential to trigger deep moist convection thereby affecting the active-break cycle of the monsoons. Normally, during the summer monsoon season, SST over the BoB is observed to be greater than 28°C which is a pre-requisite for convection. During June 2009, satellite observations revealed an anomalous basin-wide cooling and the month is noted for reduced rainfall over the Indian subcontinent. In this study, we analyze the likely mechanisms of this cooling event using both satellite and moored buoy observations. Observations showed deepened mixed layer, stronger surface currents, and enhanced heat loss at the surface in the BoB. Mixed layer heat balance analysis is carried out to resolve the relative importance of various processes involved. We show that the cooling event is primarily induced by the heat losses at the surface resulting from the strong wind anomalies, and advection and vertical entrainment playing secondary roles.     

一种基于地表能量平衡的遥感干旱监测新方法及其在甘肃河东地区干旱监测中的应用初探

目前遥感干旱监测方法的精度普遍不高,探求新的遥感干旱监测方法有助于干旱监测预警技术的提升与发展.波文比是感热通量与潜热通量之比,能综合反映地表水热特征,可尝试将其引入到遥感干旱监测领域加以利用.应用甘肃河东地区的EOS-MODIS卫星资料和同步地面气象资料,基于地表能量平衡原理构建了波文比干旱监测模型,对比分析了波文比(β)指数、温度植被指数(TVX)与土壤水分的相关性,并以典型晴空影像(2014年10月5日)为例初步建立了β的干旱分级标准,对研究区进行了旱情评估.结果表明:β与土壤相对湿度呈现出高度负相关,相比于当下广泛应用的TVX,β与0~20cm平均土壤相对湿度具有更好的相关性,监测精度得到了显著提高.用β干旱分级标准评估的研究区干湿状况与前期降水空间分布吻合得相当好,评估表明2014年10月5日研究区基本为适宜(无旱),与2014年9月的降水距平百分率特征一致.基于地表能量平衡的波文比(β)指数在干旱监测中效果突出,具有很好的应用前景.     

南极中山站至Dome A考察断面湍流参数特征近地层湍流参数特征

利用南极中山站至Dome A考察断面上3个自动气象站2005～2007年的观测资料和2008年夏季在中山站附近冰盖获取的湍流观测资料,应用空气动力学方法和涡动相关法计算分析了中山站至Dome A断面上近地层各种湍流参数(感热通量,潜热通量,湍流温度、湿度和速度尺度,地表粗糙度,大气稳定度及动量输送系数)的季节变化、日变...     

Spatial distribution of surface energy fluxes over the Loess Plateau in China and its relationship with climate and the environment

China's Loess Plateau is located at the edge of the Asian summer monsoon in a transition zone of climate and ecology. In the Loess Plateau, climate and environments change along with space, which has an obvious impact on the spatial distribution of surface energy fluxes. Because of scarce land-surface observation sites and short observation time in this area, previous studies have failed to fully understand the land-surface energy balance characteristics over the entire the Loess Plateau and their effect mechanisms. In this paper, we first test the simulation ability of the Community Land Model(CLM) model by comparing its simulated data with observed data. Based on the simulation data for the Loess Plateau over the past thirty years, we then analyze the spatial distribution of surface energy fluxes and compare the pattern differences between the area averages for the driest year and wettest year. Furthermore, we analyze the relationship between the spatial distribution of the components of the surface energy balance with longitude, latitude, altitude, precipitation and temperature. The main results are as follows: the spatial distribution of surface energy fluxes are significantly different, with the surface net radiation and sensible heat flux increasing from south to north and latent heat flux and soil heat flux decreasing from southeast to northwest. The sensible heat flux at the driest point is nearly twice as high as that at the wettest point, whereas the latent heat flux and soil heat flux at the driest point are half as much as that at the wettest point. The impact of variations of annual precipitation on the components of the surface energy balance is also obvious, and the maximum magnitude of the changes to the sensible heat flux and latent heat flux is nearly 30%. To a certain extent, geographical factors(including longitude, latitude, and altitude) and climate factors(including temperature and precipitation) affect the surface energy fluxes. However, the surface net radiation is more closely related to latitude and altitude, sensible heat flux is more closely related to the monsoon rainfall and latitude, and latent heat flux and soil heat flux are more closely related to the monsoon rainfall.     

Sun-Sky Radiometer Synthesis of Interplay Between Aerosols and Monsoon Activity Over Pune,India

Besides several thematic campaigns, utilizing a variety of platforms including satellites, ground-based networks have been established to improve our understanding of the role of aerosols in the changing monsoon climate. Two such widely known networks over the globe are ‘SKYNET’ and ‘AERONET’ with sun-sky radiometers as the principal equipment that characterizes aerosols and gases over different geographical locations under varied air mass conditions. Pune (18°43′N, 73°51′E, 559 m above mean sea level), a fast growing low-latitude, urban city in India, is one of the sites where Prede (POM-01L, SKYNET) and Cimel (CE-318, AERONET) Sun-sky radiometers have been in operation since 2004. These radiometers have been extensively used in several studies related to stand-alone and coupled aerosol-cloud-climate processes. The Prede instrument at this site is being augmented for the network of the Global Atmospheric Watch program of the World Meteorological Organization to facilitate data coordination through the World Data Center for Aerosols. The present study envisages understanding the response of atmospheric constituents, through simultaneous operation of the radiometers amongst others, for the rainfall activity over Pune during two contrasting monsoon years of 2008 (active, 98 % of long period average (LPA) rainfall over the whole country) and 2009 (weak, 78 % of LPA). The synthesis of data indicates that, apart from excellent agreement between the direct Sun observations, both radiometers capture well the monsoon features within the instrument density and efficacy of data retrieval algorithms involved. The meteorological fields from the ECMWF re-analysis and NOAA-HYSPLIT air-mass back-trajectory analysis during the study period have been utilized to explain the variations observed in the radiometer products.