Chlorophyll modulation of mixed layer thermodynamics in a mixed-layer isopycnal General Circulation Model — An example from Arabian Sea and equatorial Pacific

Western tropical Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the equatorial Pacific are known as regions of intense bio-chemical-physical interactions: the Arabian Sea has the largest phytoplankton bloom with seasonal signal, while the equatorial Pacific bloom is perennial with quasi-permanent upwelling. Here, we studied three dimensional ocean thermodynamics comparing recent ocean observation with ocean general circulation model (OPYC) experiment combined with remotely sensed chlorophyll pigment concentrations from the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS). Using solar radiation parameterization representing observations that a higher abundance of chlorophyll increases absorption of solar irradiance and heating rate in the upper ocean, we showed that the mixed layer thickness decreases more than they would be under clear water conditions. These changes in the model mixed layer were consistent with Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) observations during the 1994-1995 Arabian Sea experiment and epi-fluorescence microscopy (EFM) on samples collected during Equatorial Pacific Ocean Climate Study (EPOCS) in November, 1988. In the Arabian Sea, as the chlorophyll concentrations peak in October (3 mg/m³) after the summer plankton bloom induced by coastal upwelling, the chlorophyll induced biological heating enhanced the sea surface temperature (SST) by as much as 0.6‡C and sub-layer temperature decreases and sub-layer thickness increases. In the equatorial Pacific, modest concentrations of chlorophyll less than 0.3 mg/m³ is enough to introduce a meridional differential heating, which results in reducing the equatorial mixed layer thickness to more than 20 m. The anomalous meridional tilting of the mixed layer bottom enhances off equatorial westward geostrophic currents. Consequently, the equatorial undercurrent transports more water from west to east. We proposed that these numerical model experiments with use of satellite andin situ ocean observations are consistent under three dimensional ocean circulation theory combined with solar radiation transfer process.     

Recent Trends Towards Oligotrophication of the Northern Adriatic: Evidence from Chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> Time Series

The results of the updated and quality-checked data base of field observations on chlorophyll a (Chl a) collected in the period 1970–2007 in the Northern Adriatic Sea are presented. From the last decade, SeaWiFS satellite information was also considered. Results demonstrate a global tendency towards Chl a reduction in the period of investigation, which is more marked in the eutrophic area under the influence of the Po River. In the rest of the basin, which presents meso- or oligotrophic characteristics, long-term changes are more difficult to detect. The long-term field dataset can be divided into two periods: the last decade characterized by the strong decrease observed in the whole northern Adriatic and the earlier period with no or slight increase. The recent substantial reduction of Chl a concentrations is confirmed all over the basin (−0.11 mg m⁻³ year⁻¹) from satellite-derived information. Results are consistent with recently evidenced decrease in concentrations of phosphate and ammonia and point to the existence of oligotrophication in the Northern Adriatic. Results indicate forcefully that the still common perception of the Adriatic Sea as a very eutrophic basin is no longer appropriate, at least for its northern part and in recent years.     

Pigment analysis and spectral assessment of spruce trees undergoing forest decline in the NE United States and Germany

Measurement of photosynthetic pigments as ground truth for remotely sensed spectra of boreal communities was tested. Chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations and ratios were obtained from needles of spruce trees which were healthy as well as those undergoing forest decline (Waldsterben) in Vermont (USA) and Baden-Württemberg (FR Germany). In needles of trees exhibiting forest decline symptoms, chlorophyll pigment concentrations were lower, chlorophyll b levels decreased relative to chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll (a + b) was less relative to total carotenoid, and percent of reflectance in the visible range was higher. Pigment and reflectance data differentiated between needles from healthy and declining sites. These results were compared to remotely sensed spectral data obtained by aircraft and satelitee. As a result of these initial comparisons, it appears that using photosynthetic pigments as ground truth for remotely sensed spectral data may be of value in developing techniques for differentiating undamaged and damaged tree canopies on a large spatial scale. Finally, similar pigment and reflectance properties characterized healthy and declining communities in both Vermont and Baden-Württemberg.     

A lacustrine record from Lop Nur,Xinjiang, China: Implications for paleoclimate change during Late Pleistocene

Climate variability during the Late Pleistocene is studied from the proxies in core CK-2 drilled from the Luobei Depression (91°03′E, 40°47′N), Lop Nur in the eastern Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China. Geophysical and geochemical properties, including magnetic susceptibility, granularity, chroma, carbonate content, loss on ignition and trace elements, have been determined to reconstruct the environmental evolution of the area during 32–9 ka BP. The chronology is established by uranium–thorium disequilibrium dating techniques.Our data suggest four paleoclimate stages, indicating glacial variations between cold–humid and warm–arid environments. A period of extreme humidity occurred during 31,900–19,200 yr BP is attributed the last glacial maximum (LGM). The period was followed by a warm–arid episode during 19,200–13,500 yr BP. Then a cold–humid interval during 13,500–12,700 yr BP may correspond to another cooling phases at high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The last stage from 12,700 to 9000 yr BP has a trend that the climate turned warm and arid. The Lop Nur region is characterized by particularly humid stadials and arid interstadials. The climate variability in Lop Nur was constrained by global climate change because it is correlated with Dansgaard–Oeschger and Heinrich events, which were observed at the northern high latitudes. The synchroneity of the palaeoclimatic events suggested that cold air activity at the northern high latitudes was the most important factor that influenced the climate evolution in the Lop Nur region. A probable mechanism that involves the migration of westerly winds is proposed to interpret this synchroneity.     

Auto-correlation analysis of ocean surface wind vectors

The nature of the inherent temporal variability of surface winds is analyzed by comparison of winds obtained through different measurement methods. In this work, an auto-correlation analysis of a time series data of surface winds measuredin situ by a deep water buoy in the Indian Ocean has been carried out. Hourly time series data available for 240 hours in the month of May, 1999 were subjected to an auto-correlation analysis. The analysis indicates an exponential fall of the autocorrelation in the first few hours with a decorrelation time scale of about 6 hours. For a meaningful comparison between satellite derived products andin situ data, satellite data acquired at different time intervals should be used with appropriate ‘weights’, rather than treating the data as concurrent in time. This paper presents a scheme for temporal weighting using the auto-correlation analysis. These temporal ‘weights’ can potentially improve the root mean square (rms) deviation between satellite andin situ measurements. A case study using the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Indian Ocean buoy wind speed data resulted in an improvement of about 10%.     

青海都兰地区1835年来的气候变化──来自树轮资料

根据在青海都兰地区采集的树轮所建立的树轮年表资料，分析了年表与气候要素间的相关关系，讨论了1835年来的冷暖变化，得出：在近2000年间，该地区有10次冷期和11次暖期。其中，最长的暖期是819～1086年间，持续长达268年，显示了中世纪暖期某些特征；最长的冷期是623～818年间，长达196年。而且，持续时间在100年以上的暖期只有两次，而冷期有5次。作者认为，在这1835年间，该地区是以寒冷气候为主的，但是自小冰期以来，气候明显转暖，这种变暖的趋势一直持续到现在。     

Re-analysis of pluvial precipitation in southern Brazil

This study examined precipitation in southern Brazil based on a data set provided by the Brazilian National Water Agency, covering the period from 1976 to 2010. Data were homogenized using the R software and the Climatol subroutine, which allow completing missing data. Isohyets were drawn using the Geostatistics software to obtain a semivariogram for each analysis. There was a remarkable interannual variability in this region, with positive anomalies in the warm phase (El Niño) and negative anomalies in the cold phase (La Niña) of ENSO. Also, the responses of this variability were not uniform in the entire region, since there was variability from year to year and from event to event.     

Recent hydrological behavior of the East African great lakes region inferred from GRACE,satellite altimetry and rainfall observations

We have jointly analysed space gravimetry data from the GRACE space mission, satellite altimetry data and precipitation over the East African Great Lakes region, in order to study the spatiotemporal variability of hydrological parameters (total water storage, lake water volume and rainfall). We find that terrestrial water storage (TWS) from GRACE and precipitation display a common mode of variability at interannual time scale, with a minimum in late 2005, followed by a rise in 2006–2007. We argue that this event is due to forcing by the strong 2006 Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on East African rainfall. We also show that GRACE TWS is linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle. Combination of the altimetry-based lake water volume with TWS from GRACE over the lakes drainage basins allows estimating soil moisture and groundwater volume variations. Comparison with the WGHM hydrological model outputs is performed and discussed.     

中国过去3ka冷暖千年周期变化的自然证据及其集成分析

基于集成分析的思想，对不同时间分辨率的自然信息所反映的过去 3ka我国冷暖变化进行综合分析，划分了百年尺度上过去 3ka冷暖变化的阶段，进而发现冷暖变化呈现 1．3～1.35ka的重现周期，每个周期包含相继出现的 4冷暖阶段：持续300～350 a的暖期、550～600 a的冷期、 200～250 a的暖期和200 a左右的冷期。每个冷暖期中发生的相对冷暖事件也服从 1．3～1．35ka周期。在冷暖变化幅度上，300～350 a的暖期较200～250 a的暖期显著，550～600 a的冷期较200 a左右的冷期显著。目前处在长度为200～250 a的暖期中，其特点可以与2．7～2．5kaBP和 1．40～1．15kaBP的暖期相类比。     

过去2000年中国东部冬半年温度变化

根据近年收集、整理的历史文献冷暖记载及过去有关研究结果,对中国东部地区过去2000年冬半年的温度状况进行了定量推断,重建了中国东部地区过去2000年分辨率为10～30年的冬半年温度距平变化序列,并分析了中国东部过去2000年的冷暖变化阶段与变化幅度。结果发现:在过去2000年中,中国东部冬半年温度高于1951～1980年平均值且持续时间超过百年的暖期有4个,其中最暖的30年出现在1230’s～1250’s(较1951～1980年高0.9℃);低于1951～1980年平均值且持续时间超过百年的冷期有3个,其中最冷的30年出现在1650’s～1670’s(较1951～1980年低1.1℃)。在冷暖期之间相互转换的过程中,冬半年温度一般都出现1℃左右的升、降温;在冷暖期内,一些幅度较大的升、降温也与之相仿;在相邻的两个30年中,温度变化幅度达0.5℃以上的有19次之多。对比过去2000年中的冷暖交替变化还可以看出:20世纪回暖时的升温幅度与过去2000年中的其他回暖过程所出现的幅度相似,特别是与5世纪末至6世纪的回暖极为相似;而在当前温暖阶段中,1981～1999年较1951～1980年升高了0.5℃,不但使其接近过去2000年中的最暖30年,而     

Algal pigments in sediments as a measure of eutrophication in the Baltic environment

A method of quantitative comparison of eutrophication of an area is proposed for the Baltic Sea, based on pigment content in sediments. The pigments concerned were chlorins a (i.e. chlorophylls a, b and selected chlorophyll a derivatives) and chlorophylls c. The analyses were performed on 300 samples from different layers of recent (0–10 cm) sediments, collected from about 50 stations, at different sites of the southern Baltic, including the estuaries of the two largest Polish rivers, in different seasons between 1992 and 2001, before and after the great flood of July 1997. The results are related to sampling site, sediment layer and hydrological conditions and also to organic carbon and E_h in sediments, oxygen and salinity in near-bottom waters. Depending on different chlorin a content in 0–1 and 0–10 cm layers, the sampling sites are classified into one of three groups: 1. Szczecin Lagoon and the Deep of Gda sk stations (permanently eutrophic, chl a in 0–1 cm >40 nmol/g, Σchlns a in 0–1 in 0–10 cm layer, Σchlns a_A in Σchlns a=55–65%), 2. Open sea stations (mesotrophic/oligotrophic, chl a in 0–1 cm <10 nmol/g, Σchlns a in 0–1 in 0–10 cm layer, Σchlns a_A in Σchlns a 50%; and 3. Coastal stations (periodically eutrophic, chl a in 0–1 cm 10–40 nmol/g, Σchlns a_A in Σchlns a 40%). The correlation coefficient between chlorophyll a and chlorophylls b and c indicates the classes of algae, which could be the main source of organic matter in the sediments. A high correlation with chlorophylls c is a marker of diatoms; a high correlation with chlorophyll b is a marker of green algae; and low correlation both with chlorophylls b and c—indicates a high blue–green algae input.     

南海北部MD12-3432站MIS 11期以来底栖有孔虫反映的古环境变化

南海具有典型边缘海特征,其北部陆坡由于具有高沉积速率的地层剖面,可以用于研究亚轨道尺度气候变化。本研究以南海北部陆坡下部MD12 3432柱状样(19°16.88′N,116°14.52′E,水深2 125 m)为主要研究材料,分析其粗组分百分含量、底栖有孔虫丰度和特定环境指示属种的百分含量与丰度,并结合相关研究结果,运用多指标综合分析,重建了南海北部陆坡MIS 11期(距今约40万年)以来的表层初级生产力和底层水溶解氧含量的演化情况。与之前研究不同,本研究发现MIS11期以来南海北部的古生产力在温暖的间冰期高、在寒冷的冰期低,且主要受控于东亚夏季风影响下低纬地区降水强度的变化。在MIS 7期和MIS 9期可能有较高溶解氧含量的底层水进入南海北部,导致在高生产力的暖期中,喜氧的低生产力指示种Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi丰度增加。     

中国的小冰期气候及其与全球变化的关系

根据由历史文献资料复原的气候序列和树木年轮、冰芯记录以及冰川、沙漠、湖泊资料,作者认为,我国的小冰期持续至19世纪90年代结束。这期间最寒冷的时段是17世纪20年代—90年代和19世纪20年代—90年代。文中指出小冰期时我国的寒潮、梅雨、尘暴、干旱灾害及降水变率的特点。将我国的资料与欧洲、日本的资料拼图,并与北美的资料对比,可以看出,我国小冰期的气候变化与全球变化一致,其中寒冷时段在欧洲的出现略早于东亚,而我国出现的若干个最寒冷的10年则同时在北美和欧洲出现。     

An 800‐year ultraviolet radiation record inferred from sedimentary pigments in the Ross Sea area,East Antarctica

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) was used to analyse deposited pigments (including chlorophyll a, phaeophytin a, canthaxanthin, echinenone, zeaxanthin, scytonemin and mycosporine‐like amino acids) from two sediment profiles of ponds in the Ross Sea area, East Antarctica. We explored the sources and characteristics of each pigment, reconstructed an 800‐year record of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and total incoming light intensity, and identified the possible factors that may have influenced historical UVR changes in this region. The results indicated at least four UVR peaks during the past 800 years, corresponding to c. AD 1950–2000, 1720–1790, 1560–1630 and 1350–1480, with the intensity from the most recent sediments being the highest. A comparison between the changes in UVR and total incoming light intensity showed similar patterns between AD 1720 and 1830, suggesting that factors controlling the UVR intensity in the Ross Sea area may be related to insolation fluctuation at that time. The two proxies are, however, weakly correlated during other periods. Historically, there is a relationship between the reconstructed UVR and solar activity, but this natural process may be strongly affected by multiple factors, including climate parameter change and anthropogenic activities during the modern times.     

In-situ reflectance spectroscopy – analysing techniques for high-resolution pigment logging in sediment cores

The temporal resolution of marine proxy data is limited by analytically required sample size. We present in-situ reflectance spectroscopy techniques (usually applied in remote sensing) to analyse the organic fraction of marine and terrestrial sediment. From absorption band depths, photosynthesis pigment variations are derived for sediments from the upwelling region off Peru, where productivity is related to the annual variability of El Niño strength. Quantitative estimations of diagenetic photosynthesis pigments derived from absorption band analysis in reflectance spectra are highly correlated to organic carbon content. The ratio of pigment fractions is related to chlorine concentration and reflects organic matter preservation and deep-water ventilation changes. The import of terrigenous mineroclastics (TM) by local rivers is semi-quantitatively documented in the spectrum continuum. TM is inversely varying with organic matter preservation and chlorine concentration.     

气候变化背景下青藏铁路沿线多年冻土变化特征研究

多年冻土是复杂地气系统的产物, 以升温为特征的气候变化不可避免地对其产生影响. 基于青藏铁路沿线8个天然场地2006-2011年的地温监测资料, 分析了气候变化背景下, 多年冻土升温特征及上限变化规律, 并对低、高温冻土的变化特征进行了对比分析. 结果表明: 2006-2011年监测期间, 铁路沿线多年冻土正在经历明显的升温趋势, 上限附近和15 m深处平均升温率分别为0.015 ℃·a^-1和0.018 ℃·a^-1, 其中, 低温冻土区在上述两个深度处升温均比高温冻土区显著; 多年冻土上限深度也表现出一定的增深趋势, 平均增深速率为4.7 cm·a^-1, 其中, 高温冻土区增深速率大于低温冻土区. 低、高温冻土对气候变化的响应表现出了较大差异. 同时, 受局地因素的影响, 不同区域在升温和上限增深上也存在一定差异.     

Syn-convergence exhumation of the Central Alps

Abstract

The exhumation of rocks in a plate convergence setting is commonly related to erosion and/or tectonic denudation accompanied by isostatic adjustment. Isostatic compensation is the physical response to denudation. It leads to unroofing of deep levels of the crust. A new model for producing topographic relief is proposed which explains well the rapid exhumation of high-temperature rocks in the Central Alps via erosion and tectonic denudation (i.e. gravitational collapse and normal faulting). It is shown that the forward motion of the cold and rigid Adriatic indenter into the European crust is twofold. Firstly, horizontal compression led to the vertical extrusion of the deepest ductile European basement into shallower levels. This tectonic process induced heat transfer through the southern steep belt as well as heat advection together with the extruded material, resulting in the metamorphic aureole observed in the Central Alps. Secondly, the lower part of the Adriatic crust protruded into the warm European crust as a result of continuous forward motion. Geophysical data suggest that the isostatic response to indentation (i.e. deepening of the alpine root) has been inhibited by the mechanical strength of the cold and rigid Adriatic crust. Then, the indentation process induced a deviation from isostatic equilibrium by creating a tremendous topographic relief. This relief disappeared rapidly, possibly as fast as it forms, by enhanced erosion and tectonic denudation leading to rapid exhumation of the metamorphic dome.     

Nitrogen dioxide DOAS measurements from ground and space: comparison of zenith scattered sunlight ground-based measurements and OMI data in Central Mexico

The use of satellite data in combination with ground-based measurements can provide valuable information about atmospheric chemistry and air quality. In this study, ground-based Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) conducted in central Mexico are compared with the space-borne Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) dataset of 2006-2011. Ground-based measurements exhibited large day-to-day variations and were on average three times higher than the space-borne derived average over the observation site. This difference is attributed to strong horizontal inhomogeneity of the lower layer of the measured NO₂ columns, sampled over a large footprint from the satellite instrument. Also, a reduced sensitivity of the satellite observation near the surface, where the largest concentrations are expected, could be responsible for this large discrepancy. From the analyzed OMI dataset, distribution maps of NO₂ above central Mexico were reconstructed, allowing to identify three main areas with increased NO₂ column densities: The dominating metropolitan area of Mexico City, the heavily industrialized region of Tula to the north and the Cuernavaca valley to the south. In this analysis, seasonal variability of NO₂ columns over central Mexico was detected, finding higher NO₂ columns during the dry and cold season, followed by the dry and warm period, and finally the lowest NO₂ columns were found during the rainy season. Pollution transport of this gas from Tula into Mexico City, as well as towards the Cuernavaca valley, is evident from this dataset.     

过去2000a中国东部冬半年温度变化序列重建及初步分析

首先简要介绍了中国历史文献中的冷暖记载及其气候信息提取方法 ,并利用现代仪器观测资料对中国东部地区 (10 5°E以东 ,2 5°～ 40°N)气候变化一致性、站点的空间代表性及贡献率进行了分析。在此基础上 ,集成利用物候学与统计学方法 ,根据近年收集、整理的历史文献冷暖记载及其过去有关研究结果 ,对中国东部地区过去 2 0 0 0a冬半年的温度状况进行了定量推断 ,建立了中国东部地区过去 2 0 0 0a分辨率为 10～ 30a的冬半年温度距平变化序列 ,分析了中国东部过去 2 0 0 0a的冷暖变化特征 ,并将其与自然证据进行了对比。主要结论是 :自公元初起 ,中国东部的冬半年温度在波动中下降 ,至 490’s前后下降到最低点 ,降温率达 0 17℃ / 10 0a ,最冷时期的 30年平均值较 195 1—1980年均值低 1℃。此后气候转暖进入温暖期 ,在以温暖气候为主的 5 70’s— 1310’s中 ,温度在波动中略呈上升趋势 ,其间暖峰时期 30a平均温度值较 195 1— 1980年高 0 3～ 0 6℃ ,最高达 0 9℃ ,暖峰之间冷谷的 30a平均温度值较 195 1— 1980年低 0 5～ 0 7℃。 1310’s之后气候又迅速转冷 ,温度再次迅速下降 ,并保持在一个较低的水平上波动 ,其间 4个冷谷的 30a温度平均值较 195 1— 1980年低 0 6～ 0 9℃ ,最低达 1 1℃ ;冷     

卫星遥感监测我国沿海水色环境的研究

本文首先概要地介绍了国际上20世纪80年代以来卫星水色遥感器的发展,以及我国在90年代建立的海洋水色遥感应用技术系统,包括资料接收、处理、查询、分发、试应用和辐射验证等系统,重点论述了利用我国的FY-1C卫星以及美国的SeaWiFS和AVHRR卫星资料监测我国沿海的水色环境,包括沿海水体的叶绿素和悬浮泥砂浓度的时空分布,赤潮的监测以及沿海海区流场的研究。研究表明,卫星海洋水色遥感技术在海洋渔业资源的开发和保护、海岸带区牧化管理、河口港湾工程环境评价、海洋污染环境的监测和动力学研究等方面有广宽的应用前景。