Planktonic dimethylsulfide and cloud albedo: An estimate of the feedback response

Partial control of climate by the biosphere may be possible through a chain of processes that ultimately links marine plankton production of dimethylsulfide (DMS) with changes in cloud albedo (Charlson et al., 1987). Changes in cloud optical properties can have profound impacts on atmospheric radiation transfer and, hence, the surface environment. In this study, we have developed a simple model that incorporates empirically based parameterizations to account for the biological control of cloud droplet concentration in a first attempt to estimate the strength of the DMS-cloud albedo feedback mechanism. We find that the feedback reduces the global climatic response to imposed perturbations in solar insolation by less than 7%. Likewise, it modifies the strength of other feedbacks affecting surface insolation over oceans by roughly the same amount. This suggests that the DMS-cloud albedo mechanism will be unable to substantially reduce climate sensitivity, although these results should be confirmed with less idealized models when more is known about the net production of DMS by the marine biosphere and its relation to aerosol/cloud microphysics and climate.     

Possible climatic impacts of land cover transformations,with particular emphasis on tropical deforestation

The climatic impact of albedo changes associated with land-surface alterations has been examined. The total surface global albedo change resulting from major land-cover transformations (i.e. deforestation, desertification, irrigation, dam-building, urbanization) has been recalculated, modifying the estimates of Sagan et al., (1979). Tropical deforestation (11.1 million ha yr^-1, or 0.6% yr^-1, Lanly, 1982) ranks as a major cause of albedo change, although uncertainties in the areal extent of desertification could conceivably render this latter process of similar significance. The maximum total global albedo change over the last 30 yr for the various processes lies between 0.000 33 and 0.000 64, corresponding to a global temperature decrease of between 0.06 K and 0.09 K (scaled from the 1-D radiative convective model of Hansen et al., 1981), which falls well below the interannual and longer period variability.An upper bound to the impact of tropical deforestation was obtained by concentrating all vegetation change into a single region. The magnitude of this modification is equivalent to 35–50 yr of global deforestation at the current rate, but centered on the Brazilian Amazon. The climatic consequences of such tropical deforestation were simulated, using the GISS GCM (Hansen et al., 1983). In the simulation, a total area of 4.94 × 10⁶ km² of tropical moist forest was removed and replaced by a grass/crop cover. Although surface albedo increased from 0.11 to 0.19, the effect upon surface temperature was negligible. However, other climate parameters were altered. Rainfall decreased by 0.5–0.7 mm day^-1 and both evapotranspiration and total cloud cover were reduced. The absence of a temperature decrease in spite of the increased surface albedo arises because the reduction in evapotranspiration has offset the effects of radiative cooling. The decrease in cloud cover also counteracts the increase in surface albedo. These locally significant changes had no major impact on regional (Hadley or Walker cells) or the global circulation patterns.We conclude that the albedo changes induced by current levels of tropical deforestation appear to have a negligibly small effect on the global climate.     

不同云重叠参数对全球和东亚地区模拟总云量的影响

在国家气候中心全球大气环流模式BCC_AGCM2.0中引入一组基于CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星观测的、能够体现真实时空变化特征的云垂直重叠参数（抗相关厚度,L_cf）数据,以减小由云的重叠描述造成的辐射场的不确定性。对比了采用时空变化的云重叠参数和采用恒定云重叠参数的气候模拟结果,发现无论在全球还是东亚区域,采用基于卫星观测的云重叠参数对模拟的总云量都有一定程度的改进。采用时空变化的云重叠参数后,冬、夏两季全球平均总云量与云和地球的辐射能量系统（CERES）卫星资料的误差都减少了1.6%,其中热带对流区域总云量的正偏差和副热带地区总云量的负偏差都明显减少,这些有助于正确模拟不同区域间的能量收支差异。在东亚区域,采用时空变化的云重叠参数后,冬、夏两季的东亚区域平均总云量与CERES卫星资料的误差分别减少了1.8%和1.4%。综上所述,基于CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星资料计算得到的L_cf有助于改进大气环流模式对总云量的模拟,从而提高模式对辐射场的模拟精度。      

A comparison of low-latitude cloud properties and their response to climate change in three AGCMs sorted into regimes using mid-tropospheric vertical velocity

Low-latitude cloud distributions and cloud responses to climate perturbations are compared in near-current versions of three leading U.S. AGCMs, the NCAR CAM 3.0, the GFDL AM2.12b, and the NASA GMAO NSIPP-2 model. The analysis technique of Bony et al. (Clim Dyn 22:71–86, 2004) is used to sort cloud variables by dynamical regime using the monthly mean pressure velocity ω at 500 hPa from 30S to 30N. All models simulate the climatological monthly mean top-of-atmosphere longwave and shortwave cloud radiative forcing (CRF) adequately in all ω-regimes. However, they disagree with each other and with ISCCP satellite observations in regime-sorted cloud fraction, condensate amount, and cloud-top height. All models have too little cloud with tops in the middle troposphere and too much thin cirrus in ascent regimes. In subsidence regimes one model simulates cloud condensate to be too near the surface, while another generates condensate over an excessively deep layer of the lower troposphere. Standardized climate perturbation experiments of the three models are also compared, including uniform SST increase, patterned SST increase, and doubled CO₂ over a mixed layer ocean. The regime-sorted cloud and CRF perturbations are very different between models, and show lesser, but still significant, differences between the same model simulating different types of imposed climate perturbation. There is a negative correlation across all general circulation models (GCMs) and climate perturbations between changes in tropical low cloud cover and changes in net CRF, suggesting a dominant role for boundary layer cloud in these changes. For some of the cases presented, upper-level clouds in deep convection regimes are also important, and changes in such regimes can either reinforce or partially cancel the net CRF response from the boundary layer cloud in subsidence regimes. This study highlights the continuing uncertainty in both low and high cloud feedbacks simulated by GCMs.     

The possible role of Brazilian promontory in Little Ice Age

The Gulf Stream, one of the strongest currents in the world, transports approximately 31 Sv of water (Kelly and Gille, 1990, Baringer and Larsen, 2001, Leaman et al., 1995) and 1.3 × 10¹⁵ W (Larsen, 1992) of heat into the Atlantic Ocean, and warms the vast European continent. Thus any change of the Gulf Stream could lead to the climate change in the European continent, and even worldwide (Bryden et al., 2005). Past studies have revealed a diminished Gulf Stream and oceanic heat transport that was possibly associated with a southward migration of intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and may have contributed to Little Ice Age (AD ∼1200 to 1850) in the North Atlantic (Lund et al., 2006). However, the causations of the Gulf Stream weakening due to the southward migration of the ITCZ remain uncertain. Here we use satellite observation data and employ a model (oceanic general circulation model – OGCM) to demonstrate that the Brazilian promontory in the east coast of South America may have played a crucial role in allocating the equatorial currents, while the mean position of the equatorial currents migrates between northern and southern hemisphere in the Atlantic Ocean. Northward migrations of the equatorial currents in the Atlantic Ocean have little influence on the Gulf Stream. Nevertheless, southward migrations, especially abrupt large southward migrations of the equatorial currents, can lead to the increase of the Brazil Current and the significant decrease of the North Brazil Current, in turn the weakening of the Gulf Stream. The results from the model simulations suggest the mean position of the equatorial currents in the Atlantic Ocean shifted at least 180–260 km southwards of its present-day position during the Little Ice Age based on the calculations of simple linear equations and the OGCM simulations.     

Shapley-模糊神经网络方法在华南台风卫星云图的长时效滚动预测中的应用

为了更好地利用大量的卫星云图观测资料来提高台风暴雨的预报能力,解决并提高对台风强降水云系变化的预报精度,延长对未来云系变化的预报时效,构建基于合作对策Shapley-模糊神经网络的华南区域台风卫星云图非线性智能计算滚动集合预测模型,对增强卫星云图资料在台风暴雨天气预报中的实用性和及时性具有重要意义.依据2013—201...     

Estimation and Long-term Trend Analysis of Surface Solar Radiation in Antarctica: A Case Study of Zhongshan Station

Long-term,ground-based daily global solar radiation (DGSR) at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica can quantitatively reveal the basic characteristics of Earth’s surface radiation balance and validate satellite data for the Antarctic region.The fixed station was established in 1989,and conventional radiation observations started much later in 2008.In this study,a random forest (RF) model for estimating DGSR is developed using ground meteorological observation data,and a highprecision,long-term DGSR dataset is constructed.Then,the trend of DGSR from 1990 to 2019 at Zhongshan Station,Antarctica is analyzed.The RF model,which performs better than other models,shows a desirable performance of DGSR hindcast estimation with an R~2 of 0.984,root-mean-square error of 1.377 MJ m~(-2),and mean absolute error of 0.828 MJ m~(-2).The trend of DGSR annual anomalies increases during 1990–2004 and then begins to decrease after 2004.Note that the maximum value of annual anomalies occurs during approximately 2004/05 and is mainly related to the days with precipitation (especially those related to good weather during the polar day period) at this station.In addition to clouds and water vapor,bad weather conditions (such as snowfall,which can result in low visibility and then decreased sunshine duration and solar radiation) are the other major factors affecting solar radiation at this station.The high-precision,longterm estimated DGSR dataset enables further study and understanding of the role of Antarctica in global climate change and the interactions between snow,ice,and atmosphere.     

太阳紫外辐射在大气中衰减的探讨

在对北京紫外辐射观测资料分析的基础上,提出了参与光化学反应的物质对太阳紫外辐射能量的吸收作用.计算表明北京地区1990年云天比晴天紫外辐射减少约为21W m-2,此值与CeSS等人的观测结果比较接近.这表明了大气中参与光化学反应的物质对光化辐射能量的吸收基本上等于云对太阳短波辐射的"异常吸收"之值.所以,在辐射传输模式、大气化学模式、气候模式中,应该考虑参与光化学反应的物质对光化辐射能量的吸收作用.     

Relationships between lightning activity and various thundercloud parameters: satellite and modelling studies

The lightning frequency model developed by Baker et al. [Baker, M.B., Christian, H.J., Latham, J., 1995. A computational study of the relationships linking lightning frequency and other thundercloud parameters, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 121, 1525–1548] has been refined and extended, in an effort to provide a more realistic framework from which to examine computationally the relationships that might exist between lightning frequency f (which is now being routinely measured from a satellite, using the NASA/MSFC Optical Transient Detector (OTD)) and a variety of cloud physical parameters. Specifically, superior or more comprehensive representations were utilised of: (1) glaciation via the Hallett–Mossop (H–M) process; (2) the updraught structure of the model cloud; (3) the liquid-water-content structure of the model cloud; (4) the role of the reversal temperature T_rev in influencing lightning characteristics; (5) the critical breakdown field for lightning initiation; and (6) the electrical characteristics of the ice crystal anvil of the model cloud. Although our extended studies yielded some new insights into the problem, the basic pattern of relationships between f and the other parameters was very close to that reported by Baker et al. (1995). The more elaborate treatment of T_rev restricted somewhat the range of conditions under which reverse-polarity lightning could be produced if the cloud glaciated via H–M, but confirmed the earlier conclusion that such lightning would not occur if the glaciation was of the Fletcher type. The computations yielded preliminary support for the hypothesis that satellite measurements of f might be used to determine values of the ice-content of cumulonimbus anvils: a parameter of climatological importance. The successful launch and continuing satisfactory functioning of the OTD [Christian, H.J., Goodman, S., 1992. Global observations of lightning from space, Proc. 9th Int. Conf. on Atmospheric Electricity, St. Petersburg, pp. 316–321; Christian, H.J., Blakesee, R.J., Goodman, S.J., 1992. Lightning imaging sensor (LIS) for the earth observing system. NASA Tech. Memorandum, 4350] make it possible—with a high degree of precision—to measure lightning location, occurrence time and frequency f over extensive areas of the Earth's surface. Measured global distributions of lightning and associated lightning stroke radiance demonstrate that: lightning activity is particularly pronounced over the tropics, much greater over land than over the oceans, and exhibits great seasonal variability; lightning radiance tends to be greater over the oceans, less when lightning activity is high, and greater in the Northern Hemisphere winter than summer.     

Estimation of net radiation and surface heat fluxes using NOAA-7 satellite infrared data during fair-weather cloudy situations of Mesogers-84 experiment

Estimation of radiation during fair weather cloudy situations of the MESOGERS-84 experiment has been examined using micrometeorological observations and satellite data. Diurnal variation of cloudiness is empirically determined using satellite information as a function of global radiation, and relationships between net incoming radiation and global radiation are analyzed. Particularly, it has been found that a very simple relationship between global radiation, cloudiness and net radiative heat flux proposed by Nielsenet al. (1981) can be used with satellite data and applied to the Mesogers region in Southwest France. The different relationships between cloudiness and radiation are utilized to modify and to validate Taconet'set al. model (1986) to get fluxes related to a cloudy situation without advection.     

利用MODIS云检测产品客观确定AIRS云检测

云检测是用卫星资料研究云对气候系统作用至关重要的第一步,采用Nagle的基于扫描几何特性的共同空间匹配算法,用MODIS云检测产品客观确定了AIRS云检测,是将高空间分辨率成像仪产品与高光谱分辨率传感器观测资料结合使用的一次实际应用。合成使用高空间分辨率成像仪与高光谱分辨率传感器观测资料的关键步骤在于:①有效而精确的时间和空间上的匹配;②传感器像素内图像仪云检测产品的断定。不仅是云检测,利用AIRS视场内空间匹配的MODIS云产品,还可以判断AIRS的云相态、有效云量及云光学厚度等。     

Surface‐absorbed and top‐of‐atmosphere radiation fluxes for the Mackenzie River basin from satellite observations and a regional climate model and an evaluation of the model

Abstract

Both the earth‐reflected shortwave and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) fluxes at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) as well as surface‐absorbed solar fluxes from Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM) simulations of the Mackenzie River Basin for the period March 2000 to September 2003 are compared with the radiation fluxes deduced from satellite observations. The differences between the model and satellite solar fluxes at the TOA and at the surface, which are used in this paper to evaluate the CRCM performance, have opposite biases under clear skies and overcast conditions, suggesting that the surface albedo is underestimated while cloud albedo is overestimated. The slightly larger differences between the model and satellite fluxes at the surface compared to those at the TOA indicate the existence of a small positive atmospheric absorption bias in the model. The persistent overestimation of TOA reflected solar fluxes and underestimation of the surface‐absorbed solar fluxes by the CRCM under all sky conditions are consistent with the overestimation of cloud fraction by the CRCM. This results in a larger shortwave cloud radiative forcing (CRF) both at the TOA and at the surface in the CRCM simulation. The OLR from the CRCM agrees well with the satellite observations except for persistent negative biases during the winter months under all sky conditions. Under clear skies, the OLR is slightly underestimated by the CRCM during the winter months and overestimated in the other months. Under overcast conditions the OLR is underestimated by the CRCM, suggesting an underestimation of cloud‐top temperature by the CRCM. There is an improvement in differences between model and satellite fluxes compared to previously reported results largely because of changes to the treatment of the surface in the model.     

Cloud optical properties at Bergen (Norway) based on the analysis of long-term solar irradiance records

Summary Ground-based measurements of incoming solar irradiance and cloud observations during a 26 year period (1965–1990) at Bergen, Norway were used in conjunction with a comprehensive radiation model to infer the cloud optical depth under completely overcast conditions.Month-to-month and year-to-year (April through October) statistics of the cloud optical depth and observed cloud forms are presented. Some climate-related features, specifically, diurnal and seasonal variabilities in are examined. The effects of local cloudiness are pointed out and discussed. There appears to be a slight trend towards increasing cloud optical depth at noon during the warm period of the year. The possible uncertainties due to unknown size of cloud droplets are analyzed by model simulations. Possible directions for future research are suggested provided more meteorological and/or satellite information is available.With 9 Figures     

Socio-climatic hotspots in Brazil

Brazil suffers yearly from extreme weather and climate events, which can be exacerbated in a warmer climate. Although several studies have analyzed the projections of climate change in Brazil, little attention has been paid to defining the locations that can be most affected, and consequently have a more vulnerable population, in a spatially-explicit form. This study presents a spatial analysis of summarized climate change data and a joint investigation combining these possible climate changes and social vulnerability indicators in Brazil. The Regional Climate Change Index (RCCI), which can synthesize a large number of climate model projections, is used for the climate analysis, and the Socio-Climatic Vulnerability Index (SCVI) is proposed to aggregate local population vulnerabilities to the climate change information. The RCCI results show climatic hotspots emerging in Brazil, covering the western portion of the Northeast (NE), northwestern Minas Gerais state and center-western (CW) and northern regions (N), except northeast Pará and Amapá states. The SCVI analysis reveals major socio-climatic hotspots in the NE and several localized hotspots in some of the major Brazilian metropolitan regions, namely Manaus, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and S?o Paulo. The two novelties of this study are a spatially detailed analysis of the RCCI in Brazil and the development of an index that can summarize the large amount of climate model information available today with social vulnerability indicators. Both indices may be important tools for improving the dialogue between climate and social scientists and for communicating climate change to policymakers in a more synthetic and socially relevant form.     

Cloud changes in a warmer Europe

Cloud cover records for western Europe have been analysed in the context of the warming world analogue model described by Lough et al. (1983). It is found that cloud cover has generally increased in moving from a cold period (1901–1920) to a warm period (1934–1953). The exception to this general trend is over the central part of the area considered (Germany, France and some parts of Spain) where there is a tendency towards decreasing cloud as warming occurs. While the results presented here are not closely correlated with the temperature and precipitation results of Lough et al. (1983), there is support for their hypothesis that cloudiness increased in autumn over northern Europe. The suggestion that successful performance of numerical climate models in seasonal simulations might demonstrate adequacy in other climatic simulation modes is also examined It is shown that whilst there is good agreement with observations in one such numerical model in the seasonal simulation, there is no agreement in the case of a warming world in either the direction or the amount of cloudiness change.     

Retrospective cloud determinations from surface solar radiation measurements

Surface solar radiation measurements have been made at many meteorological sites for long periods. These data potentially provide higher temporal resolution cloud amount information than traditional estimations of cloud amount recorded in eighths of the sky obscured (oktas). To utilise existing solar radiation datasets for this, two quantities are derived from the surface measurements of global (G) and diffuse (D) solar irradiance, and top of atmosphere solar irradiance (E) — the Diffuse Fraction (DF = D/G) and the Opaqueness (Op = 1 - G/E). These are compared with subjective cloud observations made at Reading daily during 1997 to 2006. This shows that DF measurements are sensitive to cloud amount, particularly for low and moderate cloud coverage. Complimentary information is available in Op, which is particularly sensitive to cloud amount in moderate to overcast cloud coverage. In overcast conditions, DF = 1, during which Op provides a measure of overcast cloud thickness. As well as cloud amount, the variability in DF and Op provides a basis for discriminating between cumuliform and stratiform cloud: large variability indicates convective cloud whereas only small variability occurs under stratiform cloud.     

Ground-based measurements of local cloud cover

Clouds are believed to reflect temporal climate changes through variations in their amounts, characteristics, and occurrence. In addition, they reflect both weather and climate in a region. In this work, a methodology to determine the local cloud cover (LCC) is proposed using sky images obtained from a ground-based instrument. Three years of sky images from an urban, tropical site were obtained and analyzed through that methodology. Monthly average LCC varied from 3 to 96 %, while seasonal average values were 68 % for summer, 54 % for spring, 46 % for fall, and 23 % for winter. LCC results show a clear seasonal dependence and a fair agreement (r ² = 0.72) with satellite data, which typically underestimate the cloud cover in relation to LCC. Our analysis also suggests the possibility of a measurable link between LCC and natural events like the El Niño Southern Oscillation.     

GRAPES-Meso模式浅对流云辐射效应的改进试验

在万子为等（2015）对GRAPES-Meso模式浅对流参数化改进的基础上,进一步引入了浅对流云量诊断计算,并设计旨在完善浅对流云辐射效应的浅云云量和云中水凝物的补偿方案,以改进模式低层云量偏少和浅对流云辐射效应不足的问题。通过对数值试验结果的诊断和对比分析以及与观测的比较,重点考察了浅对流云量计算与浅对流激发的协调性、浅对流云对低云补偿后所产生的辐射效应以及对模式地面要素预报的影响等,验证了改进方案的合理性与有效性。结果表明:（1）浅对流云量诊断计算合理,其云覆盖区与浅对流激发区相吻合,引入浅对流云量的计算可减小模式云量的计算偏差、使其向观测结果靠近;（2）改进方案在浅对流发生区低层0.5-4 km高度范围内,对影响模式云辐射过程的浅云云量和云中水凝物形成有效补偿,最明显的浅云补偿在1-1.5 km高度处,浅对流活跃时期浅对流过程对浅云水凝物（云水和雨水之和）的补偿量可达20%-55%;（3）云光学厚度对浅云水凝物的补偿响应合理,即水凝物的补偿引起云光学厚度增大,两者的变化特征在时空分布上十分相似,且云光学厚度之变化受云水补偿的影响比受雨水补偿的影响更明显;（4）在白天时段,浅云补偿所产生的辐射效应使模式地表太阳总辐射有所下降,缩小了与观测的偏差,进而使地表温度和地面2 m气温模拟偏差减小。改进方案在缓解模式云量偏少、地表太阳总辐射偏强和地面2 m气温偏高等方面的作用,在批量试验中得到了验证。      

晴天地表总辐射和净辐射瞬时值计算方法

以较为精确的大气辐射传输模式为基础,研制出晴天地表总辐射和净辐射瞬时值的计算方案。与以往的经验计算方法不同,该方案将辐射传输带模式的思路引入地面太阳辐射计算,并尽可能将大气中吸收和散射物质对太阳辐射的影响考虑进去,从而使该方法具有较好的精确性和普适性。在此基础上采用了Kokhanovsky等人提出的大气气溶胶反射率和透过率参数化方案,使得气溶胶对地面总辐射和净辐射的影响得到较好的处理。采用的自变量都是数值预报模式或卫星观测能提供的气象要素,因此该方案即可用于数值预报模式或陆面过程模式计算地表辐射平衡,又可以利用卫星观测或再分析资料估算地面太阳能资源分布。利用美国能源部三个大气辐射观测站点2005年全年的观测资料及欧洲宇航局提供的卫星反演气溶胶资料对计算方案进行了检验。结果表明,该方法十分精确,所有点的平均相对误差都小于6%,误差的均方差都小于0.3 W•m^-2。     

Solar irradiance forcing of centennial climate variability during the Holocene

Centennial climate variability during the Holocene has been simulated in two 10,000 year experiments using the intermediate-complexity ECBilt model. ECBilt contains a dynamic atmosphere, a global 3-D ocean model and a thermodynamic sea-ice model. One experiment uses orbital forcing and solar irradiance forcing, which is based on the Stuiver et al. residual ¹⁴C record spliced into the Lean et al. reconstruction. The other experiment uses orbital forcing alone. A glacier model is coupled off-line to the climate model. A time scale analysis shows that the response in atmospheric parameters to the irradiance forcing can be characterised as the direct response of a system with a large thermal inertia. This is evident in parameters like surface air temperature, monsoon precipitation and glacier length, which show a stronger response for longer time scales. The oceanic response, on the other hand, is strongly modified by internal feedback processes. The solar irradiance forcing excites a (damped) mode of the thermohaline circulation (THC) in the North Atlantic Ocean, similar to the loop-oscillator modes associated with random-noise freshwater forcing. This results in a significant peak (at time scales 200–250 year) in the THC spectrum which is absent in the reference run. The THC response diminishes the sea surface temperature response at high latitudes, while it gives rise to a signal in the sea surface salinity. A comparison of the model results with observations shows a number of encouraging similarities.