The Thermodynamic Effects of Sublimating, Blowing Snow in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

A seasonal snowcover blankets much of Canada during wintertime. In such an environment, the frequency of blowing snow events is relatively high and can have important meteorological and hydrological impacts. Apart from the transport of snow, the thermodynamic impact of sublimating blowing snow in air near the surface can be investigated. Using a time or fetch-dependent blowing snow model named 'PIEKTUK' that incorporates prognostic equations for a spectrum of sublimating snow particles, plus temperature and humidity distributions, it is found that the sublimation of blowing snow can lead to temperature decreases of the order of 0.5 °C and significant water vapour increases in the near-surface air. Typical predicted snow removal rates due to sublimation of blowing snow are several millimetres snow water equivalent per day over open Arctic tundra conditions. The model forecast sublimation rates are most sensitive to humidity, as well as wind speed, temperature and particle distributions, with a maximum value in sublimation typically found approximately 1 km downstream from blowing snow initiation. This suggests that the sublimation process is self-limiting despite ongoing transport of snow by wind, yielding significantly lower values of blowing snow sublimation rates (nearly two-thirds less) compared to situations where the thermodynamic feedbacks are neglected. The PIEKTUK model may provide the necessary thermodynamic inputs or blowing snow parameterizations for mesoscale models, allowing the assessment of the contribution of blowing snow fluxes, in more complex situations, to the moisture budgets of high-latitude regions.     

大同地区典型沙尘天气过程近地层气象要素演变特征的对比分析

利用2009年3月-2010年3月大同国家基准气候站20m气象梯度塔的风向、风速、气温、相对湿度的观测资料及PM10质量浓度数据、气溶胶散射系数数据,分析大同地区典型沙尘天气过程近地层气象要素演变特征。结果表明,风速在沙尘暴、扬沙的发生、发展过程中均较大,浮尘较小。气温在沙尘暴期间受冷空气的影响迅速减小,而在扬沙和浮尘天气条件下温度的变化主要取决于长短波辐射的强弱和沙尘气溶胶的辐射强迫。相对湿度在沙尘暴期间基本上呈递增态势,结束后比发生前相对湿度增大,在扬沙和浮尘天气条件下,相对湿度与温度完全呈现出反相关关系,且相对湿度均较小。PM10质量浓度在沙尘暴、扬沙、浮尘天气条件下依次递减。沙尘暴期间气溶胶散射系数明显增大。     

Transport of Snow by the Wind: A Comparison Between Observations in Ad��lie Land, Antarctica, and Simulations Made with the Regional Climate Model MAR

For the first time a simulation of blowing snow events was validated in detail using one-month long observations (January 2010) made in Adélie Land, Antarctica. A regional climate model featuring a coupled atmosphere/blowing snow/snowpack model is forced laterally by meteorological re-analyses. The vertical grid spacing was 2 m from 2 to 20 m above the surface and the horizontal grid spacing was 5?km. The simulation was validated by comparing the occurrence of blowing snow events and other meteorological parameters at two automatic weather stations. The Nash test allowed us to compute efficiencies of the simulation. The regional climate model simulated the observed wind speed with a positive efficiency (0.69). Wind speeds higher than 12 m s ^?1 were underestimated. Positive efficiency of the simulated wind speed was a prerequisite for validating the blowing snow model. Temperatures were simulated with a slightly negative efficiency (?0.16) due to overestimation of the amplitude of the diurnal cycle during one week, probably because the cloud cover was underestimated at that location during the period concerned. Snowfall events were correctly simulated by our model, as confirmed by field reports. Because observations suggested that our instrument (an acoustic sounder) tends to overestimate the blowing snow flux, data were not sufficiently accurate to allow the complete validation of snow drift values. However, the simulation of blowing snow occurrence was in good agreement with the observations made during the first 20 days of January 2010, despite the fact that the blowing snow flux may be underestimated by the regional climate model during pure blowing snow events. We found that blowing snow occurs in Adélie Land only when the 30-min wind speed value at 2 m a.g.l. is >10 m s ^?1. The validation for the last 10 days of January 2010 was less satisfactory because of complications introduced by surface melting and refreezing.     

青海省甘德两次降雪过程的微气象特征分析

利用青海省甘德两次降雪过程的微气象观测数据,探讨了两场降雪过程雪深、雪密度、雪中含冰量、雪中含水量和雪面温度的变化情况,分析了地表反照率与雪密度、雪中含冰量及雪中含水量的关系,结合降雪过程近地面温、湿、风廓线特征分析了积雪对近地面温、湿、风梯度的影响。结果表明:积雪覆盖会导致地表反照率显著增加,降雪过后正午时地表反照率可高达0.8～0.9。随着积雪的消融,地表反照率逐渐减小;积雪反照率与雪密度和雪中含冰量呈正相关,与雪中含水量呈负相关;地表积雪覆盖会导致近地面温度梯度绝对值减小,相对湿度梯度绝对值在凌晨减小、午后增大,地表积雪覆盖对近地面风速梯度变化并无特定的影响。     

The Electric Field During Blowing Snow Events

A model is proposed to determine the electric field strength in blowing snow. To test this model, the electric field strength was measured over an 80-day period during the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES) in 2004. The electric field strength at 0.5 m correlates well with the difference between 10-m wind speed and a threshold wind speed, although there is a large amount of variation between the electric fields generated during different blowing snow events. Although the model predicts that the electric field should be proportional to particle number density, the correlation is weak. The correlation of wind speed and electric field strength suggests that particles become charged primarily due to friction-induced temperature difference as they impact upon the surface. The strength of the electric field is likely influenced by a large number of other factors that are difficult to measure. However, the model predicts electric field strengths in excess of 25 kV m⁻¹ near the surface, which would have a significant effect on particle motion.     

Some Characteristics of the Surface Boundary Layer of a Strong Cold Air Process over Southern China

In southern China,cold air is a common weather process during the winter season;it can cause strong wind,sharp temperature decreases,and even the snow or freezing rain events.However,the features of the atmospheric boundary layer during cold air passage are not clearly understood due to the lack of comprehensive observation data,especially regarding turbulence.In this study,four-layer gradient meteorological observation data and one-layer,10-Hz ultrasonic anemometer-thermometer monitoring data from the northern side of Poyang Lake were employed to study the main features of the surface boundary layer during a strong cold-air passage over southern China.The results show that,with the passage of a cold air front,the wind speed exhibits low-frequency variations and that the wind systematically descends.During the strong wind period,the wind speed increases with height in the surface layer.Regular gust packets are superimposed on the basic strong wind flow.Before the passage of cold air,the wind gusts exhibit a coherent structure.The wind and turbulent momentum fluxes are small,although the gusty wind momentum flux is slightly larger than the turbulent momentum flux.However,during the invasion of cold air,both the gusty wind and turbulent momentum fluxes increase rapidly with wind speed,and the turbulent momentum flux is larger than the gusty wind momentum flux during the strong wind period.After the cold air invasion,this structure almost disappears.     

1981—2013年四川省视程障碍类天气现象分析

利用四川省1981—2013年雾、轻雾、吹雪、雪暴、烟幕、霾、沙尘暴、扬沙和浮尘9种视程障碍天气现象资料,对其发生日数、发生概率和分布特征进行统计。结果表明:(1)各天气现象发生日数排序为:轻雾>雾>浮尘>霾>烟幕>扬沙>沙尘暴>吹雪>雪暴。(2)轻雾和雾年发生日数为分别为176d/a和29d/a,日发生概率分别为48%和8%,远高出其他天气现象。(3)季节变化方面,雾和轻雾主要出现在秋季和冬季;霾、吹雪和雪暴集中出现在冬季;浮尘发生春季;扬沙多发生在冬季和春季;而沙尘暴、烟幕主要发生在春季和秋季。(4)变化趋势上轻雾基本保持平稳;烟幕呈增加趋势;而雾、霾、沙尘暴、扬沙和浮尘呈下降趋势。(5)大气层结稳定、水汽充足、风速较小、人口集中和排放量较大,易于盆地雾、轻雾、霾和烟幕的形成;不合理利用水和土地资源,北方地区沙尘天气随冷空气南下,是沙尘天气发生的重要原因;而吹雪和雪暴均发生在冬季降雪量大且风速较大的川西高原。     

河套地区春季扬沙天气影响因子的初步研究

通过对河套地区扬沙日数、冷空气活动及固定地段土壤湿度的研究 ,探讨了冷空气活动和土壤湿度对河套地区春季扬沙天气频次的影响。结果表明 ,春季大范围的冷空气活动提供了重要的扰动能量 ;同时 ,强冷空气活动较大的风速 ,为扬沙天气的出现提供了动力条件 ;土壤湿度偏小、土壤干燥疏松也是河套地区扬沙频繁发生的重要原因     

Comparison of Winter Precipitation Measurements by Six Tretyakov Gauges at the Valdai Experimental Site

Analyses of long-term (1991–2010) intercomparison data quantify the consistency of winter precipitation observations by six identical Tretyakov gauges at the Valdai research station in Russia. Relative to the standard Tretyakov gauge, the mean catch ratios are 97 to 106% for dry snow, 94 to 104% for wet snow, 87 to 109% for blowing snow, 96 to 103% for mixed precipitation, and 98 to 101% for winter rain. The differences between the highest and lowest mean catches are about 10 to 11% for snow, 7% for mixed precipitation, and 3% for rain. On average, this difference is about 0.2?mm over the 12-hour observation period. The catch difference for blowing snow is much higher, up to 22%, or an average of 0.6?mm per observation. Comparisons of 12-hour observations show better consistency in gauge performance for low snowfall events and a large variation in gauge catch for high snowfall events. The differences in 12-hour snow catches are mostly less than 2?mm among the six gauges. The differences in the 12-hour observations are less than 1% for rain and 4% for mixed precipitation. Close linear relationships exist between the 12-hour gauge observations for all precipitation types. The maximum differences in gauge snow catches increase very weakly with wind speed, and higher differences are associated with warmer temperatures, from ?5°C to 0°C. There is, however, no significant relationship between the maximum catch difference and the mean wind speed or temperature over the 12-hour period.     

景德镇市三类降雪天气概念模型研究

计算并分析了景德镇市出现雨夹雪、一般降雪、大雪（分别简称为Ⅰ类、Ⅱ类、Ⅲ类降雪）形势场、本站要素、层结资料,概括了3类降雪的天气学概念模型。分析结果表明：（1）3类降雪天气过程中,高空500 hPa有强盛的西南偏西气流,且随着降雪强度的增大,西南风速逐渐增大。地面则有较强冷空气堆积,位于贝加尔湖西部的冷高压中心气压在1 050 hPa以上,景德镇处于冷高压底部。925 hPa 30°N附近冷空气势力强,气温低。Ⅰ类降雪的主要影响系统是在江西省北部上空交汇的冷、暖平流,Ⅱ类、Ⅲ类则是850 hPa的切变线,出现Ⅲ类降雪时切变线位于景德镇附近,而出现Ⅱ类降雪时切变线则稍偏南,位于赣中。（2）地面气温变化是降水相态改变的关键,气温越低,越易出现降雪。从大雪至雪后雨,气温逐渐上升。（3）中低层的气温,Ⅱ类降雪较Ⅰ类低;近地面层气温,Ⅲ类降雪与Ⅱ类降雪接近;700 hPa和850 hPa层气温,Ⅲ类降雪比Ⅱ类降雪偏高。（4）Ⅰ类降雪常伴有逆温,但在向Ⅱ类降雪的转换过程中,逆温逐渐减弱,到Ⅲ类降雪时,逆温消失。（5）3类降雪均存在明显的风垂直切变,低层风弱,高层风强,且随着降雪强度的增大,表现愈加明显。     

超声波传感器雪深测量与人工观测对比试验分析

通过对2010年2、3月佳木斯国家基准气候观测站人工观测与超声波雪深传感器测量获取数据对比、分析不同天气条件下（高风速、低风速、低温度）两种方法获得的数据差值的变化情况。结果表明：观测结果差异的大小主要受温度和风速两个因素的影响。低温环境下温度会影响超声波的行程时间使得超声波传感器的测量精度受到影响,通过温度补偿的方法对雪深进行订正可以提高超声波传感器的测量精度,两者的差值较小,且观测资料有较好的可比性;高风速时,风速会影响超声波脉冲,使其偏离传感器的下方,同时超声波的速度也会受到影响,从而影响测量结果,使得两者的差值较大。     

Use of atmospheric radiation measurement program data from Barrow, Alaska, for evaluation and development of snow-albedo parameterizations

Summary Snow albedo is determined from the ratio of out-going to incoming solar radiation using three years of broadband shortwave radiometer data obtained from the Barrow, Alaska, Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site. These data are used for the evaluation of various types of snow-albedo parameterizations applied in numerical weather prediction or climate models. These snow-albedo parameterizations are based on environmental conditions (e.g., air or snow temperature), snow related characteristics (e.g., snow depth, snow age), or combinations of both. The ARM data proved to be well suited for snow-albedo evaluation purposes for a low-precipitation tundra environment. The evaluation confirms that snow-age dependent parameterizations of snow albedo work well during snowmelt, while parameterizations considering meteorological conditions often perform better during snow accumulation. Current difficulties in parameterizing snow albedo occur for long episodes of snow-event free conditions and episodes with a high frequency of snow events or strong snowfall. In a further step, the first two years of the ARM albedo dataset is used to develop a snow-albedo parameterization, and the third year’s data serves for its evaluation. This parameterization considers snow depth, wind speed, and air temperature which are found to be significant parameters for snow-albedo modeling under various conditions. Comparison of all evaluated snow-albedo parameterizations with this new parameterization shows improved snow-albedo prediction. Correspondence: Nicole M?lders, Geophysical Institute and College of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, P.O. Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320, USA     

Extraordinary blowing snow transport events in East Antarctica

In the convergence slope/coastal areas of Antarctica, a large fraction of snow is continuously eroded and exported by wind to the atmosphere and into the ocean. Snow transport observations from instruments and satellite images were acquired at the wind convergence zone of Terra Nova Bay (East Antarctica) throughout 2006 and 2007. Snow transport features are well-distinguished in satellite images and can extend vertically up to 200 m as first-order quantitatively estimated by driftometer sensor FlowCapt?. Maximum snow transportation occurs in the fall and winter seasons. Snow transportation (drift/blowing) was recorded for ~80% of the time, and 20% of time recorded, the flux is >10^?2 kg m^?2 s^?1 with particle density increasing with height. Cumulative snow transportation is ~4 orders of magnitude higher than snow precipitation at the site. An increase in wind speed and transportation (~30%) was observed in 2007, which is in agreement with a reduction in observed snow accumulation. Extensive presence of ablation surface (blue ice and wind crust) upwind and downwind of the measurement site suggest that the combine processes of blowing snow sublimation and snow transport remove up to 50% of the precipitation in the coastal and slope convergence area. These phenomena represent a major negative effect on the snow accumulation, and they are not sufficiently taken into account in studies of surface mass balance. The observed wind-driven ablation explains the inconsistency between atmospheric model precipitation and measured snow accumulation value.     

一次回流型降雪过程的成因和相态判据分析

利用常规高空和地面观测资料、天津铁塔和雷达资料、全球资料同化系统(GDAS)分析资料、雷达变分同化分析系统资料、EC和NCEP再分析资料对2016年11月20—21日天津初雪天气进行成因分析,结果表明:本次过程是在高空槽和回流冷空气共同作用下产生的,主要水汽来源为对流层中低层槽前西南暖湿气流和回流东风,回流东风经渤海低空运行时吸收水汽由"干冷"变为"湿冷";动力条件主要来自回流冷垫的动力抬升作用,降水期间回流东风层厚度由1.5km增加至2km;锋面上的非地转次级环流可将回流东风水汽向上输送成为降水原料,同时可加强其上暖湿空气的垂直上升运动;高空云水粒子向云冰粒子的转换和边界层回流冷空气加强对本次雨雪相态转换是不可或缺的,回流冷空气北风分量风速和厚度陡增、800～950hPa出现均温层、云冰粒子陡增并向低空延伸、700～850hPa与850～1000hPa厚度的变化特征对雨雪相态的判别均有较好的指示作用。     

近33年新疆阿勒泰地区积雪变化特征及其与气象因子的关系

利用阿勒泰地区7个气象观测站1981-2013年积雪初、终日期、积雪期(积雪初、终日期间日数),以及同期平均气温、平均0厘米地面温度、降水量、日照时数和平均风速资料,分析了该区积雪的变化特征及其与五个气象因子的关系。结果表明：阿勒泰地区平均初日为11月3日,终日为4月2日,平均积雪期为152d;近33年阿勒泰地区积雪初日呈上升的趋势,而终日和积雪期是呈下降趋势;除了吉木乃站的积雪初日气候倾向率是负值外,其余各站均是正值的,积雪终日的气候倾向率各站均为负值,积雪期的气候倾向率除了吉木乃站外其余均是正值;各站在积雪期内与降水量呈显著的正相关,表明降水量越多积雪持续时间越长,而且七个站均通过了显著性检验,降水因子在五个因子的对各站积雪期的影响较大;阿勒泰地区的各站积雪期与积雪初、终日期间的风速、降水量、0厘米地温、日平均气温、日照时数五个因子的相关系数中有57%的通过信度0.05的显著性检验,还有20%的通过了信度0.001的显著性检验;     

奥运期间天津极端天气气候事件背景分析

利用1951～2006年天津7月下旬至9月上旬的日最高气温、降水量、最大风速和8月扬沙、雾、雷暴和冰雹的观测资料,统计了对足球比赛影响较大的高温、暴雨、大风、雾和雷暴等极端天气气候事件发生的概率及分布特点,以期为2008年北京奥运会天津分赛场的足球小组赛提供气候背景服务信息。结果表明:在奥运会期间,天津易出现高温、暴雨、雷暴和雾等不利天气;而大风、扬沙、冰雹的概率相对较小。相对而言,8月中旬至9月上旬,这些不利的极端天气气候事件发生的概率小,对各项赛事的开展较为有利。     

渤海西岸降雪过程中偏东风在250 m塔层内的特征分析

利用天津铁塔观测资料、加密自动站和常规观测资料,针对4次渤海西岸典型降雪过程,分析了偏东风在降雪发生前后的演变特征。结果表明：4次降雪过程均属于回流降雪,其水汽来源与西南气流的水汽输送和近地面层的东风水汽输送有关;地面东风出现在降雪开始之前8 h以上,风速一般在2 m·s^-1左右,220 m高度可达12 m·s^-1左右。从造成东风的系统看,由南部北上的低压系统造成的东风或东南风湿度比较大,而由东北南下的冷高压造成的东风或东北风都比较干。出现最大降雪的时段,塔层的东风显著加大,而地面的风速变化不明显。     

乌鲁木齐冬季清雪预报服务研究

以乌鲁木齐冬季清雪工作需求为牵引,利用乌鲁木齐2006—2016年冬季(当年11月—翌年3月)逐日降雪量、积雪深度、气温和173 d降雪日的逐时降雪量资料,分析了近11年冬季各量级降雪的分布特征、降雪持续时间和降雪的日变化特征;对积雪深度和对应降雪量做线性拟合,得出二者比值大体为0.968 cm/mm。得出清雪预报服务的重点是:小雪的有无、降雪起止时间和累积降雪量、积雪深度的预报,难点是中雪、大雪特别是暴雪和对应的积雪深度的精细化预报。     

2009年隆冬辽宁雨转暴雪和大雪过程对比分析

针对辽宁2009年2月中旬旬初雨转暴雪过程和旬末大雪过程,利用常规观测资料和NCEP 10×10 逐6 h分析资料,从环流形势、影响系统、水汽和动力条件及热力结构等方面入手,对这两次过程进行对比分析。结果表明：这两次过程在许多方面显著不同。两次过程均发生在乌山阻高稳定的形势下,均受中纬度东移的中尺度低值系统影响,但雨转暴雪过程中高纬度为两脊一槽型,中纬度短槽与南支低槽结合携强冷空气东移,与低空急流在辽宁上空交汇。大雪过程为东低西高型,中纬度气旋性波动东移,切变线北抬过程中与西南暖湿气流作用影响辽宁。两次过程均发生在600 hPa以下相对湿度为80%以上的大气中,均具有低层辐合高层辐散的特征和深厚的上升运动,但雨转暴雪过程水汽含量更高,辐合层更深厚、强度更强,垂直速度较大雪过程大一个量级;两次过程都有明显的风垂直切变特征,但雨转暴雪过程发生在风垂直切变迅速增大的条件下,大雪过程风垂直切变相对稳定;雨转暴雪过程降水随湿位涡的发展而增强,两者有较好的对应关系,而大雪过程湿位涡表现微弱;雨转暴雪过程槽前0 ℃层达到850 hPa,槽后各层温度迅速下降至0 ℃以下,而大雪过程整层温度始终在0 ℃以下。     

2009年深冬辽宁雨转暴雪和大雪过程对比分析

针对辽宁2009年2月中旬旬初雨转暴雪过程和旬末大雪过程,利用常规观测资料和NCEP 10×10 逐6 h分析资料,从环流形势、影响系统、水汽和动力条件及热力结构等方面入手,对这两次过程进行对比分析。结果表明：这两次过程在许多方面显著不同。两次过程均发生在乌山阻高稳定的形势下,均受中纬度东移的中尺度低值系统影响,但雨转暴雪过程中高纬度为两脊一槽型,中纬度短槽与南支低槽结合携强冷空气东移,与低空急流在辽宁上空交汇。大雪过程为东低西高型,中纬度气旋性波动东移,切变线北抬过程中与西南暖湿气流作用影响辽宁。两次过程均发生在600 hPa以下相对湿度为80%以上的大气中,均具有低层辐合高层辐散的特征和深厚的上升运动,但雨转暴雪过程水汽含量更高,辐合层更深厚、强度更强,垂直速度较大雪过程大一个量级;两次过程都有明显的风垂直切变特征,但雨转暴雪过程发生在风垂直切变迅速增大的条件下,大雪过程风垂直切变相对稳定;雨转暴雪过程降水随湿位涡的发展而增强,两者有较好的对应关系,而大雪过程湿位涡表现微弱;雨转暴雪过程槽前0 ℃层达到850 hPa,槽后各层温度迅速下降至0 ℃以下,而大雪过程整层温度始终在0 ℃以下。