Changing patterns in rainfall extremes in South Australia

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Daily rainfall records from seven stations in South Australia, with record lengths from 50 to 137 years and a common period of 36 years, are...     

The thermal comfort and its changes in the 31 provincial capital cities of mainland China in the past 30 years

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - The thermal comfort and its changes in the 31 provincial capital cities of mainland China in the past 30 years were comprehensively evaluated using...     

UV attenuation in the cloudy atmosphere

Ultraviolet (UV) energy absorption plays a very important role in the Earth–atmosphere system. Based on observational data for Beijing, we suggest that some atmospheric constituents utilize or transfer UV energy in chemical and photochemical (C&P) reactions, in addition to those which absorb UV energy directly. These constituents are primarily volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from both vegetative and anthropogenic sources. The total UV energy loss in the cloudy atmosphere for Beijing in 1990 was 78.9 Wm⁻². This attenuation was caused by ozone (48.3 Wm⁻²), other compounds in the atmosphere (26.6 Wm⁻²) and a scattering factor (4.0 Wm⁻²). Our results for a cloudy atmosphere in the Beijing area show that the absorption due to these other compounds occurs largely through the mediation of water vapor. This fraction of energy loss has not been fully accounted for in previous models. Observations and previous models results suggest that 1) a cloudy atmosphere absorbs 25∼30 Wm⁻² more solar shortwave radiation than models predict; and 2) aerosols can significantly decrease the downward mean UV-visible radiation and the absorbed solar radiation at the surface by up to 28 and 23 Wm⁻², respectively. Thus, quantitative study of UV and visible absorption by atmospheric constituents involved in homogeneous and heterogeneous C&P reactions is important for atmospheric models.     

The role of short-wave troughs on the formation and development of sea-effect snowbands in the western Black Sea

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - The short waves (less than 6000 km) embedded within the long waves and the resulting short-wave troughs have an effect on the sea-effect snow (SES)....     

Response of vegetation NDVI to climatic extremes in the arid region of Central Asia: a case study in Xinjiang,China

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Observed data showed the climatic transition from warm-dry to warm-wet in Xinjiang during the past 30 years and will probably affect vegetation...     

The effect of the variability of wind forcing on ENSO simulation in an OGCM: case of canonical and protracted event

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - This study is an attempt to understand the onset and the evolution of canonical (typical length ~ 18–24 months; CE) and protracted...     

Trends in thermal discomfort indices over western coastal cities of India

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - The present research aimed at analyzing temporal trends in thermal discomfort indices for a period of 46 years from 1969 to 2014 over western coastal...     

Swapping of the Pacific and Atlantic Niño influences on north central India summer monsoon

Climate Dynamics - The highly populated north central India receives 90% of annual rainfall during June to September. The interannual variation of summer monsoon rainfall is less studied...     

Near-surface air temperature lapse rates in Xinjiang,northwestern China

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Lapse rates of near-surface (2 m) air temperature are important parameters in hydrologic and climate simulations, especially for the mountainous areas...     

Changes of western European heat wave characteristics projected by the CMIP5 ensemble

Climate Dynamics - We investigate heat waves defined as periods of at least 3 consecutive days of extremely high daily maximum temperature affecting at least 30 % of western Europe. This...     

Circulation structures leading to propagating and non-propagating heavy summer rainfall in central North China

Climate Dynamics - Using 30 years of hourly rain gauge records and reanalysis data, this paper reveals two types of heavy summer rainfall in central North China (CNC): the lasting mountain...     

Analyses of rainfall extremes in East Africa based on observations from rain gauges and climate change simulations by CORDEX RCMs

Climate Dynamics - This study derived twelve Extreme Rainfall Indices (ERIs) such as the Maximum Dry Spell (MDS) and Maximum Wet Spell (MWS) from daily rainfall observed over the period...     

Impacts of Boundary-Layer Structure and Turbulence on the Variations of PM2.5 During Fog–Haze Episodes

Boundary-Layer Meteorology - The precise cause of PM2.5 (fine particular matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm) explosive growth and the contribution of intermittent turbulence...     

Analysis of the Systematic Errors Found in the Kipp &; Zonen Large-Aperture Scintillometer

Studies have shown a systematic error in the Kipp & Zonen large-aperture scintillometer (K&ZLAS) measurements of the sensible heat flux, H. We improved on these studies and compared four K&ZLASs with a Wageningen large-aperture scintillometer at the Chilbolton Observatory. The scintillometers were installed such that their footprints were the same and independent flux measurements were made along the measurement path. This allowed us to compare H and the direct scintillometer output, the refractive index structure parameter, C_n²{C_{n}^{2}} . Furthermore, spectral analysis was performed on the raw scintillometer signal to investigate the characteristics of the error. Firstly, correlation coefficients ≥ 0.99 confirm the robustness of the scintillometer method, and secondly we discovered two systematic errors: the low-C_n²{C_{n}^{2}} error and the high-C_n²{C_{n}^{2}} error. The low-C_n²{C_{n}^{2}} error is a non-linear error that is caused by high-frequency noise, and we suspect the error to be caused by the calibration circuit in the receiver. It varies between each K&ZLAS, is significant for H ≤ 50 W m⁻², and we propose a solution to remove this error using the demodulated signal. The high-C_n²{C_{n}^{2}} error identified by us is the systematic error found in previous studies. We suspect this error to be caused by poor focal alignment of the receiver detector and the transmitter light-emitting diode that causes ineffective use of the Fresnel lens in the current Kipp & Zonen design. It varies between each K&ZLAS (35% up to 240%) and can only be removed by comparing with a reference scintillometer in the field.     

Optimal Technology R&D in the Face of Climate Uncertainty

This paper explores optimal near-term technology R&D in the face of uncertain damages caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases. The paper puts particular emphasis on understanding how optimal near-term R&D expenditures might vary based on the technologies pursued in the R&D program. The exploration is conducted in the context of varying impacts from R&D on the global abatement cost function. The R&D planning problem is considered first within a theoretical framework and is then pursued in a stylized application using the DICE model. The paper provides intuition into the circumstances under which near-term technology R&D might increase or decrease under uncertainty, thereby serving as a hedge against climate uncertainty.     

Statistical adjustment,calibration and downscaling of seasonal forecasts: a case-study for Southeast Asia

Climate Dynamics - The present paper is a follow-on of the work presented in Manzanas et al. (Clim Dyn 53(3–4):1287–1305, 2019) which provides a comprehensive intercomparison...     

Ocean–atmosphere coupled processes in the tropical Indian Ocean region prior to Indian summer monsoon onset over Kerala

Climate Dynamics - The present study examines atmosphere–ocean interaction before MOK using various observational data sets during the last 35 years (1982–2016). The analyses...     

Australian blocking impacts on ocean surface waves

Climate Dynamics - We assess the impact of split-flow blocking in the Australian region on global ocean wind waves using 30 years of high-resolution wave data from the CAWCR wave model...     

Correction to: The contributions of fronts,lows and thunderstorms to southern Australian rainfall

Climate Dynamics - In the original published version of the paper, the figures reported in Sect. 4 relating the proportion of rainfall in southern Australia that is due to each of the...     

Making sense of the politics in the climate change loss & damage debate

The Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (L&D) associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM) was established in 2013 to advance i) knowledge generation; ii) coordination and iii) support to address losses and damages under the UNFCCC. So far, the work undertaken by the WIM Executive Committee (ExCom) has focused on enhancing understanding and awareness of the issue and promoting collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Delivering on the WIM’s third function on action and support has lagged behind, and ‘the political’ nature of L&D has often been blamed for this. Key terrains of contention among Parties have included the positioning of L&D governance vis-à-vis the adaptation space and struggles around state liability and compensation. As a way to facilitate discussion on implementation options, recent research has suggested de-politicising aspects of the L&D debate; yet we have very little insight into how the politics are understood within the realm of international L&D governance. This paper brings an analysis of ‘the political’ into the picture by identifying the complex and underlying issues that fuel contention within UNFCCC L&D negotiations. It gives centre stage to the way different framings of norms and material interests affect the debate, and challenges the tendency in current L&D literature to overlook the socio-historical and political underpinnings of this area of policy-making. We employ a qualitative multi-methods research design which draws on content analysis of 138 official Parties’ submissions and statements, 14 elite interviews with key current and former L&D negotiators and is built on a foundation of 3 years of participant observation at COPs and WIM meetings. We approach this data with a political ethnographic sensibility that seeks to explore how meanings are constructed within and across different sources of data. Our empirical results show that, rather than being a monolithic dispute, L&D catalyses different yet intertwined unresolved discussions. We identify five areas of contention, including continued disputes around compensation; conflicts on the legitimacy of L&D as a third pillar of climate action; tensions between the technical and political dimension of the debate; debates over accountability for losses and damages incurred; and the connection of L&D with other unresolved issues under the Convention.