Interannual horizontal heat advection in the surface mixed layer over the equatorial Pacific Ocean: assimilation versus TAO analysis

This study is motivated by an interest in obtaining a new automated classification scheme of daily circulation types suitable for use throughout Europe. The classification scheme is performed on 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies (NCEP Reanalysis data, 2.5°×2.5°). Nine grid points represent the study area. Five anticyclonic types (Anw, Ane, A, Asw and Ase) and seven cyclonic types (C, Cnnw, Cwnw, Cwsw, Cssw, Cse, Cne) are defined. Each of the circulation types has a distinct underlying synoptic pattern that produces the expected type and direction of flow over the study area. The classification scheme is applied to three different case studies in the Mediterranean Basin: Greece, Cyprus and central Italy. The precipitation percentage of the cyclonic type and the mean seasonal correlation coefficients for all circulation types are the two criteria used to evaluate the performance of the classification scheme. The ability of the HadAM3P general circulation model to reproduce the mean pattern and frequency of circulation types at the 500 hPa level in comparison to the NCEP dataset for the period 1960–1990 is also evaluated. The percentage of rainfall that corresponds to the cyclonic circulation types is greater than 85% for the three study regions. Furthermore, the correlation coefficients for the three classifications are very encouraging, for nearly all days of the study period. Compared to observations, the GCM is able to capture the mean patterns but not able to replicate exactly the observed variability of the circulation types over the three study regions.     

Main types of synoptic processes and circulation types generating heavy precipitation events in Armenia

The results of synoptic analysis and objective Lamb circulation classification scheme (LAMB) during the days with heavy precipitation events in Armenia are presented. An analysis of synoptic situations in the area of Armenia and Southern Caucasus for the researched period 2001–2009 has shown that there are seven types of synoptic process characteristic of days with heavy precipitation events in Armenia. Adoption of the LAMB made it possible to identify the typical circulation types for each type of the synoptic process singled out. The results suggest that the LAMB is able to recognize the typical pattern of the distribution of sea level pressure field for each type of the synoptic processes. However, the use of the LAMB is further complicated in Southern Caucasus which can be explained by the existence of regional peculiarities of atmospheric circulation associated with significant influence of the Caucasian ridge. The LAMB may be recommended as an extra tool for synoptic analysis as well as for developing of synoptic climatology and statistical downscaling methods for Armenia and Southern Caucasus.     

A Coupled General Circulation Model for the Tropical Pacific Ocean and Global Atmosphere

On the basis of Zeng’s theoretical design, a coupled general circulation model (CGCM) is developed with its characteristics different from other CGCMs such as the unified vertical coordinates and subtraction of the standard stratification for both atmosphere and ocean, available energy consideration, and so on. The oceanic component is a free surface tropical Pacific Ocean GCM between 30oN and 30oS with horizontal grid spacing of 1o in latitude and 2o in longitude, and with 14 vertical layers. The atmospheric component it a global GCM with low-resolution of 4o in latitude and 5o in longitude, and two layers or equal man in the vertical between the surface and 200 hPa. The atmospheric GCM includes comprehensive physical processes. The coupled model is subjected to seasonally-varying cycle. Several coupling experiments, ranging from straight forward coupling without flux correction to one with flux correction, and to so-called predictor-corrector monthly coupling (PCMC), are conducted to show the existence and final controlling of the climate drift in the coupled system. After removing the climate drift with the PCMC scheme, the coupled model is integrated for more than twenty years. The results show reasonable simulations of the annual mean and its seasonal cycle of the atmospheric and oceanic circulation. The model also produces the coherent interannual variations of the climate system, manifesting the observed El Ni?o / Southern Oscillation (ENSO).     

南半球对流层中部大气环流的若干特点

分析了南半球对流层５００ｈＰａ平均地转西风随纬度的分布特点,平均地转西风季节变化特点,计算分析了南半球位势高度对纬向平均的偏差,分析了超长波的分布特征。以上结果均与北半球同期计算结果作了对比比较,指出了南北半球大气环流的异同点。     

广西区域霾过程高低空大气环流型影响分析

利用1980—2015年NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料和广西80个地面气象站资料,采用Lamb-Jenkinson方法对广西区域霾过程的大气环流进行分型,并探讨高低空环流型配置与区域霾过程的关系。结果表明:当地面东南风型、高空西风型时,广西出现霾过程的频率最高;地面东风型配合高空西风型对年霾过程的贡献最大,地面东南风型配合高空西风型主要出现在冷暖气流转换的春季、地面低压型配合高空高压脊型出现在西太平洋副热带高压明显加强、地面处于弱低压环境场的夏季、地面东风型配合高空西风型出现在环流稳定平直的秋季、地面东风型配合高空高压脊型出现在环流经向度明显增强的冬季,霾过程具有冬季多发、夏季少发的特点。近36年来,地面东风型配合高空高压脊型是广西霾过程呈偏多趋势的主导环流型。     

Circulation over Bulgaria and its connection with NAO indices and Sea Surface Temperatures

Trends in atmospheric pressure, circulation and some relationships between North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) indices, sea surface temperatures, and atmospheric circulation over Bulgaria are discussed in this article. Data for measured atmospheric pressure at stations Burgas, Pleven, and Sandanski are used. Information about atmospheric circulation over Bulgaria was obtained using sea level pressure and 700 hPa Omega (vertical velocity) reanalysis daily data for grid cells covering the territory of Bulgaria for the period 1948–2010. Zonal and meridional indices for Bulgaria were also calculated based on the data for sea level pressure. NAO index calculated by NOAA and NCAR is correlated with atmospheric pressure and circulation. A total of 12 areas in three major water basins influencing Bulgarian climate—North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Seas—were studied. Main methods employed in the article are statistical—trend analysis, multiple linear regression, correlation, nonparametric tests, etc. There is no change in the mean values of atmospheric pressure over Bulgaria. Circulation over Bulgaria during the research period increases its anticyclonal patterns mainly due to the decrease of the number of cyclones. Dynamics in zonal and meridional indices for Bulgaria result in an increase of the northwest transport in the winter and an increase of the northeast transport in the summer. Cyclones over Bulgaria determine the values of atmospheric pressure. Influence of the NAO on atmospheric pressure and circulation is stronger in winter. Atmospheric processes, expressed by the number of cyclones and anticyclones, are most active in spring. Current trends are towards increasing of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) at all investigated places. Temporally, the effect of SSTs on the number of cyclones, anticyclones, zonal and meridional indices for Bulgaria during the different seasons comes with a delay of 1 to 3 months. Constructed multiple linear regression (MLR) models with predictors SSTs adequately describe the atmospheric circulation over Bulgaria. There is a clear pattern of SSTs distribution, which leads to a higher number of cyclones over Bulgaria in winter—lower than normal temperatures in the Aegean Sea and higher than normal in the Black Sea. A decrease in the difference of temperatures between the Gulf Stream and western colder parts leads to higher values of winter zonal transport over Bulgaria. Higher than normal temperatures in Black Sea lead to a higher number of cyclones in spring. Higher difference in temperatures of the North Atlantic leads to a stronger cyclogenesis and enhanced zonal transport, which affects autumn circulation over Bulgaria.     

Synoptic typing: interdisciplinary application methods with three practical hydroclimatological examples

Synoptic classification is a methodology that represents diverse atmospheric variables and allows researchers to relate large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns to regional- and small-scale terrestrial processes. Synoptic classification has often been applied to questions concerning the surface environment. However, full applicability has been under-utilized to date, especially in disciplines such as hydroclimatology, which are intimately linked to atmospheric inputs. This paper aims to (1) outline the development of a daily synoptic calendar for the Mid-Atlantic (USA), (2) define seasonal synoptic patterns occurring in the region, and (3) provide hydroclimatological examples whereby the cascading response of precipitation characteristics, soil moisture, and streamflow are explained by synoptic classification. Together, achievement of these objectives serves as a guide for development and use of a synoptic calendar for hydroclimatological studies. In total 22 unique synoptic types were identified, derived from a combination of 12 types occurring in the winter (DJF), 13 in spring (MAM), 9 in summer (JJA), and 11 in autumn (SON). This includes six low pressure systems, four high pressure systems, one cold front, three north/northwest flow regimes, three south/southwest flow regimes, and five weakly defined regimes. Pairwise comparisons indicated that 84.3 % had significantly different rainfall magnitudes, 86.4 % had different rainfall durations, and 84.7 % had different rainfall intensities. The largest precipitation-producing classifications were not restricted to low pressure systems, but rather to patterns with access to moisture sources from the Atlantic Ocean and easterly (on-shore) winds, which transport moisture inland. These same classifications resulted in comparable rates of soil moisture recharge and streamflow discharge, illustrating the applicability of synoptic classification for a range of hydroclimatological research objectives.     

Comparison of principal component and cluster analysis for classifying circulation pattern sequences for the European domain

The study examines two methods for classification of daily pressure-pattern sequences (extended PCA and extended cluster analysis) and evaluates whether sequence classification is more suitable to describe surface air-temperature conditions in Europe. For this purpose, sequences of daily sea-level pressure fields are classified for each month of the year using a wide range of class numbers (2–40) and sequence lengths from 1 to 6 days. In each case, the classification is used to reconstruct temperature variability in 5°×5° grid-boxes throughout Europe for the period 1850–2003 in order to compare the circulation type based reconstruction to monthly observations for skill estimation. Results show that extended PCA leads to more dynamic pattern sequences for subordinated classes, but also that it is limited in skill, because classes of very low frequencies are generated. In contrast, extended cluster analysis offers higher skill levels for temperature downscaling. However, both methods can benefit from using sequences instead of single days for classification, especially for continental regions.     

Current and future atmospheric circulation at 500 hPa over Greenland simulated by the CMIP3 and CMIP5 global models

The Greenland ice sheet is projected to be strongly affected by global warming. These projections are either issued from downscaling methods (such as Regional Climate Models) or they come directly from General Circulation Models (GCMs). In this context, it is necessary to evaluate the accuracy of the daily atmospheric circulation simulated by the GCMs, since it is used as forcing for downscaling methods. Thus, we use an automatic circulation type classification based on two indices (Euclidean distance and Spearman rank correlation using the daily 500 hPa geopotential height) to evaluate the ability of the GCMs from both CMIP3 and CMIP5 databases to simulate the main circulation types over Greenland during summer. For each circulation type, the GCMs are compared to three reanalysis datasets on the basis of their frequency and persistence differences. For the current climate (1961–1990), we show that most of the GCMs do not reproduce the expected frequency and the persistence of the circulation types and that they simulate poorly the observed daily variability of the general circulation. Only a few GCMs can be used as reliable forcings for downscaling methods over Greenland. Finally, when applying the same approach to the future projections of the GCMs, no significant change in the atmospheric circulation over Greenland is detected, besides a generalised increase of the geopotential height due to a uniform warming of the atmosphere.     

How well are daily intense rainfall events captured by current climate models over Africa?

The ability of state-of-the-art climate models to capture the mean spatial and temporal characteristics of daily intense rainfall events over Africa is evaluated by analyzing regional climate model (RCM) simulations at 90- and 30-km along with output from four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs) and coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project 5. Daily intense rainfall events are extracted at grid point scale using a 95th percentile threshold approach applied to all rainy days (i.e., daily rainfall ≥1 mm day^?1) over the 1998–2008 period for which two satellite-derived precipitation products are available. Both RCM simulations provide similar results. They accurately capture the spatial and temporal characteristics of intense events, while they tend to overestimate their number and underestimate their intensity. The skill of AGCMs and AOGCMs is generally similar over the African continent and similar to previous global climate model generations. The majority of the AGCMs and AOGCMs greatly overestimate the frequency of intense events, particularly in the tropics, generally fail at simulating the observed intensity, and systematically overestimate their spatial coverage. The RCM performs at least as well as the most accurate global climate model, demonstrating a clear added value to general circulation model simulations and the usefulness of regional modeling for investigating the physics leading to intense events and their change under global warming.     

An assessment of the Jenkinson and Collison synoptic classification to a continental mid-latitude location

A weather-type catalogue based on the Jenkinson and Collison method was developed for an area in south-west Russia for the period 1961–2010. Gridded sea level pressure data was obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis. The resulting catalogue was analysed for frequency of individual types and groups of weather types to characterise long-term atmospheric circulation in this region. Overall, the most frequent type is anticyclonic (A) (23.3 %) followed by cyclonic (C) (11.9 %); however, there are some key seasonal patterns with westerly circulation being significantly more common in winter than summer. The utility of this synoptic classification is evaluated by modelling daily rainfall amounts. A low level of error is found using a simple model based on the prevailing weather type. Finally, characteristics of the circulation classification are compared to those for the original JC British Isles catalogue and a much more equal distribution of flow types is seen in the former classification.     

Influence of the atmospheric conditions on PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> concentrations in Poznań, Poland

This study investigates atmospheric conditions’ influence on the mean and extreme characteristics of PM₁₀ concentrations in Poznań during the period 2006–2013. A correlation analysis was carried out to identify the most important meteorological variables influencing the seasonal dynamics of PM₁₀ concentrations. The highest absolute correlation values were obtained for planetary boundary layer height (r = ?0.57), thermal (daily minimum air temperature: r = ?0.51), anemological (average daily wind speed: r = ?0.37), and pluvial (precipitation occurrence: r = ?0.36) conditions, however the highest correlations were observed for temporal autocorrelations (1 day lag: r = 0.70). As regulated by law, extreme events were identified on the basis of daily threshold value i.e. 50 μg m^?3. On average, annually there are approximately 71.3 days anywhere in the city when the threshold value is exceeded, 46.6 % of those occur in winter. Additionally, 83.7 % of these cases have been found to be continuous episodes of a few days, with the longest one persisting for 22 days. The analysis of the macro-scale circulation patterns led to the identification of an easy-to-perceive seasonal relations between atmospheric fields that favour the occurrence of high PM₁₀ concentration, as well as synoptic situations contributing to the rapid air quality improvement. The highest PM₁₀ concentrations are a clear reaction to a decrease in air temperature by over 3 °C, with simultaneous lowering of PBL height, mean wind speed (by around 1 m s^?1) and changing dominant wind directions from western to eastern sectors. In most cases, such a situation is related to the expansion of a high pressure system over eastern Europe and weakening of the Icelandic Low. Usually, air quality conditions improve along with an intensification of westerlies associated with the occurrence of low pressure systems over western and central Europe. Opposite relations are distinguishable in summer, when air quality deterioration is related to the inflow of tropical air masses originating over the Sahara desert.     

High latitude river runoff in a doubled CO2 climate

A global atmospheric model is used to calculate the monthly river flow for nine of the world's major high latitude rivers for the present climate and for a doubled CO₂ climate. The model has a horizontal resolution of 4° × 5°, but the model's runoff from each grid box is quartered and added to the appropriate river drainage basin on a 2° × 2.5° resolution. A routing scheme is used to move runoff from a grid box to its neighboring downstream grid box and ultimately to the mouth of the river. In a model simulation in which atmospheric carbon dioxide is doubled, mean annual precipitation and river flow increase for all of these rivers, increased outflow at the river mouths begins earlier in the spring, and the maximum outflow occurs approximately one month sooner due to an earlier snow melt season. In the doubled CO₂ climate, snow mass decreases for the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers in North America and for rivers in northwestern Asia, but snow mass increases for rivers in northeastern Asia.     

西江流域面雨量与区域大气环流型关系

利用Lamb-Jenkinson大气环流分型方法,对西江流域1971—2015年逐日平均850 hPa和500 hPa高度场进行环流客观分型,分析流域降水天气环流型出现概率及主导环流型变化特征,探讨主导环流型对西江流域总面雨量和子流域面雨量的贡献率及环流型配置与降水的关系。结果表明:当850 hPa为西南风型、500 hPa为西风型时,流域出现降水天气的概率最大;850 hPa气旋型和500 hPa西风型对年总面雨量和各子流域面雨量的贡献率均为最大,且对东部子流域面雨量的贡献率大于西部子流域,850 hPa南风型与500 hPa反气旋型的环流配置是西部子流域秋季降水偏多的主导环流型配置;春季850 hPa气旋型与500 hPa西风型、夏季850 hPa气旋型与500 hPa西风型、秋季850 hPa南风型与500 hPa反气旋型、冬季850 hPa西南风型与500 hPa西风型的环流配置时,出现强降水天气的概率分别为18.7%,21.1%,4.0%和2.0%,即夏季最大,其次为春季,冬季最小。近45年,850 hPa气旋型、500 hPa西风型对流域年总面雨量的贡献率呈增加趋势,是西江流域面雨量呈偏多趋势的主导环流型。     

An empirical classification of weather types in the Mediterranean Basin and their interrelation with rainfall

Summary  This paper presents a classification of weather types in the Mediterranean Basin based on cluster analysis of the daily occurrences of several surface pressure centers and the subjective identification of 500 hPa trough axis positions (1992–1996). The procedure results in 20 types that explain 69% of overall pressure center variance and which are consistent with the seasonal succession of regional circulation. The development of weather types in winter is primarily controlled by the eastward propagation of barotropic waves while departures from the zonal flow pattern in summer tend to be linked to blocked stationary pools. H1-types with anticyclonic circulation in the Western Mediterranean and cyclonic flow in the eastern part are well interrelated with zonal and anticyclonic general weather types in Central Europe. H2-types featuring a weak Azores Anticyclone interrelate with a variety of meridional circulation types after the Hess and Brezowski (1969) classification. The 20 types explain rainfall variance in the core Mediterranean regions (as defined by principal components) to a high degree while rainfall variance in marginal regions is influenced by circulation patterns not being typical for the Mediterranean Basin. Received January 29, 1999 Revised March 28, 2000     

Improved atmospheric circulation over Europe by the new generation of CMIP6 earth system models

Global Climate Models (GCMs) generally exhibit significant biases in the representation of large-scale atmospheric circulation. Even after a sensible bias adjustment these errors remain and are inherited to some extent by the derived downscaling products, impairing the credibility of future regional projections. In this study we perform a process-based evaluation of state-of-the-art GCMs from CMIP5 and CMIP6, with a focus on the simulation of the synoptic climatological patterns having a most prominent effect on the European climate. To this aim, we use the Lamb Weather Type Classification (LWT, Lamb British isles weather types and a register of the daily sequence 736 of circulation patterns 1861-1971. METEOROL OFF, GEOPHYS MEM; 737 GB; DA 1972; NO 116; PP 1-85; BIBL 2P1/2, 1972), a subjective classification of circulation weather types constructed upon historical simulations of daily mean sea level pressure. Observational uncertainty has been taken into account by considering four different reanalysis products of varying characteristics. Our evaluation unveils an overall improvement of salient atmospheric circulation features consistent across observational references, although this is uneven across models and large frequency biases still remain for the main LWTs. Some CMIP6 models attain similar or even worse results than their CMIP5 counterparts, although in most cases consistent improvements have been found, demonstrating the ability of the new models to better capture key synoptic conditions. In light of the large differences found across models, we advocate for a careful selection of driving GCMs in downscaling experiments with a special focus on large-scale atmospheric circulation aspects.

     

The effect of the Zagros Mountains on the formation and maintenance of the Iran Anticyclone using RegCM4

Iran anticyclone is one of the main features of the summer circulation over the Middle East in the middle and upper troposphere. To examine the effect of the Zagros Mountains on the formation and maintenance of the Iran anticyclone, an experiment was conducted by Regional Climate Model (RegCM4) in an area between 22°?C44°N and 35°?C70°E with a 40?km horizontal grid spacing. The NCEP/NCAR re-analysis data set were used to provide the initial and lateral boundary conditions in a control run and in a simulation run by removing the Zagros Mountains. The result reveals that the Zagros Mountains have an important effect on the formation and maintenance of the low-level cyclonic circulation and mid-level anticyclonic circulation in summer. Examining the diabatic heating shows that the elimination of the Zagros Mountains causes a significant change in the heating values and its spatial distributions over the study area. Comparing the diabatic heating terms, the vertical advection term has the main contribution to the total heating. In the absence of the Zagros Mountains, the vertical advection and the mid-troposphere anticyclonic circulation are apparently weak and, therefore, the Iran subtropical anticyclone vanishes over the west of Iran. The study indicates that the Zagros Mountains as an elevated heat source have the main impact in the formation of a thermally driven circulation over the Middle East.     

THE DOUBLE-LAYER STRUCTURE OF THE HADLEY CIRCULATION AND ITS INTERDECADAL EVOLUTION CHARACTERISTICS

Based on the three-pattern decomposition of global atmospheric circulation(TPDGAC), this study investigates the double-layer structure of the Hadley circulation(HC) and its interdecadal evolution characteristics by using monthly horizontal wind field from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data from 1948—2011. The following major conclusions are drawn: First, the double-layer structure of the HC is an objective fact, and it constantly exists in April,May, June, October and November in the Southern Hemisphere. Second, the double-layer structure is more obvious in the Southern than in the Northern Hemisphere. Since the double-layer structure is sloped in the vertical direction, it should be taken into consideration when analyzing the variations of the strength and location of the center of the HC.Third, the strength of the double-layer structure of the HC in the Southern Hemisphere consistently exhibits decadal variations with a strong, weak and strong pattern in all five months(April, May, June, October, and November), with cycles of 20-30 a and 40-60 a. Fourth, the center of the HC(mean position of the double-layer structure) in the Southern Hemisphere consistently and remarkably shifts southward in all the five months. The net poleward shifts over the 64 years are 5.18°, 2.11°, 2.50°, 1.79° and 5.76° for the five respective months, with a mean shift of 3.47°.     

Climate simulations based on a different-grid nested and coupled model

An atmosphere-vegetation interaction model (AVIM) has been coupled with a nine-layer General Circulation Model (GCM) of Institute of Atmospheic Physics / State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (IAP/LASG), which is rhomboidally truncated at zonal wave number 15, to simulate global climatic mean states. AVIM is a model having inter-feedback between land surface processes and eco-physiological processes on land. As the first step to couple land with atmosphere completely, the physiological processes are fixed and only the physical part (generally named the SVAT (soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer scheme) model) of AVIM is nested into IAP/LASG L9R15 GCM. The ocean part of GCM is prescribed and its monthly sea surface temperature (SST) is the climatic mean value. With respect to the low resolution of GCM, i.e., each grid cell having longitude 7.5° and latitude 4.5°, the vegetation is given a high resolution of 1.5° by 1.5° to nest and couple the fine grid cells of land with the coarse grid cells of atmosphere. The coupling model has been integrated for 15years and its last ten-year mean of outputs was chosen for analysis.Compared with observed data and NCEP reanalysis, the coupled model simulates the main characteristics of global atmospheric circulation and the fields of temperature and moisture. In particular, the simulated precipitation and surface air temperature have sound results. The work creates a solid base on coupling climate models with the biosphere.     

东北地区降水与大气环流关系

利用Lamb-Jenkinson大气环流分型方法, 将1951—2004年逐日的海平面气压场分型, 得到27种不同的环流型, 研究了大气环流型与我国东北地区降水的关系。给出了8种出现频率最高的主要环流型出现的规律及它们平均的环流形势, 分析了8种主要环流型下东北地区降水异常分布状况, 并选出东北地区资料齐全、有代表性的9个站点进行了深入细致地分析, 成功地建立了降水与环流型出现频率的统计关系, 并用此重建了9个代表站54年的降水序列。结果表明:Lamb-Jenkinson大气环流分型方法可以很好地应用于我国东北地区, 由此划分的环流型符合实际情况; 8种主要环流型与降水的空间分布特征有很好的对应关系; 所建立的9个代表站降水距平回归方程能够解释近54年各站的大部分降水变化, 进一步证明了东北地区降水与大气环流之间的密切关系。