Interactive Aspects of the Indian and the African Summer Monsoon Systems

This study addresses an understanding of the possible mutual interactions of sub-seasonal variability of the two neighboring regional monsoon systems through data analysis. The NCEP/NCAR re-analysis and OLR data for three years was used to reveal the large-scale organization of convective episodes on synoptic (~5 days) and low frequency (15–50 day) scales. It is found that synoptic scale organization over both the sectors is influenced by the eastward migration of large-scale convective episodes associated with the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) on the low frequency scale. The organization of convection associated with the African monsoon on the synoptic scale is influenced by the pulsatory character of lower mid-troposphere and upper troposphere wind regimes moving westward over the African sector. Over the Indian region formation of low pressure areas and depressions in the monsoon trough occur in an overlapping manner under an envelope of low frequency seasonal oscillation. We have also found some correspondence between the summer monsoon rainfall over tropical North Africa and India on a decadal basis, which would suggest a common mode of multi-decadal variability in the two monsoon systems. The study points out the need to organize simultaneous field campaigns over the Indian and the African monsoon regions so as to bring out observational features of possible interactions between the two neighboring systems, which could then be validated through modeling studies.     

A case study of a dust storm weather situation in the Sudan in April 1973

Summary In connection with an invasion of cold air from the north over the Sudan in April 1973, a major dust storm or rather, a dust storm complex, passed over most of the Sudan.The weather development during this dust storm period is described and illustrated in detail with the aid of synoptic weather and visibility maps, as well as time sections based on SYNOP, METAR, and radiosonde reports from Sudanese meteorological stations.With the aid of the synoptic maps it has been possible to follow the development and movement of the dust storm complex and its relation to the cold fronts preceding the cold air invasion, to the intertropical front (ITF), and to thunderstorm highs which developed within the monsoon air south of the ITF during the initial stage. It was also possible to follow the latitudinal displacements of the ITF, which were caused by the weather systems and associated pressure changes in the harmattan and the monsoon air masses on both sides of it.At the beginning of the dust storm the cold fronts from the north were fairly distinct, but they gradually lost their frontal character. The cold air advection, however, gave rise to increased instability in the lower atmospheric layers, which facilitated the development of dust storms. Eventually the cold fronts merged with the ITF, which, on the other hand, constituted a sharp demarcation line between the harmattan and the monsoon air masses during the whole period, particularly with regard to the air borne dust. From the time sections and the synoptic maps it is evident that the discrepancy in concentration of air borne dust was very sharp along the ITF, particularly during the latter part of the dust storm period. When the ITF slowed down and eventually approached its southernmost position and, simultaneously, the cold air invasion ceased, the dust accumulated in part in the southeastern areas and was in part drained out of the Sudan to the southwest, passing the Central African Republic.     

Characteristic features of atmospheric aerosols over India and their role in warm rain process

Atmospheric aerosols are a crucial link in the physical processes, involved in the formation and growth of precipitating clouds. Extensive aerosol measurements in surface air and in the lower troposphere were made at inland and coastal stations of different regions in India. At inland stations, the hygroscopic fraction of the total aerosol content is found to be a useful characteristic for distinguishing between the monsoon and summer airflow, as well as an indicator for a good or a badly developed monsoon. At coastal stations, however, this feature is not observed.Measurements as a function of height brought out that the aerosol varied widely in air over different seasons. During monsoon, the hygroscopic fraction was found highest at the cloud base level and was closely linked to the development of rain. Details of these investigations are presented.     

A comparison of concentrations of fission products,radon 222, and cloud condensation nuclei over the North Atlantic

The concentrations of airborne fission products were observed to be air mass dependent during a cruise of the USNSHayes from Norfolk, Va to Athens, Greece in May–June 1977. Minimum concentrations of fission products, radon, and CCN (cloud condensation nuclei) were measured in maritime air which had previously transited northern North America. Higher fission products, radon, and CCN concentrations were measured in recent, continental air traceable to mid North America or central Europe. These data are consistent with either entrainment by strong winds of previously precipitated fission products (the continental effect) or greater transfer of fission products from the stratosphere to low levels by tropospheric folding.     

Continental drift,plateau uplift,and the evolutions of monsoon and arid regions in Asia,Africa, and Australia during the Cenozoic

Monsoon and arid regions in the Asia-Africa-Australia(A-A-A) realm occupy more than 60% of the total area of these continents. Geological evidence showed that significant changes occurred to the A-A-A environments of the monsoon and arid regions, the land-ocean configuration in the Eastern Hemisphere, and the topography of the Tibetan Plateau(TP) in the Cenozoic. Motivated by this background, numerical experiments for 5 typical geological periods during the Cenozoic were conducted using a coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model to systemically explore the formations and evolutionary histories of the Cenozoic A-A-A monsoon and arid regions under the influences of continental drift and plateau uplift. Results of the numerical experiments indicate that the timings and causes of the formations of monsoon and arid regions in the A-A-A realm were very different. The northern and southern African monsoons existed during the mid-Paleocene, while the South Asian monsoon appeared in the Eocene after the Indian Subcontinent moved into the tropical Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, the East Asian monsoon and northern Australian monsoon were established much later in the Miocene. The establishment of the tropical monsoons in northern and southern Africa, South Asia, and Australia were determined by both the continental drift and seasonal migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ), while the position and height of the TP were the key factor for the establishment of the East Asian monsoon. The presence of the subtropical arid regions in northern and southern Africa,Asia, and Australia depended on the positions of the continents and the control of the planetary scale subtropical high pressure zones, while the arid regions in the Arabian Peninsula and West Asia were closely related to the retreat of the Paratethys Sea. The formation of the mid-latitude arid region in the Asian interior, on the other hand, was the consequence of the uplift of the TP.These results from this study provide insight to the important roles played by the earth's tectonic boundary conditions in the formations and evolutions of regional climates during geological times.     

气温气压与断层气氡浓度短期变化的相关性分析

以嘉峪关断层气氡为研究对象, 利用气氡和气温、 气压的日值, 通过计算气温气压与气氡浓度的相关系数, 分析了气温和气压对断层气氡浓度短期变化的影响. 结果显示, 气温和气压对气氡浓度的短期影响显著, 其表现为既具有相似性特征, 又存在明显的差别: ① 在对气氡浓度的影响程度上, 气压明显大于气温. ② 气温和气压对气氡浓度的影响均具有明显的滞后效应, 如离取样时间最近的0—8时, 它们对气氡浓度的影响均逐渐减弱, 但气温对气氡浓度的影响于7时达到最低, 8时仍在低位变化; 而气压对气氡浓度的影响则在8时达到最低值. 9时气温和气压的影响都出现快速上升, 之后气压对气氡浓度的影响表现为波动缓慢上升变化, 18—19时达到最高值; 9时之后气温对气氡浓度的影响则表现为波动缓慢下降变化. ③ 不同月份气压和气温对气氡浓度的影响也存在明显的差异. 气压的影响具有很好的规律性, 1—4月为高影响状态, 5月份开始出现快速下降变化, 8月份达到最低值, 9月份略有回返, 10—12月又达到了全年的最高值; 而气温对气氡浓度的影响除3月份和4月份比较高之外, 其它月份都在低值变化, 并且差别不大. ④ 对震例的分析结果表明, 嘉峪关气氡浓度大幅正突跳变化不具备预报地震的能力.      

A Diagnostic Study of the Cyclonic Storm over the Arabian Sea during June 1994

—Based on the NCMRWF analysis over the Arabian Sea, a complete energy cycle of the severe cyclonic storm that formed in the beginning of June 1994 in the east central Arabian Sea is carried out, using the in-house developed energy package. Both barotropic and baroclinic energy conversions are responsible for the maintenance of the system, however dominance of one over the other is noticed at different stages of the system at different heights. Dynamical characteristics of synoptic scale monsoon flow surrounding the cyclonic storm are also investigated. By examining the generation and dissipation terms, it is observed that both zonal and eddy components of the synoptic scale flow act as source of energy for the cyclonic storm, both in the predeveloped and developed stages.     

Some aspects of the monsoon circulation and monsoon rainfall

Summary The south Asian summer monsoon from June to September accounts for the greater part of the annual rainfall over most of India and southeast Asia. The evolution of the summer and winter monsoon circulations over India is examined on the basis of the surface and upper air data of stations across India. The salient features of the seasonal reversals of temperature and pressure gradients and winds and the seasonal and synoptic fluctuations of atmospheric humidity are discussed. The space-time variations of rainfall are considered with the help of climatic pentad rainfall charts and diagrams. The rainfall of several north and central Indian stations shows a minimum around mid-August and a maximum around mid-February which seem to be connected with the extreme summer and winter positions of the ITCZ and the associated north-south shifts in the seasonal circulation patterns. Attention is drawn to the characteristic features of the monsoon rainfall that emerge from a study of daily and hourly rainfall of selected stations. Diurnal variations of temperature, pressure, wind and rainfall over the monsoon belt are briefly treated.     

Simulation of Monsoon Disturbances in a GCM

--A large part of the rainfall over India during the summer monsoon season (June-September) is contributed by synoptic scale disturbances such as monsoon depressions. To study the evolution of such disturbances in Atmospheric General Circulation Models (AGCM), the Hadley Centre AGCM (HadAM2b) has been integrated for 15 summer monsoons (1979-1993) and the output was examined for the presence of synoptic scale disturbances such as monsoon depressions, low pressure areas, land lows and land depressions over the Indian summer monsoon region. The atmospheric initial condition for each of these integrations was of 23rd May and observed Sea Surface Temperatures (SST) were described as a boundary condition.¶Although the horizontal resolution of the AGCM used in this study is only 2.5° 2 3.75° lat. long., the model is able to simulate a few monsoon disturbances. The important features of these simulated disturbances are presented. The features of the simulated disturbances are realistic. The morphologies of a well simulated monsoon depression and a simulated low pressure area are presented as examples. The frequency of the simulated monsoon depressions is less than the climatological frequency of the depressions during all four monsoon months.     

湖泊深钻揭示的中更新世以来中国环境的区域分异及其与亚洲季风的关系

根据青藏高原东部若尔盖盆地ＲＭ孔,北部柴达木盆地ＺＫ－３３６及ＣＫ－６孔和滇池盆地参１井等长孔的湖泊深钻记录,探讨了中更新世以来我国环境的区域分异特点,结合黄土－古土壤序列的研究成果,初步分析了导致区域环境分异的原因与亚洲季风的关系,结果表明青藏高原在其中扮演很重要的角色。     

The use of radon as tracer in environmental sciences

Radon can be used as a naturally occurring tracer for environmental processes. By means of grab-sampling or continuous monitoring of radon concentration, it is possible to assess several types of dynamic phenomena in air and water. We present a review of the use of radon and its progeny at the University of Cantabria. Radon can be an atmospheric dynamics indicator related with air mass interchange near land-sea discontinuities as well as for the study of vertical variations of air parameters (average values of different types of stability: 131–580 Bq m^?3). Concerning indoor gas, we present some results obtained at Altamira Cave (Spain): from 222 to 6549 Bq m^?3 (Hall) and from 999 to 6697 Bq m^?3 (Paintings Room). Finally, variations of radon concentration in soil (0.3 to 9.1 kBq m^?3) and underground water (values up to 500 Bq l^?1) provide relevant information about different geophysical phenomena.     

青海省海南台水氡异常特征综合研究

分别从震前预测与震后总结2种方式对青海省海南台水氡异常特征与地震的关系进行了系统的分析,并研究了异常过程、异常幅度与震级和震中距、震源机制等的关系,对水氡异常预报地震进行了预报效能的R值评分。研究结果认为,海南水氡异常对地震的预报效能评分为0 4,表明水氡异常与地震活动有关;但是,异常幅度与震级、震中距关系不明显;震源机制不同,异常与地震的对应率也不同。研究结果还表明,海南台水氡对祁连山中东段及青海省河南县地区的地震反映不敏感。     

地下流体台站观测室内化学元素分析

对庐江地震台化学实验室内不同季节空气中氡和汞含量进行测量、分析,得出影响观测室内空气中氡值的主要因素为,标定仪器和空气流通情况,并与国家环境控制标准做对比,得出庐江地震台化学实验室内空气质量符合国家环境控制标准要求。同时,对如何降低室内空气中氡、汞的含量,提出相应的预防措施。     

Isotopic variations in precipitation at Bangkok and their climatological significance

The stable isotopic composition of precipitation from low to mid latitudes contains information about changes of some climatic factors, such as temperature, precipitation and atmospheric circulation patterns. However, the isotopic variations in the area are very complicated because of the combined influences of these factors. Proper interpretation of the patterns of isotopic variations for palaeoclimate reconstructions in this area requires a detailed understanding of these complex stable isotope controls. The isotopic data (δ¹⁸O and δ²D) in precipitation at the International Atomic Energy Agency–World Meteorological Organization Bangkok station were collected and analysed because of the relatively long and unbroken isotopic records and the particular geographical location. The isotopic variations at Bangkok have strong seasonal patterns owing to distinct source regions in different seasons. In summer, the remote sources of water there can influence the δ¹⁸O values significantly, which is verified by the simple Rayleigh model. In winter, the mixing of isotopically distinct air masses with different origins, i.e. the continental and oceanic air masses, accounts for the isotopic variations. In the transition periods of the Asia–Australia monsoon, namely in May and October, the local vapour contribution may play a role in the isotopic ratios. On the interannual time‐scale, the influences of El Niño–southern oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) on isotopic composition are examined. The indications are that both the ENSO and IOD indices have a significant correlation with the δ¹⁸O ratios, and that the δ¹⁸O ratio in summer rains is significantly more enriched (depleted) during the warm (cold) phase of ENSO/IOD events. All the results suggest that it is useful for us in understanding the water cycling process and may be helpful in palaeoclimate reconstruction in this monsoon region. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geothermal prospecting by ground radon measurements

Radon-222 was measured using Kodak LR-115 film in the soils of 2500 locations near the Ngawha hot springs region, New Zealand, which is being exploited for geothermal power; the object was to determine its usefulness for predicting good drill sites. Unlike other surveys, which have shown large areas with consistent high radon values, anomalies here were scattered, and corresponded mainly with fault lineaments. The results suggested a major previously unnoticed fault. The sampling distance was 50 m.There was a strong seasonal effect on ground radon levels, with summer levels about ten times higher than winter levels.Swamps usually had measured radon levels of near zero because of the slow diffusion of radon in stagnant water, and even thermal areas (mainly in the swamps) usually had low measured values. However, where a fault crossed swamp it was sometimes detected, and with high signal/noise ratio, so swamps should be surveyed.Arguments from the radon levels found on different geologies show that at Ngawha radon has a maximum half value diffusion thickness of 7 m for lacustrine sediment and 25 m for basalt unless a permeable area is present (e.g., a fault).There was a weak correlation of radon levels with the temperatures found on drilling deep bores.Comparisons with the ROAC system and Alphacard system for measuring radon showed no statistical inter-correlations, but some qualitative correspondence of radon contours.The main strength of the method in regions with impermeable soils (such as at Ngawha), seems to be in detecting or confirming the presence of faults, and possibly (through them) indicating geological structure as deep as 300 m.     

姑咱海子泉气氡脱气技术系统改造效能分析

使用姑咱海子泉气氡观测数据,分析在不同脱气—集气（溅落式和自吸式）装置下观测数据的地震前兆异常反映。溅落式脱气装置在脱气过程中无空气混入,脱气效率较低,但地震前气氡观测异常明显;自吸式脱气装置在脱气过程中有大量空气混入,脱气效率相对较高,在地震前气氡异常不明显。分析认为：①空气混入起到稀释作用,致使气氡含量降低;②脱气装置前放置恒水位槽,将地震前泉水深部自然逸出气体释放,造成异常信息减少。     

Water vapour transport and vergence patterns over India during two contrasting summer monsoons

Summary Using the daily upper air data of 00 GMT, the values of precipitable water, mean and eddy transport of moisture and the vergence patterns over the Indian sub-continent were evaluated for two contrasting summer monsoon seasons, 1966 and 1967. The precipitable water did not change markedly between the strong and weak monsoons. But there was a marked decrease in the zonal transport, up to 70%, in certain regions in the weak monsoon. In the strong monsoon, the meridional transport increased by a factor of 2 in certain regions and the vergence patterns also strengthened likewise in certain other regions.     

Continental influence on the spatial distribution of particulate loading over the Indian Ocean during winter season

Advection of continental aerosols over to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean regions during winter (when the prevailing synoptic wind is north-easterly) has been studied by examining the spatial distribution of the near-surface aerosol mass concentration (M_C). In the northern part of Arabian Sea and north of the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) M_C is significantly larger than that in the southern side of ITCZ. A prominent high in M_C is observed near the mid-Arabian Sea region ∼12° to 15°N. Associated with local convergences introduced by mesoscale weather systems, pockets of high M_C are observed at different locations over the oceanic regions. Significantly low values of M_C are observed in the ITCZ. Surface streamlines and wind patterns indicate advection of continental aerosols from the adjoining landmass over to the oceanic environment. Aerosol mass concentration in the far oceanic region is also influenced by in situ production of sea-spray aerosols, which depends on wind speed. The nature of advection of continental aerosols has been studied by separating the wind-induced component of M_C and chemical nature of the aerosols. The spatial variation of the wind-independent component matches well with that of the non-sea-salt aerosols estimated from chemical composition.     

不同时间尺度青海湖沉积物总有机碳对气候变化的敏感性

湖泊沉积物总有机碳（TOC）含量通常作为表征流域和湖泊生产力的指标,在亚洲季风区也常常被当作夏季风的代用指标,被广泛应用于气候与环境变化研究.本文梳理了过去千年、全新世以及冰期-间冰期时间尺度上青海湖沉积物TOC的变化特征,并探讨了其指示气候变化的敏感性与有效性.结果表明,过去千年青海湖沉积物TOC含量与区域暖季温度和降水表现出较为一致的周期性波动.通过对比全新世区域夏季温度、基于孢粉的降水定量重建结果,以及湖泊水位、风沙活动反映的湿度状况等,发现不能简单地将青海湖沉积物TOC含量或沉积通量作为夏季风强度或者季风降水强度的代用指标.青海湖沉积物TOC含量在冰期和间冰期表现出巨大的差异,指示了冰期-间冰期时间尺度上较大的温度与降水变幅.因此,不同地域条件及不同时间尺度下,湖泊沉积物TOC对气候变化的敏感性不同,将湖泊沉积物TOC含量作为亚洲夏季风的代用指标需要特别谨慎,特别是在高寒气候区.     

Radon flux density at the Earth’s surface as a possible indicator of the stress and strain state of the geological environment

Usage of the radon flux density at the Earth’s surface as an indicator of seismic activity is proposed in addition to unit-volume radon activity in the soil air that has previously been used for this purpose. Numerical calculations based on the diffusion-convection equation for radon transport in porous media are presented, which confirm that the radon flux density is more sensitive to changes in convection rate than unit-volume radon activity. It has been indicated that the advantage in using radon flux density could be greatest for homogeneous geological media.