Atmospheric teleconnection mechanisms of extratropical North Atlantic SST influence on Sahel rainfall

Extratropical North Atlantic cooling has been tied to droughts over the Sahel in both paleoclimate observations and modeling studies. This study, which uses an atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) coupled to a slab ocean model that simulates this connection, explores the hypothesis that the extratropical North Atlantic cooling causes the Sahel droughts via an atmospheric teleconnection mediated by tropospheric cooling. The drying is also produced in a regional climate model simulation of the Sahel when reductions in air temperature (and associated geopotential height and humidity changes) from the GCM simulation are imposed as the lateral boundary conditions. This latter simulation explicitly demonstrates the central role of tropospheric cooling in mediating the atmospheric teleconnection from extratropical North Atlantic cooling. Diagnostic analyses are applied to the GCM simulation to infer teleconnection mechanisms. An analysis of top of atmosphere radiative flux changes diagnosed with a radiative kernel technique shows that extratropical North Atlantic cooling is augmented by a positive low cloud feedback and advected downstream, cooling Europe and North Africa. The cooling over North Africa is further amplified by a reduced greenhouse effect from decreased atmospheric specific humidity. A moisture budget analysis shows that the direct moisture effect and monsoon weakening, both tied to the ambient cooling and resulting circulation changes, and feedbacks by vertical circulation and evaporation augment the rainfall reduction. Cooling over the Tropical North Atlantic in response to the prescribed extratropical cooling also augments the Sahel drying. Taken together, they suggest a thermodynamic pathway for the teleconnection. The teleconnection may also be applicable to understanding the North Atlantic influence on Sahel rainfall over the twentieth century.     

Success factors of enhanced disaster resilience in urban community

Due to its unique geographic environment, Taiwan is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons that can cause heavy casualties and huge property losses. The effects of global warming have also increased extreme climate events and the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Therefore, disaster prevention/mitigation and response is not only an important government policy issue, but also an important daily life issue. To increase the awareness of natural disasters and the importance of community safety, the Taiwan government actively promotes a community disaster prevention system. However, to avoid over-reliance on the government taskforce, the spontaneous participation and cooperation within communities can complete specific disaster preparedness and reinforce local resources for disaster prevention and response. Although the concept of disaster-resilient community (DRC) has been shaped for a long period of time, community residents cannot keep pace with the government, which may decrease the effectiveness of DRC development. Therefore, theoretical and practical studies of urban DRC become imperative. This qualitative case study used the participant observation method to collect relevant empirical data by performing action research with self-reflection. Particularly, this article is supplemented by service work experience of the researchers in DRC promotion. A qualitative analysis of case communities during training in disaster preparedness revealed the critical success factors (CSFs) affecting the level of community-based disaster prevention and protection works. Based on the literature and empirical data, the CSFs are discussed through three spindle constructs: coping strategy, operations management, and organizational behavior. Finally, the conclusions and suggestions are given for promoting sustainable DRC.     

表碛型冰川的时序InSAR识别方法与形变监测研究

为了对表碛覆盖型冰川边界进行识别并掌握其变化,以伦道夫(RGI6.0)冰川编目为基础,基于Sentinel-1数据运用时序InSAR技术对昆仑山东段表碛覆盖型冰川进行了形变监测。根据2014年10月至2020年9月表碛覆盖下冰川的时序形变情况,将InSAR形变与光学影像相结合验证冰川边界。结果表明:对昆仑山东段研究区域内280条冰川边界的研究中,探测到3处表碛覆盖型冰川,对边界进行调整后冰川面积分别增加0.19、0.1、0.18 km~2。根据时序形变,发现冰川表碛形变呈现明显的季节周期性,形变与温度、坡向显著相关。另外,表碛覆盖型冰川的变形幅度在(-5,5)cm范围内,暖季变形幅度最大,且地形对突变幅度造成影响。这表明时序InSAR技术可对表碛覆盖型冰川进行形变监测与识别研究。     

A time series of mercury accumulation and improvement of dietary feed in net caged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The study was undertaken to investigate the uptake of mercury in salmon throughout the entire farming period at the net cage. Mercury concentrations in muscle, liver, kidney, and gill and responses to the various dietary mercury concentrations were determined. The accumulation of mercury is in the order of kidney>gill=liver>muscle. The highest mercury peak concentrations were observed for both kidney and gill at the parr-smolt period, while liver and muscle mercury peaked one month later after caging at the grow-out site. High dietary sodium and calcium fed to the salmon contributed to the elevation of mercury in kidney and gill during the smolting process. The mercury burden over the grow-out period increased sharply with a linear relationship of mercury uptake. The tissue mercury burden per gram of growth was calculated using the slope of mercury burden and the slope of growth over the period of each stage. The results showed dietary mercury loadings on marketable salmon were within tolerance limits of FDA and US EPA. Rapid growth of salmon and low dietary mercury progressively reduces the uptake of mercury in salmon. The time series of mercury monitoring showed that mercury concentrations in salmon were greater at the parr stage in freshwater than at the grow-out stage in salt water.     

Soil–gas monitoring: A tool for fault delineation studies along Hsinhua Fault (Tainan), Southern Taiwan

Many studies have shown the soil gas method to be one of the most reliable investigation tools in the research of earthquake precursory signals and fault delineation. The present research is aimed finding the relationship between soil gas distribution and tectonic systems in the vicinity of the Hsinhua Fault zone in the Tainan area of Southern Taiwan. More than 110 samples were collected along 13 traverses to find the spatial distribution of Rn, He, CO₂ and N₂. The spatial congruence of all the gases shows that N₂ is the most probable carrier gas of He, whereas CO₂ seems to be a good carrier gas of Rn in this area. From the spatial distribution of Rn, He, CO₂ and N₂ the trace of Hsinhua Fault and neotectonic features can be identified. The spatial distribution of studied gases shows a clear anomalous trend ENE–SWS along the Hsinhua Fault.     

Vegetation recovery and landscape change assessment at Chiufenershan landslide area caused by Chichi earthquake in central Taiwan

This study discusses vegetation recovery and land cover change with reference to the Chiufenershan landslide, a major disaster caused by the Chichi earthquake, 21 September 1999. Image classification technology, landscape indicators from multi-temporal remotely sensed data and a field survey provide the data. Image differencing methods and threshold values coupled with pre- and post-quake satellite images were used. Multi-temporal images in combination with various vegetation indices were drawn on to classify land cover patterns and discuss differences and suitability of indices. Landscape indicators and field investigations fed into an investigation of vegetation recovery and landscape change. The study results show that the best image classification system is original wavebands coupled with a cropping management factor index (CMFI). The land cover analysis shows that areas of forest and grass are increasing and areas of landslide are decreasing. From the field investigation, because the left and right sides of the landslide area were not disturbed by the earthquake, their calculated similarity index is the highest (30.08%). Miscanthus floridulus is the most dominant pioneer plant at the landslide collapse area with an importance value index (IVI) of 63.6%.