Summer temperatures in Europe and land heat fluxes in observation-based data and regional climate model simulations

The occurrence and intensity of heatwaves is expected to increase with climate change. Early warnings of hot summers have therefore a great socio-economical value. Previous studies have shown that hot summers are preceded by a Southern European rainfall deficit during winter, and higher spring temperatures. Changes in the surface energy budget are believed to drive this evolution, in particular changes in the latent and sensible heat fluxes. However these have rarely been investigated due to the lack of long-term reliable observation data. In this study, we analyzed several data-derived gridded products of latent and sensible heat fluxes, based on flux tower observations, together with re-analyses and regional climate model simulations over Europe. We find that warm summers are preceded by an increase in latent heat flux in early spring. During warm summers, an increase in available energy results in an excess of both latent and sensible heat fluxes over most of Europe, but a latent heat flux decrease over the Iberian Peninsula. This indicates that, on average, a summertime soil-moisture limited evapotranspiration regime only prevails in the Iberian Peninsula. In general, the models that we analyzed overestimate latent heat and underestimate sensible heat as compared to the flux tower derived data-product. Most models show considerable drying during warm seasons, leading to the establishment of a soil-moisture limited regime across Europe in summer. This over-estimation by the current generation of models of latent heat and hence of soil moisture deficit over Europe in summer has potential consequences for future summertime climate projections and the projected frequency of heat waves. We also show that a northward propagation of drought during warm summers is found in model results, a phenomenon which is also seen in the flux tower data-product. Our results lead to a better understanding of the role of latent and sensible heat flux in summer heatwaves, and provide a framework for benchmark of modeling studies.     

Thermodynamic properties of chlorite and berthierine derived from calorimetric measurements

In the context of the deep waste disposal, we have investigated the respective stabilities of two iron-bearing clay minerals: berthierine ISGS from Illinois [USA; (Al_0.975FeIII_0.182FeII_1.422Mg_0.157Li_0.035Mn_0.002)(Si_1.332Al_0.668)O₅(OH)₄] and chlorite CCa-2 from Flagstaff Hill, California [USA; (Si_2.633Al_1.367)(Al_1.116FeIII_0.215Mg_2.952FeII_1.712Mn_0.012Ca_0.011)O₁₀(OH)₈]. For berthierine, the complete thermodynamic dataset was determined at 1 bar and from 2 to 310 K, using calorimetric methods. The standard enthalpies of formation were obtained by solution-reaction calorimetry at 298.15 K, and the heat capacities were measured by heat-pulse calorimetry. For chlorite, the standard enthalpy of formation is measured by solution-reaction calorimetry at 298.15 K. This is completing the entropy and heat capacity obtained previously by Gailhanou et al. (Geochim Cosmochim Acta 73:4738–4749, 2009) between 2 and 520 K, by using low-temperature adiabatic calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. For both minerals, the standard entropies and the Gibbs free energies of formation at 298.15 K were then calculated. An assessment of the measured properties could be carried out with respect to literature data. Eventually, the thermodynamic dataset allowed realizing theoretical calculations concerning the berthierine to chlorite transition. The latter showed that, from a thermodynamic viewpoint, the main factor controlling this transition is probably the composition of the berthierine and chlorite minerals and the nature of the secondary minerals rather than temperature.     

A combined modelling and geochemical study of the fate of terrigenous inputs from mixed natural and mining sources in a coral reef lagoon (New Caledonia)

Open-cast mining for Ni, Cr and Co was conducted in the south-west part of New Caledonia during the 20th century. Abandoned mining and prospecting sites were severely affected by erosion, resulting in an increase in the load of terrigenous particles transported to the coral reef lagoon. This article assesses the impact of a typical small catchment area (La Coulée River, 85 km2 watershed) on two bays (Boulari and Sainte Marie) located near Noumea, New Caledonia's main city. This multi-disciplinary study combines geochemical, sedimentological, and hydrodynamic approaches. Ni and Cr concentrations contained in the geochemical matrix phase of the pelitic fraction were determined. The study of the geochemical signatures together with sedimentological data and 3D numerical simulations of the transport of non-settling particles throughout the lagoon demonstrated that terrigenous inputs from the Coulée River were mainly transported and deposited along the shoreline, reaching areas as distant as Sainte Marie Bay. Although quantitatively low (about 3% of the pelite mass of the bay sediments), the terrigenous inputs in Sainte Marie Bay originating from the Coulée River could be traced. The metal content in suspended matter was over 7000 mg kg(-1) for Ni and 4200 mg kg(-1) for Cr.     

Provenance analysis of the Voirons Flysch (Gurnigel nappe,Haute-Savoie,France): stratigraphic and palaeogeographic implications

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Chablais Prealps (Haute-Savoie, France) represent a well-preserved accretionary wedge of the Western Alpine Tethys. They comprise a stack of...     

Development of design storm hyetographs in hyper-arid and arid regions: case study of Sultanate of Oman

The temporal distribution of the design storm is an important input in hydrological models. This research aims to develop design storm profiles representative of arid and hyper-arid areas based on actual storm recordings. Two hundred thirty-six rainfall storms were collected from seventeen rainfall gauges that cover the coastal zone of Oman for the period from 1993 to 2007. Storms were classified into four categories according to their total durations. Design storm hyetographs were derived from raw rainfall records for all four categories using the Alternating Block Method (ABM) and were also computed by ABM applied on the Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves. Both design storm profiles were compared and it was found that the ABM_IDF storm profiles were equivalent to the four ABM_Storms profiles from a practical point of view as they produce similar peak discharges. The storm profiles developed in the current research were also compared to the commonly used Soil Conservation Service (SCS) dimensionless distributions and the UK50 storm profiles. The results showed that the most conservative commonly used SCS type II and the UK50 summer profiles are not safe to be used in design purposes in arid and hyper arid regions, despite their wide utilization in many codes of practice in these regions. The study recommends using the newly developed dimensionless storm profiles derived from the actual records.     

On eddy diffusion profiles in oceanic bottom boundary layers associated with cold eddies and filaments

The oceanic bottom boundary-layer model of Weatherly and Martin (1978) is used to study the vertical structure of the eddy diffusivity in a region with initially imposed bottom mixed-layer thickness. Because of near-bottom oceanic features, such as the Cold Filament (Weatherly and Kelley, 1982) and cold eddies (Ebbesmeyer et al., 1988), the bottom mixed-layer thickness is not the sole result of boundary-layer mixing; this is the incentive for this study. For a given geostrophic forcing and imposed mixed-layer depth, a formula for the eddy diffusion coefficient is found. This parameterization of the eddy diffusivity improves previous formulas used in oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers in the upper portion of the boundary layer. A simple model of a Cold Filament-like feature demonstrates the structure of the bottom boundary layer, the bottom mixed layer, and the relation between the two. A lens-like cross section of cold blobs, often used in analytical models, may be inappropriate if bottom friction is important.     

阿尔金断裂带附近地壳结构的接收函数成像及其地球动力学意义

利用中法1995年布设在跨过阿尔金断裂剖面上的18个流动三分量地震台站记录到的近5个月的天然地震记录,经筛选得到533个高质量接收函数。通过速度分析和接收函数成像处理,得到了阿尔金断裂附近地壳结构的清晰图像。塔里木盆地的Moho界面非常清楚,近水平地位于~44km深度上。该界面以低缓的角度一直向南延伸到了阿尔金断裂附近的~70km的深度。阿尔金断裂以南柴达木盆地下面的Moho界面也十分清楚,近水平地位于~55km的深度上,在阿尔金断裂附近存在向上挠曲,并抬升到了~45km的深度上。在阿尔金断裂下方,Moho界面存在~15km的错断。塔里木盆地Moho之下还存在另一个震相,我们解释为沉积层多次波与可能来自Hales间断面转换波的复合震相。接收函数成像结果表明阿尔金断裂是一个超壳的岩石圈断裂,具有比较直立的产状和很狭窄的剪切变形带。根据这些结果,我们推测塔里木的下地壳可能要比柴达木的下地壳更硬,柴达木地壳增厚的原因可以部分归结于它有一个相对弱的下地壳,青藏高原隆升没有扩展到塔里木盆地是因为塔里木盆地具有更刚性的下地壳和岩石圈地幔。高原北部地壳变形应该是所谓青藏高原隆升的“硬”变形模式(Tapponnieretal...