Simulation of the equatorially asymmetric mode of the Hadley circulation in CMIP5 models

The tropical Hadley circulation (HC) plays an important role in influencing the climate in the tropics and extra-tropics. The realism of the climatological characteristics, spatial structure, and temporal evolution of the long-term variation of the principal mode of the annual mean HC (i.e., the equatorially asymmetric mode, EAM) was examined in model simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). The results showed that all the models are moderately successful in capturing the HC's climatological features, including the spatial pattern, meridional extent, and intensity, but not the spatial or temporal variation of the EAM. The possible reasons for the poor simulation of the long-term variability of the EAM were explored. None of the models can successfully capture the differences in the warming rate between the tropical Southern Hemisphere (SH) and Northern Hemisphere (NH), which is considered to be an important driver for the variation of the AM. Most of the models produce a faster warming in the NH than in the SH, which is the reverse of the observed trend. This leads to a reversed trend in the meridional gradient between the SH and NH, and contributes to the poor simulation of EAM variability. Thus, this aspect of the models should be improved to provide better simulations of the variability of the HC. This study suggests a possible reason for the poor simulation of the HC, which may be helpful for improving the skill of the CMIP5 models in the future.     

Arctic sea ice and Eurasian climate: A review

The Arctic plays a fundamental role in the climate system and has shown significant climate change in recent decades,including the Arctic warming and decline of Arctic sea-ice extent and thickness. In contrast to the Arctic warming and reduction of Arctic sea ice, Europe, East Asia and North America have experienced anomalously cold conditions, with record snowfall during recent years. In this paper, we review current understanding of the sea-ice impacts on the Eurasian climate.Paleo, observational and modelling studies are covered to summarize several major themes, including: the variability of Arctic sea ice and its controls; the likely causes and apparent impacts of the Arctic sea-ice decline during the satellite era,as well as past and projected future impacts and trends; the links and feedback mechanisms between the Arctic sea ice and the Arctic Oscillation/North Atlantic Oscillation, the recent Eurasian cooling, winter atmospheric circulation, summer precipitation in East Asia, spring snowfall over Eurasia, East Asian winter monsoon, and midlatitude extreme weather; and the remote climate response(e.g., atmospheric circulation, air temperature) to changes in Arctic sea ice. We conclude with a brief summary and suggestions for future research.     

Impact of updraft on neutralized charge rate by lightning in thunderstorms: A simulation case study

The rate of neutralized charge by lightning (RNCL) is an important parameter indicating the intensity of lightning activity. The total charging rate (CR), the CR of one kind of polarity (e.g., negative) charge (CROP), and the outflow rate of charge on precipitation (ORCP) are proposed as key factors impacting RNCL, based on the principle of conservation of one kind of polarity charge in a thunderstorm. In this paper, the impacts of updraft on CR and CROP are analyzed by using a 3D cloud resolution model for a strong storm that occurred in Beijing on 6 september 2008. The results show that updraft both promotes and inhibits RNCL at the same time. (1) Updraft always has a positive influence on CR. The correlation coefficient between the updraft volume and CR can reach 0.96. Strengthening of the updraft facilitates strengthening of RNCL through this positive influence. (2) Strengthening of the updraft also promotes reinforcement of CROP. The correlation coefficient between the updraft volume and CROP is high (about 0.9), but this promotion restrains the strengthening of RNCL because the strengthening of CROP will, most of the time, inhibit the increasing of RNCL. (3) Additionally, increasing of ORCP depresses the strengthening of RNCL. In terms of magnitude, the peak of ORCP is equal to the peak of CR. Because precipitation mainly appears after the lightning activity finishes, the depression effect of ORCP on RNCL can be ignored during the active lightning period.     

Development and validation of an evaporation duct model. Part II: Evaluation and improvement of stability functions

This study aims to validate and improve the universal evaporation duct (UED) model through a further analysis of the stability function (ψ). A large number of hydrometeorological observations obtained from a tower platform near Xisha Island of the South China Sea are employed, together with the latest variations in ψ function. Applicability of different ψ functions for specific sea areas and stratification conditions is investigated based on three objective criteria. The results show that, under unstable conditions, ψ function of Fairall et al. (1996) (i.e., Fairall96, similar for abbreviations of other function names) in general offers the best performance. However, strictly speaking, this holds true only for the stability (represented by bulk Richardson number R _iB) range ?2.6 ? R _iB < ?0.1; when conditions become weakly unstable (?0.1 ? R _iB < ?0.01), Fairall96 offers the second best performance after Hu and Zhang (1992) (HYQ92). Conversely, for near-neutral but slightly unstable conditions (?0.01 ? R _iB < 0.0), the effects of Edson04, Fairall03, Grachev00, and Fairall96 are similar, with Edson04 being the best function but offering only a weak advantage. Under stable conditions, HYQ92 is the optimal and offers a pronounced advantage, followed by the newly introduced SHEBA07 (by Grachev et al., 2007) function. Accordingly, the most favorable functions, i.e., Fairall96 and HYQ92, are incorporated into the UED model to obtain an improved version of the model. With the new functions, the mean root-mean-square (rms) errors of the modified refractivity (M), 0–5-m M slope, 5–40-m M slope, and the rms errors of evaporation duct height (EDH) are reduced by 21.65%, 9.12%, 38.79%, and 59.06%, respectively, compared to the classical Naval Postgraduate School model.

     

Impact of the Vertical Velocity Field on Charging Processes and Charge Separation in a Simulated Thunderstorm

A three-dimensional(3D) charging-discharging cloud resolution model was used to investigate the impact of the vertical velocity field on the charging processes and the formation of charge structure in a strong thunderstorm. The distribution and evolution of ice particle content and charges on ice particles were analyzed in different vertical velocity fields. The results show that the ice particles in the vertical velocity range from 1 to 5 m s-1obtained the most charge through charging processes during the lifetime of the thunderstorm. The magnitude of the charges could reach 1014 n C. Before the beginning of lightning activity,the charges produced in updraft region 2(updraft speed 13 m s-1) and updraft region 1(updraft speed between 5 and 13 m s-1) were relatively significant. The magnitudes of charge reached 1013 n C, which clearly impacted upon the early lightning activity. The vertical velocity conditions in the quasi-steady region(updraft speed between –1 and 1 m s-1) were the most conducive for charge separation on ice particles on different scales. Accordingly, a net charge structure always appeared in the quasi-steady and adjacent regions. Based on the results, a conceptual model of ice particle charging, charge separation, and charge structure formation in the flow field was constructed. The model helps to explain observations of the"lightning hole" phenomenon.     

天山南北坡流域气温时空变化特征

利用近50年新疆天山南北坡乌拉斯台河和乌鲁木齐河流域不同气象站点气温资料,对比分析了天山南北坡的气温变化趋势、入春与入夏时间、气温年极值、气温年较差及冬季逆温层变化特征。结果表明:天山南北坡显著升温时间约为1997年,北坡的乌鲁木齐气温增加趋势最大,为0.402℃·(10a)-1;南坡的库尔勒比乌鲁木齐入春、入夏早,乌鲁木齐主要入春、入夏时间分别为4月和6月,而库尔勒分别为3月和5月;北坡比南坡入春连续5天平均气温约高1℃,而两者入夏连续5天的平均气温接近;天山南北坡年最高气温的最大值、最小值和年平均最高气温随海拔的升高逐渐降低,而年最低气温的变化南北坡表现不一致,并且南北坡各站点的气温年较差随着高度的增加而减少;1月北坡逆温层的厚度大于南坡,北坡逆温层小渠子和蔡家湖的气温差变化趋势为-0.208℃·(10a)-1,南坡逆温层巴伦台和和静的气温差变化趋势为0.236℃·(10a)-1。     

超长La Ni?a事件背景下东亚夏季风的季节内变化:1999～2000年和1984～1985年的对比分析

基于多种再分析资料和观测资料,对比分析了两次超长La Ni?a事件中东亚夏季风的季节内变化。选取的两次事件分别发生在1984～1985年和1999～2000年,但强度有明显差异,其中前者为中等强度事件,而后者则为强事件。在两次事件过程中,暖池对流偏强,西太平洋副热带高压（副高）偏东偏弱,但季节内变化有很大差异。对强事件而言,6月对流开始发展,异常值在7月达到最大,8月稍弱,这与La Ni?a年合成结果一致,表明La Ni?a信号主导了东亚夏季风的季节内变化。与此不同的是,在1984～1985年事件中,6月和8月对流偏强,7月偏弱,呈双峰型异常变化。分析表明,当前一个月海温偏高时,后一个月对流偏强,减弱了太阳辐射,造成局地海温降低,偏低的海温又反过来抑制了后一个月的对流发展,暖池地区局地海气相互作用在中等强度La Ni?a事件中起到关键作用。因此,在两次超长La Ni?a事件中,东亚夏季风的季节内变化过程和影响因子有很大差异。此外,由于副高偏东,中国东部夏季降水总体上偏少。     

Symplectic adaptive algorithm for solving nonlinear two-point boundary value problems in Astrodynamics

In this paper, from a Hamiltonian point of view, the nonlinear optimal control problems are transformed into nonlinear two-point boundary value problems, and a symplectic adaptive algorithm based on the dual variational principle is proposed for solving the nonlinear two-point boundary value problem. The state and the costate variables within a time interval are approximated by using the Lagrange polynomial and the costate variables at two ends of the time interval are taken as independent variables. Then, based on the dual variational principle, the nonlinear two-point boundary value problems are replaced by a system of nonlinear equations which can preserve the symplectic structure of the nonlinear optimal control problem. Furthermore, the computational efficiency of the proposed symplectic algorithm is improved by using the adaptive multi-level iteration idea. The performance of the proposed algorithm is tested by the problems of Astrodynamics, such as the optimal orbital rendezvous problem and the optimal orbit transfer between halo orbits.