Multiple time-scale modelling of the circulation in Torres Strait—Australia

Ocean circulation influences nearly all aspects of the marine ecosystem. This study describes the water circulation patterns on time scales from hours to years across Torres Strait and adjacent gulfs and seas, including the north of the Great Barrier Reef. The tridimensional circulation model incorporated realistic atmospheric and oceanographic forcing, including winds, waves, tides, and large-scale regional circulation taken from global model outputs. Simulations covered a hindcast period of 8 years (i.e. 01/03/1997–31/12/2004), allowing the tidal, seasonal, and interannual flow characteristics to be investigated. Results indicated that the most energetic current patterns in Torres Strait were strongly dominated by the barotropic tide and its spring-neap cycle. However, longer-term flow through the strait was mainly controlled by prevailing winds. A dominant westward drift developed in summer over the southeasterly trade winds season, which then weakened and reversed in winter over the northwesterly monsoon winds season. The seasonal flow through Torres Strait was strongly connected to the circulation in the north of the Great Barrier Reef, but showed little connectivity with the coastal circulation in the Gulf of Papua. Interannual variability in Torres Strait was highest during the monsoon period, reflecting variability in wind forcing including the timing of the monsoon. The characteristics of the circulation were also discussed in relation to fine sediment transport. Turbidity level in Torres Strait is expected to peak at the end of the monsoon, while it is likely to be at a low at the end of the trade season, eventually leading to a critically low bottom light level which constitutes a severe risk of seagrass dieback.     

Characteristics of climate change in the “significant impact zone” affected by aerosols over eastern China in warm seasons

Through analysis of the distribution pattern and changing characteristics of atmospheric aerosols over the East Asia region during warm seasons in recent 20 a and beyond as well as their possible interac- tive relationship with a variety of meteorological elements, it is found that the high-value zone of aerosol optical depth derived from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), its significant negative correlation zones in terms of sunshine duration (SD) and surface air temperature (SAT) and its significant positive correlation zones with low-level cloud amount (LCC) are co-located in the South China region during warm periods. Based on this finding, the region is referred to as a "significant impact zone" (SI zone) affected by aerosols. Then, a comparative analysis is made on variation differ- ences of observed SAT, SD and LCC, etc. in different regions. It is also found that the LCC is increased and the SD is decreased within the "SI zone" over eastern China during the warm season. These characteristics are more evident than those beyond the zone, while the warming trend within the zone is evidently weaker than that outside it. Studies show that since recent 20 a, under the influence of aerosols, the LCC tend to increase substantially with a clear decrease of SD and an unnoticeable warming trend within the "SI zone". Comparing with the climate change beyond the zone, the difference is significant. Therefore, the effects of atmospheric aerosols on climate is possibly one of the contri- butions to the difference of climate change existed between the southern and northern parts of the Eastern China during a warm season.     

A study on three-dimensional structures of the ionospheric dynamo currents induced by the neutral winds simulated by the Kyushu-GCM

Three-dimensional structures of the ionospheric dynamo currents are examined using the neutral winds in a general circulation model of the middle atmosphere at Kyushu University. A quasi-three-dimensional ionospheric dynamo model is constructed assuming an infinite parallel conductivity in the ionosphere. This model is able to simulate both the equatorial electrojet and the global Sq current system successfully. The simulated results reveal that the equatorial electrojet is confined in quite narrow latitudes around the equator accompanied with meridional current circulations and satisfies a non-divergent structure mainly within the E region. A vertically stratified double layered structure is seen in the east–west current density near the focus latitude of the global Sq current system. It is shown that the stratified structure mainly consists of the east–west Hall current associated with the eastward wind of zonal wavenumbers 1 and 2 in the lower altitudes and the westward wind of zonal wavenumber 2 in the upper altitudes. The day-to-day variation of the neutral winds can significantly vary the induced ionospheric dynamo current system, which is recognized as changes of the focus latitude and/or the maximum value of the equatorial electrojet.     

Dating carbonate rocks with in-situ produced cosmogenic Be: Why it often fails

Surface exposure dating of carbonate rocks using cosmogenic ¹⁰Be is problematic. We have performed step-wise leaching of calcite-rich samples in order to investigate the reasons for this. Results on different grain size fractions clearly indicate the source of atmospheric ¹⁰Be is clay. We demonstrate that partial-leaching procedures, which result in moderate pH levels will not release ¹⁰Be (in-situ produced or atmospheric) due to the instant re-absorption on grain surfaces. By contrast, under strongly acidic conditions, all absorbed ¹⁰Be is leached from aluminosilicates giving abnormally high ¹⁰Be concentrations and consequently exposure ages that are too old. Dating is only possible if samples do not contain any clay minerals or if they can be removed prior to carbonate dissolution.     

黄东海大气边界层高度时空变化特征

根据2006-2007年大连、青岛和台州逐日高分辨率L波段二次测风雷达探空资料、地面观测资料以及再分析资料,采用干绝热法和位温梯度法分别计算了各个台站的边界层高度,继而分析了黄东海边界层高度多时间尺度变化规律和空间演变特征.结果表明:(1)用清晨探空资料计算每日边界层高度,干绝热法比位温梯度法更为合理可靠;(2)沿海台站边界层高度有显著季节变化,夏季最低,秋季最高,这有别于陆地边界层普遍存在的夏季高、秋冬季节低的季节变化;(3)通过小波分析,发现边界层高度有显著的2～4 d天气尺度振荡和10～20 d准双周振荡;(4)黄东海上空海洋大气边界层在时间尺度上同样存在着明显的春夏季节低、秋冬季节高的季节变化特征,大部分海区空间上呈现西北低、东南高的分布形态.     

海盐粒子沉积下碳钢的大气腐蚀初期行为

利用体视显微镜和电化学极化技术原位考察了碳钢上NaCl盐粒的吸潮及其液滴的扩展行为。实验结果表明,NaCl液滴的吸潮水解过程主要受环境相对湿度的影响。相对湿度越高,水解越容易。在极化状态下,NaCl液滴的扩展随极化电流的增加而线性加速。NaCl液滴的扩展与碳钢大气腐蚀的电化学过程相互影响。一方面,NaCl液滴扩展的动力来自于大气腐蚀过程所形成的腐蚀电流,另一方面,NaCl液滴的扩展加大了大气腐蚀过程的阴极面积。进而加速了碳钢的腐蚀过程。     

Gas-Phase Formation of Water-Soluble Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere: A Retrosynthetic Analysis

Atmospheric particles contain a myriad of organiccompounds, including many multifunctional,water-soluble organic compounds. Many of thesecompounds are postulated to be secondary of origin. This work investigates the possible precursors ofseveral classes of multifunctional, water-solublesecondary organic compounds by analyzing the pathwaysleading to their formation, based on known gas-phasereactions. The analysis is termed `retrosynthetic'due to the backward direction of the analysis, fromproducts to precursors. Pathways for multi-functionalcompounds were generated combinatorially, consideringthe formation of one functional group at a time.Many multifunctional organic compounds with carboxylicacid, carbonyl, and hydroxy functional groups werefound to be first- or second-generation products ofcommon anthropogenic and biogenic volatile organiccompounds such as alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, andcyclic alkenes. The estimated yields of water-solubleorganic compounds from primary precursors ranged fromless than 1% to over 10%, based on stoichiometricconsiderations. The SOA formation index, whichcombines the concepts of yields and rates, was used tocompare the feasibility of the retrosyntheticpathways. Many of the candidate pathways involve theisomerization reaction of alkoxy radicals andoxygenated intermediate products such asmonocarboxylic acids and hydroxyaldehydes.     

积云团对大气层结影响的模拟研究

文中设计了一个二维完全弹性的积云团数值模式 .模式中考虑了水平均一和时间定常的大尺度抬升速度的影响 .大度抬升速度只对热力学方程和水汽守恒方程有影响 .积云团的启动方式采用冷池和随机扰动相结合的方法 .文中对一个给定温湿层结和大尺度抬升速度情况下 ,就不同扰动结构、水平环境切变、模式区域大小和冷池强度等进行了 1 1个模拟试验 .结果表明 ,在不同扰动结构、是否有水平环境风切变、模式区域不同以及不同云型谱时 ,给定温湿层结和大尺度抬升速度下的积云团活动使得温湿层结向着同一温湿层结调整 .这说明大气由于积云团活动达到准平衡状态 ,这个准平衡状态主要依赖于初始温湿层结和大尺度抬升速度 .这与 Betts积云参数化方案的假设相一致 .     

On the size distribution of ice-supersaturated regions in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere

In order to determine typical sizes of ice-supersaturated regions (ISSRs) in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere we set up the frequency distribution of path lengths flown by MOZAIC aircraft within ISSRs. The mean path length is about 150 km with a standard deviation of 250 km. We analyse the influence of a selection bias (viz. that large ISSRs are more often crossed by aircraft than small ones) on the obtained path length statistics and derive a mathematical equation that relates the path length distribution to the underlying size distribution of ISSRs, assuming that they have circular shape. We solve the equation (by trial and error) and test the result using numerical simulations. Surprisingly, we find that there may be many more very small ISSRs than apparent from the data such that the true mean diameter of the ISSRs may be of the order a few kilometres only. The relevance of the result is discussed and dedicated research flights to measure the true extension of ISSRs are recommended.     

Total ozone decrease in the Arctic after REP events

Eight periods of relativistic electron precipitation (REP) with electron energies of more than 300 keV are identified from VLF data (10/14 kHz) monitored along the Aldra (Norway) / Apatity (Kola peninsula) radio trace. In these cases, anomalous ionization below 55/50 km occurred without disturbing the higher layers of the ionosphere. The daily total ozone values in Murmansk for six days before and six days after the REP events are compared. In seven of eight events a decrease in the total ozone of about 20 DU is observed. In one event of 25 March, 1986, the mean total ozone value for six days before the REP is bigger han that for six days after, but this a case of an extremely high ozone increase (144 DU during the six days). However, on days 3 and 4 there was a minimum of about 47 DU with regard to REP days, so this case also confirms the concept of the ozone decrease after REP. The difference between mean ozone values for periods six days before and six days after the REPs was found also for 23 points in Arctic on TOMS data. The difference was negative only in Murmansk longitudinal sector. Along the meridian of the trace it was negative at high latitudes in both hemispheres and was near zero at low latitudes.