Crustal structure of Iraq from receiver functions and surface wave dispersion: implications for understanding the deformation history of the Arabian–Eurasian collision

We report the crustal structure for two locations in Iraq estimated by joint inversion of P -wave receiver functions (RFs) and surface (Rayleigh) wave group velocity dispersion. RFs were computed from teleseismic recordings at two temporary broad-band seismic stations located in Mosul (MSL) in the Zagros Fold Belt and Baghdad (BHD) in the Mesopotamian Foredeep. Group velocity dispersion curves at the sites were derived from continental-scale tomography. The inversion results show that the crustal thicknesses are 39 km at MSL and 43 km at BHD. We observe a strong Ps _Moho at BHD consistent with a sharp Moho discontinuity. However, at MSL we observe a weak Ps _Moho suggesting a transitional Moho where crustal thickening is likely to be occurring in the deep crust. Both sites reveal low velocity surface layers consistent with sedimentary thickness of about 3 km at station MSL and 7 km at BHD and agreeing well with the previous reports. Ignoring the sediments, the crystalline crustal velocities and thicknesses are remarkably similar at both stations. The similarity of crustal structure suggests that the crust of the northeastern proto-Arabian Platform was uniform before subsidence and deposition of the sediments in the Cenozoic. If crystalline crustal structure is uniform across the northern Arabian Platform then crustal thickness variations in the Zagros Fold Belt and Thrust Zone should reveal the history of deformation and crustal shortening in the Arabian–Eurasian collision zone and not reflect pre-existing crustal thickness variations in the Arabian Plate.     

Seismic vertical array analysis for phase decomposition

We propose a vertical array analysis method that decomposes complex seismograms into body and surface wave time histories by using a velocity structure at the vertical array site. We assume that the vertical array records are the sum of vertically incident plane P and S waves, and laterally incident Love and Rayleigh waves. Each phase at the surface is related to that at a certain depth by the transfer function in the frequency domain; the transfer function is obtained by Haskell's matrix method, assuming a 1-D velocity structure. Decomposed P , S and surface waves at the surface are estimated from the vertical array records and the transfer functions by using a least-squares method in the frequency domain; their time histories are obtained by the inverse Fourier transform. We carried out numerical tests of this method based on synthetic vertical array records consisting of vertically incident plane P and S waves and laterally incident plane Love and Rayleigh waves. Perfect results of the decomposed P , S , Love and Rayleigh waves were obtained for synthetic records without noise. A test of the synthetic records in which a small amount of white noise was added yielded a reasonable result for the decomposed P , S and surface waves. We applied this method to real vertical array records from the Ashigara valley, a moderate-sized sedimentary valley. The array records from two earthquakes occurring at depths of 123 and 148 km near the array (epicentral distance of about 31 km) exhibited long-duration later phases. The analysis showed that duration of the decomposed S waves was a few seconds and that the decomposed surface waves appeared a few seconds after the direct S -wave arrival and had very long duration. This result indicated that the long-duration later phases were generated not by multireflected S waves, but by basin-induced surface waves.     

Characteristics of secondary circulations over an inhomogeneous surface simulated with large-eddy simulation

Large-eddy simulation is used to study secondary circulations in the convective boundary layer modulated as a result of horizontally varying surface properties and surface heat fluxes over flat terrain. The presence of heat flux heterogeneity and its alignment with respect to geostrophic wind influences the formation, strength and orientation of organized thermals. Results show boundary-attached roll formation along heat flux maxima in the streamwise direction. The streamwise organization of the updrafts and downdrafts formed downwind of heterogeneities leads to counter-rotating secondary circulations in the crosswind plane. The distribution of resolved-scale pressure deviations shows large pressure gradients in the crosswind plane. Spanwise and vertical velocity variances and heat flux profiles depict considerable spatial variability compared to a homogeneous forest simulation. Secondary circulations are observed for various ambient wind scenarios parallel and perpendicular to heterogeneities. In the presence of increased wind speed, thermals emerging from the heat flux heterogeneity are elongated, and organize along and downwind of large-scale heterogeneity in the streamwise direction. Simulation with a reduced heat flux shows a shallower circulation with a lower aspect ratio. Point measurements of heat flux inside the roll circulation could be overestimated by up to 15–25% compared to a homogeneous case.     

Climatic impacts of historical wetland drainage in Switzerland

The effects of historical land-use and land-cover changes on the climate of the Swiss Plateau in the different seasons were investigated. In the 19th century, a civil engineering project was initiated to reshape the lake and river system on the Swiss Plateau in order to ban the frequent flooding during extreme weather events. The landscape modifications consisted primarily of a conversion of wetlands with extended peat soils into a highly productive agricultural landscape. Historical maps (1800–1850) served as a basis for the reconstruction of the past land use. The “Lokal-Modell” of the Consortium for Small-Scale Modelling was used to conduct eight one-month long high-resolution simulations (1.5 × 1.5 km²) with present and past landscape conditions. The modified soil and surface properties led to distinctly altered energy and moisture exchanges at the surface and as a consequence affected the local and regional climate. The climatic changes show different characteristics and magnitudes in the cold (October – March) as compared to the warm season (April – September). The landscape modifications led to an average daytime cooling between −0.12 °C (January) and −0.61 °C (April) and a night-time warming of 0.19 °C−0.34 °C. The differences in the mean monthly temperatures show a warming of 0.1 °C−0.2 °C in the cold season and a cooling of similar magnitude in most of the study area in the warm season. The modification of the radiation budget and the surface energy balance distinctly affected the convective activity in the study area in the warm season, but had only a weak effect on convectivity in the cold season. The cloud coverage in the warm season is therefore distinctly reduced compared to the past.     

城市区域南北朝向室内表面温度特征

使用12月、4月、8月昆明城市区建筑物室内小气候的观测资料,分析了室内不同方位的墙体表面温度的特征、变化规律及差异。结果表明：南北朝向房屋不同内壁表面温度存在显著的时间和季节变化,4月和8月内壁表面温度较高,12月较低;12月室内表面温度变化受房屋朝向影响十分显著,4月和8月影响较小;南屋12月夜间S壁表面温度最大,昼间E壁最小;4月和8月则反之,夜间E壁表面温度最大,昼间S壁最小;北屋3个月份内夜间E壁表面温度均最大,昼间N壁最小。以上所得结果可为探讨房屋微气候特征和形成机制、原因,建筑物的合理设计和规划,以及改善人们居住环境的深入研究提供依据,并且为其它地区的相关研究提供参考。     

反演寿县TMI微波频率的地表比辐射率

利用一个微波辐射传输模式，晴天下的大气探测廓线，地面的部分观测资料以及卫星观测的亮温，计算了淮河流域能量和水循环实验(HUBEx)中，寿县地区的热带降雨观测卫星微波成像仪(TRMM／TMI)微波频率的地表比辐射率。通过比较所计算的微波地表比辐射率随地表状况的改变，发现地表微波比辐射率随地表状况的变化存在敏感性，并且其变化是合理的。本中，地表肤温设定等于地表空气温度，并且仅计算了寿县的地表比辐射率，在HUBEx区域上的地表比辐射率的计算需要更多的观测资料。     

Recent Progresses in Atmospheric Remote Sensing Research in China-- Chinese National Report on Atmospheric Remote Sensing Research in China during 1999-2003

Progresses of atmospheric remote sensing research in China during 1999-2003 are summarily introduced.This research includes: (1) microwave remote sensing of the atmosphere; (2) Lidar remote sensing; (3)remote sensing of aerosol optical properties; and (4) other research related to atmospheric remote sensing,including GPS remote sensing of precipitable water vapor and radiation model development.     

城市下垫面反照率变化对北京市热岛过程的影响——个例分析

随着城市的不断发展,城区地表反照率等下垫面物理特征和属性会发生明显的变化,进而会对城市热岛等大气环境形成影响.文中使用中国气象科学研究院开发的新一代数值天气预报模式(GRAPES),针对2004年10月北京一次重空气污染事件中的典型城市热岛过程,分别设计了两种数值试验方案(1) 对照试验,使用模式缺省的城区下垫面反照率参数,取值0.18;(2) 敏感性试验,参考同期中国科学院大气物理研究所铁塔280 m高度下垫面反照率观测事实,将北京区域城市类型下垫面反照率减小至0.15.通过对比两种试验方案在1 km水平分辨率下的24 h模拟结果,研究了城市下垫面反照率变化对北京地区城市热岛过程的影响.结果表明(1) GRAPES模式可成功模拟此次热岛过程中城区和郊区近地面温度的日变化趋势;(2)城市下垫面反照率的变化对城市热岛的发展非常重要,城市反照率下降0.03会使城市热岛强度增强0.8 ℃左右,结果也更接近实况.这说明随着城市发展引起的地表反照率减小有利于城市热岛强度增加;(3) 通过分析地表的长波辐射发现,在城市区域较小反照率情形下,城区的长波辐射始终比郊区大,有利于热岛的形成;同时也有利于城区近地层的风场辐合增加,对此次污染过程的发展是有利的.     

Water on an urban planet: Urbanization and the reach of urban water infrastructure

Urban growth is increasing the demand for freshwater resources, yet surprisingly the water sources of the world's large cities have never been globally assessed, hampering efforts to assess the distribution and causes of urban water stress. We conducted the first global survey of the large cities’ water sources, and show that previous global hydrologic models that ignored urban water infrastructure significantly overestimated urban water stress. Large cities obtain 78 ± 3% of their water from surface sources, some of which are far away: cumulatively, large cities moved 504 billion liters a day (184 km³ yr⁻¹) a distance of 27,000 ± 3800 km, and the upstream contributing area of urban water sources is 41% of the global land surface. Despite this infrastructure, one in four cities, containing $4.8 ± 0.7 trillion in economic activity, remain water stressed due to geographical and financial limitations. The strategic management of these cities’ water sources is therefore important for the future of the global economy.     

A New Scheme for Predicting Leaf Onset in Summer-Green Vegetation in the Northern Hemisphere

A modified thermal time model(MTM) was developed to reproduce the leaf onset for summer-green vegetation in the Northern Hemisphere. The model adopts the basic concept of a thermal time model(TM) in that leaf onset is primarily triggered by growing degree days(GDD). Based on global phenology data derived from satellite observations, a new parameterization for the critical model parameter Tb(i.e., baseline temperature for GDD calculation) has been introduced, and the spatial distribution of Tb was calculated. Simulations of leaf onset during 1982–2000 in the range 30–90°N showed a significant improvement of MTM over the standard TM model with constant Tb. The mean error and mean absolute error of the climatological simulation were 1.11 and 6.8 days, respectively, and 90% of the model error(5th and 95 th percentiles) was between-12.4 and 13.7 days.