Vertical distribution features of atmospheric water vapour in the Po valley area

Two sets of radiosounding measurements, taken at different hours from some stations in the Po Valley area, were examined in order to obtain the values of precipitable waterw and determine the shapes of the vertical distribution curves of absolute humidity. From these curves, we calculated the bestfit values of scale heightsH ₁ andH ₂ in the 0÷5 km and 5÷10 km altitude intervals, respectively. The analysis of the radiosounding data clearly shows that parametersw andH ₁ are closely related to the evolutionary features of the meteorological conditions on synoptic scale and are influenced, to a lesser extent, by the diurnal variations in the atmospheric ground layer. Seasonal average curves of temperature and absolute humidity, as functions of altitude, were also defined from the radiosounding measurements taken at various hours of the day. Moreover, interpolation methods in time (applied to a 12-hour range) and in space (range of about 300 km) were proposed for determining parametersw andH ₁ from the radiosounding measurements taken at different hours from the same station or from different stations at the same hour. Reliability tests, made by comparing the same station or from different stations at the same hour. Reliability tests, made by comparing the values given by the interpolation methods with those directly obtained from the radiosounding measurements, show that these evaluations ofw andH ₁ are affected by standard errors of estimate, which are comparable to the errors usually made in analyzing the radiosounding data.     

The Bear Brook Watershed in Maine: Multi-decadal whole-watershed experimental acidification

The Bear Brook Watershed in Maine (BBWM) is a long-term research site established to study the response of forest ecosystem function to environmental disturbances of chronic acidic deposition and ecosystem nitrogen enrichment. Starting in 1989, the West Bear (treated) watershed received bimonthly applications of ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] fertilizer from above the canopy, whereas East Bear (reference) received ambient deposition. The treatments were stopped in 2016, marking the beginning of the recovery phase. Research at the site has focused on soils, streams, and vegetation. Here, we describe data collected over three decades at the BBWM—input and stream output nutrient fluxes, quantitative soil pits and soil chemistry, and soil temperature and moisture.     

The impact of boreal autumn SST anomalies over the South Pacific on boreal winter precipitation over East Asia

The possible mechanism behind the variability in the dipole pattern of boreal winter precipitation over East Asia is analyzed in this study. The results show that the SST anomalies(SSTAs) over the South Pacific Ocean(SPO) in boreal autumn are closely related to the variability in the dipole pattern of boreal winter precipitation over East Asia. The physical link between the boreal autumn SPO SSTAs and the boreal winter East Asian precipitation dipole pattern is shown to mainly be the seasonal persistence of the SPO SSTAs themselves. The seasonal persistence of the SPO SSTAs can memorize and transport the signal of the boreal autumn SSTAs to the following winter, and then stimulates a meridional teleconnection pattern from the SH to the NH, resulting in a meridional dipole pattern of atmospheric circulation over East Asia in boreal winter. As a major influencing factor, this dipole pattern of the atmospheric circulation can finally lead to the anomalous precipitation dipole pattern over East Asia in boreal winter. These observed physical processes are further confirmed in this study through numerical simulation. The evidence from this study, showing the impact of the SPO SSTAs in boreal autumn,not only deepens our understanding of the variability in East Asian boreal winter precipitation, but also provides a potentially useful predictor for precipitation in the region.     

Surface rainfall and cloud budgets associated with mei-yu torrential rainfall over eastern China during June 2011

Surface rainfall and cloud budgets associated with three heavy rainfall events that occurred over eastern China during the mei-yu season in June 2011 were analyzed using 2D cumulus ensemble model simulation data.Model domain mean rainfall showed three peaks in response to three prescribed ascending motion maxima,primarily through the mean moisture convergence during the torrential rainfall period.Prescribed ascending motion throughout the troposphere produced strong convective rainfall during the first （9 June） and third （17-18 June） rainfall events,whereas strong prescribed ascending motion in the mid and upper troposphere and weak subsidence near the surface generated equally important stratiform and convective rainfall during the second rainfall event （14 June）.The analysis of surface rainfall budgets reveals that convective rainfall was associated with atmospheric drying during the first event and moisture convergence during the third event.Both stratiform and convective rainfall responded primarily to moisture convergence during the second event.An analysis of grid data shows that the first and third mean rainfall maxima had smaller horizontal scales of the precipitation system than the second.     

Biomass Burning in Southern Africa: Individual Particle Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols and Savanna Fire Samples

Ambient atmospheric aerosols and savanna fireparticulate emission samples from southern Africa werecharacterised in terms of particle classes and theirnumber abundance by electron probe X-ray microanalysis(EPXMA). About ten particle classes were identifiedfor each sample. The major classes werealuminosilicates and sea salts for ambient coarse(2–10 m equivalent aerodynamic diameter (EAD))samples, and K-S and S-only particles for ambient fine(<2 m EAD) samples. The K-S particles are oneof the major products of biomass burning. The EPXMAresults were found to be consistent with the resultsfrom bulk analyses on a sample by sample basis. Forsavanna fire fine samples, quantitative EPXMA revealedthat many particles had a composition of simple saltssuch as KCl. Some particles had a deviatingcomposition in the sense that more ionic species wereinvolved in sustaining the balance between cations andanions, and they were composite or mixed salts.Because of extensive processing during the atmospherictransport, the composition of the K-S particles in theambient samples was different from K₂SO₄,and such particles were enriched with S. The finepyrogenic KCl particles and the fine sea-saltparticles were much depleted in chlorine.     

横断山脉地区大气环流演变特征分析

应用Lamb-Jenkinson大气环流分型方法对横断山脉地区的8个经度×10个纬度范围内1948-2012年逐日平均的海平面气压场进行环流分型,由日平均海平面气压场算出6个环流指数（u、v、V、ξu、ξv、ξ）,并由此划分出27种不同的环流型。分型结果表明：横断山脉地区主要环流分型为E型、NE型、SE型、N型和C型,其频率分别为：21.4%、14.6%、13.7%、9.8%和9.5%;E和NE型环流频率逐渐增加,C型环流型频率逐渐减少。春季横断山脉地区主导环流比较繁琐;NE、N型为夏季的主要环流型,但E型环流在夏季的频率也相当大;秋季和冬季横断山脉地区的主导环流型都为E型和SE型。夏季主导环流型持续时间较长,冬季也是主导环流持续的时间较长,个别年份主导环流型持续时间超过了一个月,这主要与横断山脉地区复杂的地形有联系。     

长江中下游六省大气甲烷柱浓度时空分布

甲烷(CH₄)是造成气候变暖的主要温室气体之一。为了了解长江中下游水稻种植区CH₄浓度的分布情况,本次研究基于温室气体观测卫星(greenhousegasesobservingsatellite,GOSAT)和大气红外探测仪(atmospheric infraredsounder,AIRS)卫星反演的数据产品,对我国长江中下游六省大气CH₄柱浓度的时空分布特征进行了研究。研究结果表明,由GOSAT反演的长江中下游六省大气CH₄浓度呈逐年增长趋势,其年均浓度由2011年的1817×10^-9增长至2018年的1875×10^-9,高于东三省、华北平原和全国平均水平。区域平均年增长量为8.2×10^-9 a^-1。各省年际增长幅度略有差异,纬度偏低的江西、湖南和浙江三省大气CH₄浓度高且增长量偏大,纬度偏高的湖北、安徽和江苏三省大气CH₄浓度略低且增长量偏小。长江中下游六省大气CH...     

Covariations in oceanic dimethyl sulfide,its oxidation products and rain acidity at Amsterdam Island in the Southern Indian Ocean

Simultaneous measurements of rain acidity and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) at the ocean surface and in the atmosphere were performed at Amsterdam Island over a 4 year period. During the last 2 years, measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in the atmosphere and of methane sulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt-sulfate (nss-SO₄ ^2-) in rainwater were also performed. Covariations are observed between the oceanic and atmospheric DMS concentrations, atmospheric SO₂ concentrations, wet deposition of MSA, nss-SO₄ ^2-, and rain acidity. A comparable summer to winter ratio of DMS and SO₂ in the atmosphere and MSA in precipitation were also observed. From the chemical composition of precipitation we estimate that DMS oxidation products contribute approximately 40% of the rain acidity. If we consider the acidity in excess, then DMS oxidation products contribute about 55%.     

青藏高原春季土壤湿度异常与我国夏季降水的联系

利用 197-2014年 GLDAS-CLM(Global Land Data Assimilation System-the Community Land Mod-el)地表参量数据集、中国区域逐日观测资料格点化数据集(CN05.1)和ERA-nterim大气环流再分析数据,研究青藏高原5月(春季)土壤湿度的异常变化...     

Paleo‐fires and Atmospheric Oxygen Levels in the Latest Permian: Evidence from Maceral Compositions of Coals in Eastern Yunnan,Southern China

Inertinite maceral compositions of the Late Permian coals from three sections in the terrestrial and paralic settings of eastern Yunnan are analyzed in order to reveal the paleo-fire events and the atmospheric oxygen levels in the latest Permian. Although the macerals in the studied sections are generally dominated by vitrinite, the inertinite group makes up a considerable proportion. Its content increases upward from the beginning of the Late Permian to the coal seam near the Permian-Triassic boundary. Based on the microscopic features and the prevailing theory that inertinite is largely a by-product of paleo-fires, we suggest that the increasing upward trend of the inertinite abundance in the latest Permian could imply that the Late Permian peatland had suffered from frequent wildfires. Since ignition and burning depend on sufficient oxygen, a model-based calculation suggests that the O2 levels near the Wuchiapingian/Changhsingian boundary and the Permian-Triassic boundary are 27% and 28% respectively. This output adds supports to other discoveries made in the temporal marine and terrestrial sediments, and challenges the theories advocating hypoxia as a mechanism for the Permian-Triassic boundary crisis.