Tropical pacific decadal variability in subsurface temperature

The nature decadal variability of the equatorial Pacific subsurface temperature is examined in the control simulation with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory coupled model CM2.1.The dominant mode of the subsurface temperature variations in the equator Pacific features a 20-40 year period and is North-South asymmetric about the equator.Decadal variations of the thermocline are most pronounced in the southwest of the Tropical Pacific.Decadal variation of the north-south asymmetric Sea Surface wind in the tropical Pacific,especially in the South Pacific Convergence,is the dominant mechanism of the nature decadal variation of the subsurface temperature in the equatorial Pacific.     

Drift currents in the southern New Zealand region as derived from Lagrangian measurements and the remote sensing of sea‐surface temperature distributions

Four drift bottles, cast adrift south of the Subtropical Convergence at 48°S, 156°E in November 1980, landed within 123 days of release at a short stretch of coast north of Banks Peninsula. A high degree of coherence in the responsible drift pattern is indicated. The contemporary surface circulation inferred from satellite‐derived sea‐surface temperature distributions indicates that the bottles were entrained in a meridionally‐converging flow after drifting across the southern Tasman Sea without crossing the Convergence. They were prevented from further eastward drifting because of a marked southward flexing of the Convergence east of the Southland Current during February 1981. Because of local weather and tide effects, the bottles finally beached in Pegasus Bay.     

Chaotic dynamics analysis and control of iterative procedure of capacity spectrum method

The capacity spectrum method (CSM), capable of predicting the demands of forces and deformations of the inelastic system, has been applied in the ATC and FEMA guidelines. The deformation of an inelastic system is solved iteratively by using the equivalent linearization for CSM, which actually forms a nonlinear map or discrete dynamical system. However, the iterative procedure of CSM did not converge for some inelastic systems, and the complicated dynamical phenomena for the solutions such as the periodic oscillation, period-doubling bifurcation and chaos may occur, which were shown in the bifurcation plots of iterative map of the simplified CSM in ATC40 and FEMA440. This paper presents a novel method to analyze and control the non-convergence of the iterative procedure of CSM from the perspective of chaotic dynamics. The Lyapunov exponent of the dynamical system is employed to identify the evolutional state and stability of solutions. Finally, the stability transformation method as a simple, versatile and effective chaos feedback control approach is applied to control the convergent failure of CSM in ATC40 and FEMA440. The numerical results illustrate that the stability transformation method can capture the desired fixed points of the dynamical system and obtain the stable convergent solutions of CSM.     

Estimation of Sill Matrices in the Linear Model of Coregionalization

When using least squares to fit the linear model of coregionalization to multivariate geostatistical data, the sill matrices for the different regions must be estimated, subject to the constraint that they be non-negative definite. In 1992, Goulard and Voltz proposed and empirically examined an iterative algorithm for doing this. Although no proof was given for its convergence or for the uniqueness of the solution to the problem, the algorithm has subsequently been extensively and successfully used. In this paper, we prove that the minimization problem, in fact, has a unique solution and that the algorithm is guaranteed to converge to it from any starting point. We also discuss the effect of the starting point on the speed of convergence.     

末次盛冰期太平洋赤道辐合带对暖池外热带海表温度变化的敏感性

利用美国NCAR CAM3大气环流模式,分析了末次盛冰期（LGM）两个不同的热带海表温度重建方案中,北半球冬季热带中、西太平洋对流活动及大气环流对暖池外（赤道东太平洋和热带大西洋）热带SST异常的敏感性。结果表明：  1）SST异常首先引起大气环流的改变。  赤道东太平洋对流层下沉增强,而作为经向补偿,副热带东太平洋上升运动增强,其中南半球尤为明显,同时南半球热带中、西太平洋上升运动增强,加剧了该区纬向逆时针环流,说明冰期热带海气耦合过程受气候背景场（如SST）影响很大;   2）大气环流格局改变引起热带中西太平洋的大气加热、对流活动、表层风场及降雨的巨大变化。  140°E以西的婆罗洲和菲律宾区域,总的大气加热减少是由于对流与辐射加热减少所致,对应于该区风场辐散和降雨减少;   而140°E以东的南半球热带中、西太平洋,大气吸收热量增加,对流与辐射加热均增强,总降雨量也随之增加,反映该区赤道辐合带南移并增强。该项研究为探索热带太平洋在冰期/间冰期旋回中的古海洋学变化提供了新的数据支撑。此外,不同重建SST对赤道辐合带的影响比较大,因此利用重建SST进行数值模拟或者利用耦合模式研究LGM热带海气相互作用时,应该十分重视全球热带SST分布特征。     

Seismic site effects by an optimized 2D BE/FE method I. Theory, numerical optimization and application to topographical irregularities

This paper deals with the evaluation of seismic site effects due to the local topographical and geotechnical characteristics. The amplification of surface motions is calculated by a numerical method combining finite elements in the near field and boundary elements in the far field (FEM/BEM). The numerical technique is improved by time truncation. In the first part of this article, the accuracy and the relevance of this optimized method are presented. Moreover, parametric studies are done on slopes, ridges and canyons to characterize topographical site effects. The second part deals with sedimentary valleys. The complexity of the combination of geometrical and sedimentary effects is underlined. Extensive parametrical studies are done to discriminate the topographical and geotechnical effects on seismic ground movement amplifications in two-dimensional irregular configurations. Characteristic coefficients are defined to predict the amplifications of horizontal displacements. The accuracy of this quantitative evaluation technique is tested and discussed.     

Higher and lowest order mixed finite element approximation of subsurface flow problems with solutions of low regularity

In this work we study mixed finite element approximations of Richards’ equation for simulating variably saturated subsurface flow and simultaneous reactive solute transport. Whereas higher order schemes have proved their ability to approximate reliably reactive solute transport (cf., e.g. [Bause M, Knabner P. Numerical simulation of contaminant biodegradation by higher order methods and adaptive time stepping. Comput Visual Sci 7;2004:61–78]), the Raviart–Thomas mixed finite element method (RT₀) with a first order accurate flux approximation is popular for computing the underlying water flow field (cf. [Bause M, Knabner P. Computation of variably saturated subsurface flow by adaptive mixed hybrid finite element methods. Adv Water Resour 27;2004:565–581, Farthing MW, Kees CE, Miller CT. Mixed finite element methods and higher order temporal approximations for variably saturated groundwater flow. Adv Water Resour 26;2003:373–394, Starke G. Least-squares mixed finite element solution of variably saturated subsurface flow problems. SIAM J Sci Comput 21;2000:1869–1885, Younes A, Mosé R, Ackerer P, Chavent G. A new formulation of the mixed finite element method for solving elliptic and parabolic PDE with triangular elements. J Comp Phys 149;1999:148–167, Woodward CS, Dawson CN. Analysis of expanded mixed finite element methods for a nonlinear parabolic equation modeling flow into variably saturated porous media. SIAM J Numer Anal 37;2000:701–724]). This combination might be non-optimal. Higher order techniques could increase the accuracy of the flow field calculation and thereby improve the prediction of the solute transport. Here, we analyse the application of the Brezzi-Douglas-Marini element (BDM₁) with a second order accurate flux approximation to elliptic, parabolic and degenerate problems whose solutions lack the regularity that is assumed in optimal order error analyses. For the flow field calculation a superiority of the BDM₁ approach to the RT₀ one is observed, which however is less significant for the accompanying solute transport.     

Comparison of surface wind stress characteristics over the Tropical Atlantic (10°N–40°S) in fields derived from the UWM/COADS, NCEP/NCAR and QuikSCAT datasets

A comparison of monthly wind stress derived from winds of NCEP/NCAR (National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research) reanalysis and UWM/COADS (The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee/Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set) dataset (1950–1993), and of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and satellite-based QuikSCAT dataset (2000–2006), is made over the South Atlantic (10°N–40°S). On a mean seasonal scale, the comparison shows that these three wind stress datasets have qualitatively similar patterns. Quantitatively, in general, from about the equator to 20°S in the mid-Atlantic the wind stress values are stronger in NCEP/NCAR data than those in UWM/COADS data. On the other hand, in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) area the wind stress values in NCEP/NCAR data are slightly weaker than those in UWM/COADS data. In the South Atlantic, between 20° S–40°S, the QuikSCAT dataset presents complex circulation structures which are not present in NCEP/NCAR and UWM/COADS data. The wind stress is used in a numerical ocean model to simulate ocean currents, which are compared to a drifting-buoy observed climatology. The modeled South Equatorial Current agrees better with observations between March–May and June–August. Between December–February, the South Equatorial Current from UWM/COADS and QuikSCAT experiments is stronger and more developed than that from NCEP/NCAR experiment. The Brazil Current, in turn, is better represented in the QuikSCAT experiment. Comparison of the annual migration of ITCZ at 20° and 30°W in UWM/COADS and NCEP/NCAR data sources show that the southernmost position of ITCZ at 30°W in February, March and April coincides with the rainy season in NE Brazil, while the northernmost position of ITCZ at 20°W in August coincides with the maximum rainfall of Northwest Africa.     

一次由“列车效应”引发的梅雨锋暴雨研究

利用Micaps软件系统、多普勒雷达和NCEP 1°×1°再分析等资料,对2011年6月14日江西北部地区一次超历史极值的短时强降水过程的天气尺度系统和中小尺度系统及其两者关系进行了分析。结果表明,南支槽移动缓慢、中层干冷空气入侵、强盛的西南急流、高低空急流耦合及地面辐合线维持是造成此次极端降水的主要影响系统。反射率因子表现为低质心、垂直发展旺盛、高效率的强回波连续经过同一地区;同时,回波具有明显的后向传播特征和热带降水回波特点;径向速度表现出锋面过境特征,"牛眼"结构表明了低空西南气流较强。当暖湿急流输送方向与地面辐合线平行时,孟加拉湾的水汽被低槽前西南气流源源不断地输送到辐合线上空,使辐合线稳定、维持或发展。干冷气流入侵有利于对流单体的产生;大风速区和辐合区的发展有利于中小尺度对流单体及其次级垂直环流的维持、发展,且这些次级环流规则排列,从而"列车效应"得以维持。有组织的多单体风暴活动、地面静止锋及其附近多条中尺度地面辐合线长时间维持,是形成"列车效应"的主要原因;降水回波处于东北—西南向的高能舌北侧移动,江西东北部特殊的地形作用促使"列车效应"形成和维持。     

南海ITCZ异常变化及其对非移入性南海热带气旋(TC)活动的可能影响

利用美国NOAA提供的向外长波辐射（OLR）资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料以及上海台风所提供的热带气旋（TC）资料等,通过定义一个描写南海范围内（5°N~20°N,105°E~120°E）的热带辐合带（Intertropical Convergence Zone,简称ITCZ）强度指数,研究了南海ITCZ年际和年代际异常变化特征及其对非移入性南海TC[South China Sea-generated tropical cyclone（SCS-G TC）]活动的可能影响,并从异常强、弱南海ITCZ年份的大气环流背景和海表温度等变化特征来尝试揭示南海TC的活动规律。结果表明:在年际和年代际时间尺度上,南海ITCZ强度指数与南海TC的生成频数存在显著的负相关关系,长期趋势变化间的关系存在不同。南海ITCZ的强、弱显著地影响到南海TC的生成频数。强南海ITCZ年,南海TC频数偏多;弱南海ITCZ年,南海ITCZ频数偏少。强、弱南海ITCZ年对于南海TC的生成源地、TC的维持时间以及路径和强度的影响不显著。进一步分析表明,动力和环境条件方面,强、弱南海ITCZ年可能差异较大。异常偏强年,对流层低层出现气旋性环流,上层出现反气旋性环流;季风槽在南海区域偏强、位置偏南。与OLR表示的深对流区相配合,存在暖的海表温度和低层强烈的正涡度和强辐合,在高层存在相应的强的气流辐散,形成了极有利于南海TC发生发展的条件。弱南海ITCZ年则相反。另外,ITCZ强年,太平洋异常SST（Sea Surface Temperature）出现为La Ni?a特征,南海ITCZ区对流活跃,强度偏强。反之,ITCZ弱年则表现为El Ni?o特征,南海ITCZ关键区的对流强度偏弱。这些结果可为深刻认识南海TC的生成规律以及对南海TC的预报提供线索。