Impacts of the South China Sea Throughflow on seasonal and interannual variations of the Indonesian Throughflow

Impacts of the South China Sea Throughflow (SCST) on seasonal and interannual variations of the Indonesian Throughflow are studied by comparing outputs from ocean general circulation model (OGCM) experiments with and without the SCST. The observed subsurface maximum in the southward flow through the Makassar Strait is simulated only when the SCST, which is driven by the large-scale wind, is allowed in the model. The mean volume and heat transport by the Makassar Strait Throughflow are reduced by 1.7 Sv and 0.19 PW, respectively, by the existence of the SCST in the model. The difference is particularly remarkable during boreal winter when the SCST reaches its seasonal maximum. Furthermore, the SCST is strengthened during El Niño, leading to the weakening in the southward volume and heat transport through the Makassar Strait by 0.37 Sv and 0.05 PW, respectively. These findings from the OGCM experiments suggest that the SCST may play an important role in climate variability of the Indo-Pacific Ocean.     

Impacts of cumulus momentum transport on MJO simulation

Vertical cumulus momentum transport is an important physical process in the tropical atmosphere and plays a key role in the evolution of the tropical atmospheric system. This paper focuses on the impact of the vertical cumulus momentum transport on Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) simulation in two global climate models (GCMs). The Tiedtke cumulus parameterization scheme is applied to both GCMs [CAM2 and Spectral Atmospheric general circulation Model of LASG/IAP (SAMIL)]. It is found that the MJO simulation ability might be influenced by the vertical cumulus momentum transport through the cumulus parameterization scheme. However, the use of vertical momentum transport in different models provides different results. In order to improve model's MJO simulation ability, we must introduce vertical cumulus momentum transport in a more reasonable way into models. Furthermore, the coherence of the parameterization and the underlying model also need to be considered.     

Factors contributing to the development of extreme North Atlantic cyclones and their relationship with the NAO

The occurrence of extreme cyclones is analysed in terms of their relationship to the NAO phase and the dominating environmental variables controlling their intensification. These are latent energy (equivalent potential temperature 850 hPa is used as an indicator), upper-air baroclinicity, horizontal divergence and jet stream strength. Cyclones over the North Atlantic are identified and tracked using a numerical algorithm, permitting a detailed analysis of their life cycles. Extreme cyclones are selected as the 10% most severe in terms of intensity. Investigations focus on the main strengthening phase of each cyclone. The environmental factors are related to the NAO, which affects the location and orientation of the cyclone tracks, thus explaining why extreme cyclones occur more (less) frequently during strong positive (negative) NAO phases. The enhanced number of extreme cyclones in positive NAO phases can be explained by the larger area with suitable growth conditions, which is better aligned with the cyclone tracks and is associated with increased cyclone life time and intensity. Moreover, strong intensification of cyclones is frequently linked to the occurrence of extreme values of growth factors in the immediate vicinity of the cyclone centre. Similar results are found for ECHAM5/OM1 for present day conditions, demonstrating that relationships between the environment factors and cyclones are also valid in the GCM. For future climate conditions (following the SRES A1B scenario), the results are similar, but a small increase of the frequency of extreme values is detected near the cyclone cores. On the other hand, total cyclone numbers decrease by 10% over the North Atlantic. An exception is the region near the British Isles, which features increased track density and intensity of extreme cyclones irrespective of the NAO phase. These changes are associated with an intensified jet stream close to Europe. Moreover, an enhanced frequency of explosive developments over the British Isles is found, leading to more frequent windstorms affecting Europe.

近42年来我国北方冬半年寒潮频次的第一模态及其与北极涛动的相关分析

This study examined wintertime （November-April） cold wave frequency （CWF） in northern China during the last 42 years and its association with Arctic Oscillation （AO） through analysis of daily mean surface temperature from 280 stations across northern China and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts （ECMWF） 40-Year Re-analysis ERA-40 data. The leading empirical orthogonal function EOF mode of wintertime CWF （CWF-EOF1） indicates an identical signal over most northern China, with the characteristic trend of linear decline for the leading principal component （CWF-PC1）. After the linear trend is removed, remarkable inter-annual variability is found to be the dominant feature of the CWF-PC1. The regression map for sea level pressure based on CWF-PC1 corresponds to the negative phase of AO. Correlation analysis further proves that CWF-PC1 has a significant negative correlation with AO at the inter-annual time scale. The relationship between AO and global surface air temperature is also investigated in order to understand its association with cold air activity over East Asia, and it is suggested that the anomalies of atmospheric circulation in Siberia may serve as a bridge for interaction between AO and CWF in northern China during wintertime.     

交叉小波变换在区域气候分析中的应用

将交叉谱与小波变换分析方法相结合,与传统的交叉谱方法相比,交叉小波变换方法用于区域气候变化与大气环流系统之间耦合振荡行为的相关分析更具优越性,不仅可以弥补经典交叉谱分析方法存在的缺陷,而且能够发挥小波变换在时频两域都具有表征气候信号局部化特征的作用;该方法具有较强的耦合信号分辨能力,便于描述耦合信号在时频域中分布状况的优点。采用交叉小波变换分析北极涛动指数(AOI)距平与河南省月平均降水量距平、气温距平序列之间的联合统计特征及其在时频域中的相关关系,根据小波互相关系数、交叉小波凝聚谱和小波位相谱分析北极涛动对河南省气候变化的可能影响。应用结果表明:河南省降水量和气温变化与AOI之间存在着多时间尺度的显著相关振荡,年代际尺度周期上的互相关系数明显大于年际尺度周期,相关程度随耦合振荡频率的增大而减小,相关显著性取决于两者的时频域联合统计特征,时域中小波互相关系数、小波凝聚谱和小波位相谱的分布具有明显的局部化特征;说明北极涛动年际和年代际异常对河南省气候变化具有显著影响。     

厄尔尼诺持续时间与大气环流异常形势

针对不同持续时间的El Nio事件,进行了大尺度大气环流及其演变的合成分析研究.其结果清楚地表明,不同持续时间的El Nio事件的发生、发展和消亡过程,对流层低层风场和对流层高层速度势场的距平都有极为显著差异.分析得到了对El Nio事件的发生和消亡起着重要作用的大气环流异常形势.还发现对于持续时间较长的El Nio事件,东北太平洋上850hPa异常气旋性环流减弱和西北太平洋上异常反气旋性环流增强较慢,因此赤道太平洋异常西风维持的时间也较长,而与澳大利亚冬季风加强相关联的南半球西太平洋的速度势正距平的维持,对El Nio的持续也起一定作用;对应持续时间较短的El Nio事件,西太平洋上200hPa速度势正距平的迅速东移,对El Nio的迅速消亡起重要作用.     

冬季黑潮延伸体海温异常结构及其与热带太平洋海温变化关系分析

基于NASA遥感系统提供的2003~2015年全球高分辨率海表温度资料,应用经验正交函数分析、时滞相关分析等方法,对北太平洋冬季黑潮延伸体区海温异常特征及其与热带海表温度的可能关系进行了初步分析。研究发现,冬季延伸体区的海温异常主要表现为两类结构特征,其一为上游区域发展型,包括海盆尺度一致性变化的季节模态和纬向反位相的收缩型结构;其二为纬向延展型,包括分叉东扩结构和通道东扩结构,且该两结构型在2010年前反位相,使得2006年前暖异常东扩路径基本控制在36°N以南,其后至2010年期间,暖异常东扩路径偏北,而2010年后结构型转为同位相,暖异常东扩路径偏北。分叉东扩结构表现为与热带海温变化紧密相关,进一步的时滞相关分析与合成分析表明,热带太平洋不同地区对中纬度海温分叉东扩的影响存在差异,Ni?o3区海温异常超前延伸体区分叉东扩模态约1~2个月,而Ni?o3.4区及Ni?o4区则与延伸体区海温分叉东扩保持前后各约3个月的宽谱同期负相关,或可表明El Ni?o的东部型和中部型对中纬度延伸体暖流分叉东扩存在超前和同期相关影响,且中部型影响更显著。     

印度洋不同海温模态对两类厄尔尼诺事件与我国南方秋季降水关系的影响

利用1951—2015年NOAA气候预测中心的SST扩展重建资料（ERSST V3b）、国家气候中心提供的我国160站月降水量资料、美国国家环境预报中心/大气研究中心（NCEP/NCAR）提供的各气压层的水平风速、垂直速度和比湿资料,研究了印度洋不同海温模态对两类厄尔尼诺事件与我国南方秋季降水关系的影响。结果表明,虽然东部型（中部型）厄尔尼诺年秋季我国长江以南地区降水偏多（少）,但当东部型厄尔尼诺与印度洋正偶极子同时发生年秋季,我国长江以南地区降水偏多的程度显著提高;当中部型厄尔尼诺与印度洋正偶极子同时发生年秋季,我国西南地区降水转为偏多,其他南方地区降水仍然偏少;当中部型厄尔尼诺与印度洋一致增暖型海温同时发生年秋季,我国整个长江以南地区降水偏少,且偏少的幅度要显著高于不考虑印度洋海温异常的情况。此外还对印度洋不同海温模态对两类厄尔尼诺事件与我国南方秋季降水关系的影响的环流成因进行了分析。     

Medium time-scale behaviour of adjacent embayed beaches: Influence of low energy external forcing

Medium term (decadal) beach profile response to external forcing was assessed on two adjacent embayed beaches (North and South Sands) in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. Both have contrasting physical and geological characteristics: a headland bay backed by dunes and a constrained embayment backed by geological promontories, promenades, walls and rock revetments. Paired t-tests showed significant changes at all cross-shore profile locations (95% confidence), with south and north shores respectively exhibiting falling and rising beach levels. South to north sediment transport was revealed by volumetric variation (r = 0.83), and longshore sediment distribution (r = 0.91). North Beach level variations lagged behind South Beach by one-year (r = 0.85). A reduction in high wind speed frequency, coincidental to spring tides, was correlated with falling South Beach levels (r = 0.87) and rising North Beach levels (r = −0.92). Heavily refracted Atlantic swells also have contrasting effects on these systems. Multiple regression models applied to beach level change for both systems showed high correlation (R² = 0.93 and 0.85 respectively), suggesting that swell wave period and strong north-westerly winds that occur during high spring tides had cumulative effects. Furthermore, variations in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index were correlated to cumulative changes in mean sea level, wind wave height and south-westerly winds (R² = 0.75). While NAO variations were linked to variations in South Beach morphology, it was insignificant on North Beach (r = −0.72 and −0.14 respectively). Cross-correlation analyses showed that North Beach morphological changes lagged behind NAO Index variation by one-year with much improved correlation (r = 0.77). A similar scenario existed when comparing Mean Sea level and beach level differences (r = −0.54 and −0.32 respectively). Similar behaviour should be exhibited at other worldwide embayments, and it is suggested that this work is repeated to establish specific responses, to will underpin intervention or no active intervention strategies.