Mountain range specific analog weather forecast model for northwest Himalaya in India

Mountain range specific analog weather forecast model is developed utilizing surface weather observations of reference stations in each mountain range in northwest Himalaya (NW-Himalaya). The model searches past similar cases from historical dataset of reference observatory in each mountain range based on current situation. The searched past similar cases of each mountain range are used to draw weather forecast for that mountain range in operational weather forecasting mode, three days in advance. The developed analog weather forecast model is tested with the independent dataset of more than 717 days (542 days for Pir Panjal range in HP) of the past 4 winters (2003–2004 to 2006–2007). Independent test results are reasonably good and suggest that there is some possibility of forecasting weather in operational weather forecasting mode employing analog method over different mountain ranges in NW-Himalaya. Significant difference in overall accuracy of the model is found for prediction of snow day and no-snow day over different mountain ranges, when weather is predicted under snow day and no-snow day weather forecast categories respectively. In the same mountain range, significant difference is also found in overall accuracy of the model for prediction of snow day and no-snow day for different areas. This can be attributed to their geographical position and topographical differences. The analog weather forecast model performs better than persistence and climatological forecast for day-1 predictions for all the mountain ranges except Karakoram range in NW-Himalaya. The developed analog weather forecast model may help as a guidance tool for forecasting weather in operational weather forecasting mode in different mountain ranges in NW-Himalaya.     

Partial transformation of gabbro to coesite-bearing eclogite from Yangkou, the Sulu terrane, eastern China

An ultra-high-pressure (UHP) metamorphic slab at Yangkou Beach near Qingdao in the Sulu region of China consists of blocks of eclogite facies metagabbro, metagranitoid, ultramafic rock and mylonitic orthogneisses enclosed in granitic gneiss. A gradational sequence from incipiently metamorphosed gabbro to completely recrystallized coesite eclogite formed at ultra-high-pressures was identified in a single 30 m block; metagabbro is preserved in the core whereas coesite eclogite occurs along the block margins. The metagabbro contains an igneous assemblage of Pl+Aug+Opx+Qtz+Bt+Ilm/Ti-Mag; it shows relict magmatic textures and reaction coronas. Fine-grained garnet developed along boundaries between plagioclase and other phases; primary plagioclase broke down to Ab+Ky+Ms+Zo±Grt±Amp. Augite is rimmed by sodic augite or omphacite, whereas orthopyroxene is rimmed by a corona of Cum±Act and Omp+Qtz layers or only Omp+Qtz. In transitional rocks, augite and orthopyroxene are totally replaced by omphacite, and the lower-pressure assemblage Ab+Ky+Phn+Zo+Grt coexists with domains of Omp (Jd_70–73)+Ky±Phn in pseudomorphs after plagioclase. Both massive and weakly deformed coesite-bearing eclogites contain Omp+Ky+Grt+Phn+Coe/Qtz+Rt, and preserve a faint gabbroic texture. Coesite inclusions in garnet and omphacite exhibit limited conversion to palisade quartz; some intergranular coesite and quartz pseudomorphs after coesite also occur. Assemblages of the coronal stage, transitional and UHP peak occurred at about 540±50 °C at c. 13 kbar, 600–800 °C at ≥15–25 kbar and 800–850 °C at >30 kbar, respectively. Garnet from the coronal- through the transitional- to the eclogite-stage rocks show a decrease in almandine and an increase in grossular±pyrope components; garnet in low-grade rocks contains higher MnO and lower pyrope components. The growth textures of garnet within pseudomorphs after plagioclase or along grain boundaries between plagioclase and other phases are complex; the application of garnet zoning to estimate P–T should be carried out with caution. Some garnet enclosing quartz aggregates as inclusions shows radial growth boundaries; these quartz aggregates, as well as other primary and low-P phases, persisted metastably at UHP conditions due to sluggish reactions resulting from the lack of fluid during prograde and retrograde P–T evolution.     

Analysis of agricultural drought in Iiuni,Eastern Kenya: application of a Markov model

In semi‐arid Kenya, episodes of agricultural droughts of varying severity and duration occur. The occurrence of these agricultural droughts is associated with seasonal rainfall variability and can be reflected by seasonal soil moisture deficits that significantly affect crop performance and yield. The objective of this study was to stochastically simulate the behaviour of dry and wet spells and rainfall amounts in Iiuni watershed, Kenya. The stochastic behaviour of the longest dry and wet spells (runs) and largest rainfall amounts were simulated using a Markov (order 1) model. There were eight raingauge stations within the watershed. The entire analysis was carried out using probability parameters, i.e. mean, variance, simple and conditional probabilities of dry and rain days. An analysis of variance test (ANOVA ) was used to establish significant differences in rainfall characteristics between the eight stations. An analysis of the number of rain days and rainfall amount per rain day was done on a monthly basis to establish the distribution and reliability of seasonal rainfall. The graphic comparison of simulated cumulative distribution functions (Cdfs) of the longest spells and largest rainfall amounts showed Markovian dependence or persistence. The longest dry spells could extend to 24 days in the long rainy season and 12 in the short rainy season. At 50% (median) probability level, the largest rainfall amounts were 91 mm for the long rainy season and 136 mm for the short rainy season. The short rains were more reliable for crop production than the long rains. The Markov model performed well and gave adequate simulations of the spells and rainfall amounts under semi‐arid conditions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trends in timing of low stream flows in Canada: impact of autocorrelation and long‐term persistence

The annual timing of river flows might indicate changes that are climate related. In this study, trends in timing of low flows for the Reference Hydrometric Basin Network were investigated under three different hypotheses namely: independence, short‐term persistence (STP) and long‐term persistence (LTP). Both summer and winter time series were characterized with scaling behaviour providing strong evidence of LTP. The Mann–Kendall trend test was modified to account for STP and LTP, and used to detect trends in timing of low flows. It was found that considering STP and LTP resulted in a significant decrease in the number of detected trends. Numerical analysis showed that the timing of summer 7‐day low flows exhibited significant trends in 16, 9 and 7% of stations under independence, STP and LTP assumptions, respectively. Timing of summer low flow shifted toward later dates in western Canada, whereas the majority of stations in the east half of the country (except Atlantic Provinces) experienced a shift toward earlier dates. Timing of winter low flow experienced significant trends in 20, 12, and 6% of stations under independence, STP and LTP assumptions, respectively. Shift in timing of winter low flow toward earlier dates was dominant all over the country where it shifted toward earlier dates in up to 3/4 of time series with significant trends. There are local patterns of upward significant/insignificant trends in southeast, southwest and northern Canada. This study shows that timing of low flows in Canada is time dependent; however, addressing the full complexity of memory properties (i.e. short term vs long term) of a natural process is beyond the scope of this study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climate-driven trends in mean and high flows from a network of reference stations in Ireland

Abstract

This paper introduces a reference hydrometric network for Ireland and examines the derived flow archive for evidence of climate-driven trends in mean and high river flows. The Mann-Kendall and Theil-Sen tests are applied to eight hydroclimatic indicators for fixed and variable (start and end date) records. Spatial coherence and similarities of trends with rainfall suggest they are climate driven; however, large temporal variability makes it difficult to discern widely-expected anthropogenic climate change signals at this point in time. Trends in summer mean flows and recent winter means are at odds with those expected for anthropogenic climate change. High-flow indicators show strong and persistent positive trends, are less affected by variability and may provide earlier climate change signals than mean flows. The results highlight the caution required in using fixed periods of record for trend analysis, recognizing the trade-off between record length, network density and geographic coverage.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor H. Lins

Citation Murphy, C., Harrigan, S., Hall, J., and Wilby, R.L., 2013. Climate-driven trends in mean and high flows from a network of reference stations in Ireland. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (4), 755–772.     

基于人工神经网络的热带气旋路径预报试验

利用气候持续性因子,分别采用神经网络法及最小二乘回归法,建立西北太平洋地区12、24、36和48h热带气旋路径预报模型。通过对1992～2002年资料的试报,人工神经网络方法优于回归方法,且这种优势在预报时效较长时更明显。人工神经网络法48h的预报平均绝对误差比回归法减小27．56km,预报水平提高7％。     

中国东部降水的极端特性及其气候特征分析

基于1960—2017年观测数据分析了中国东部降水极端特性的地区差异、季节和气候学特征及变化格局,探讨了与全球变化和区域气候变率的关联性。结果表明,极端性降水的演化与降水均值或总量的气候型态、降水集中性和持续性密切关联,尤其雨带迁移和雨型演替是影响极端性降水地区差异与时空演变的根本因素。气候变化背景下,中国东部极端性降水强度和频次变化存在较好的协同一致性,近60年来在长江以南,强度加大的地区极端性降水亦趋于频发。同时,两者季节特征和地区差异明显。春季东北地区及华北北部极端性降水强度和频次均有明显增加。近60年来夏季极端性降水强度和频次的趋势变化在长江以南均以增加为主,以北以下降为主。秋季极端性降水强度和频次在华北地区亦呈增加趋势。冬季华南和江南地区极端性降水强度和频次趋势变化均以增加为主。华北地区及以北和内蒙古的西部冬季极端性降水强度增加显著,但频次变化不明显。而东北地区北部冬季极端性降水在强度减小的情形下,其频次仍趋显著增加。特别是中国降水主要集中在夏季,自1980年代以来中国东部夏季多雨带南移,雨型以北方型和中间型占优,转换为以长江型和华南型为主,多雨带的极端性降水群发性强,影响指数显著增加。此外,太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)暖位相及ENSO暖事件期间,长江以北夏季极端性降水的影响指数会显著降低。而东亚夏季风的减弱则有利于长江中下游等地区夏季极端性降水的频发和群发,极端性降水强度加大,其影响的危险性趋于增强。      

IPCC耦合模式对北太平洋海-气系统冬季重现的模拟

冬季重现(再现)是中高纬度大尺度海表温度重要的持续性特征,是热带外海洋特有的现象。北太平洋大气环流也存在这一现象,它可能会强迫产生这一海域海温的冬季重现。本文利用IPCC 20C3M耦合模式资料,评估了耦合模式模拟北太平洋海–气系统冬季重现的能力。北太平洋海温冬季重现的空间范围是海盆尺度的,中部重现时间比其周围晚。大气环流场的冬季重现主要是在北太平洋中部,它与海温冬季重现关系密切。大多数IPCC耦合模式基本上可以模拟出太平洋海温大范围的冬季重现现象。与重现范围的模拟相比,耦合模式对重现时间地理差异的模拟都比较差。各模式对大气环流冬季重现时空分布特征的模拟较差,大部分模式未能模拟出大气环流场中主要的重现区域。而且,大气环流冬季重现对海温重现的可能影响并没有体现在这些耦合模式中。耦合模式对北太平洋大气冬季重现的模拟还有待改善。     

Analysis of long-term precipitation changes in West Bengal,India: An approach to detect monotonic trends influenced by autocorrelations

The precipitation of the entire Indian sub-continent is primarily driven by the monsoon wind system, which throws a tough challenge to model changes due to its natural variabilities. Additionally, the unique geographical location and diverse climatic condition of the Indian state of West Bengal (WB) accelerates this challenge even more. Such a situation can be more complicated if the assumption of randomness in the Mann-Kendall (MK) test is not taken care of. The present study inspects the dynamics of precipitation using the original MK test along with its three modified versions in WB. The modified versions are considered to incorporate all the significant autocorrelation coefficient (ACC) along with the short and long term persistence (STP and LTP) in the time series. Results showed that the presence of significant ACC was more common than the LTP behavior. The STP approach produced similar results to the original MK test, while the LTP approach reduced the number of significant trends. When the series was free from the scaling effect, consideration of all significant ACC gave better result in comparison to the STP approach. The annual precipitation is decreasing in large areas of WB, while the coastal areas are receiving increasing trends, which can intricate the estuarine and coastal processes. The Sub-Himalayan region and the western parts of WB are experiencing significant falling trend in monsoon season. Such a decreasing trend can enhance drought vulnerabilities, especially in the western parts of WB. However, the other three seasons (pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter) witness the maximum number of non-significant trends.