Calculation of Interannual Variations of Sea Level in the Subtropical North Pacific

The interannual variations of sea level at Chichi-jima and five other islands in the subtropical North Pacific are calculated for 1961–95 with a model of Rossby waves excited by wind. The Rossby-wave forcing is significant east of 140°E. Strong forcing of upwelling (downwelling) Rossby wave occurs during El Niño (La Niña) and warm (cold) water anomaly in the eastern equatorial Pacific. The first and second baroclinic modes of Rossby wave are more strongly generated than the barotropic mode in the study area. A higher vertical mode of Rossby wave propagates more slowly and is more decayed by eddy dissipation. The best coefficient of vertical eddy dissipation is determined by comparing the calculated sea level with observation. The variation in sea level at Chichi-jima is successfully calculated, in particular for the long-term change of the mean level between before and after 1986 with a rise in 1986 as well as the variations with periods of two to four years after 1980. It is concluded that variations of sea level at Chichi-jima are produced by wind-forced Rossby waves, the first baroclinic wave primarily and the barotropic wave secondly. The calculation for other islands is less successful. Degree of the success in calculation almost corresponds to a spatial difference in quantity of wind data, and seems to be determined by quality of wind data.     

黑潮冬季海温对我国东北地区夏季降水预测信号的增强

统计分析结果表明,黑潮冬季海温和东北夏季降水的关系有非常明显的年代际变化,表现为从20世纪50-60年代弱的正相关逐步转变为现阶段很强的负相关。尤其是在东北夏季降水异常年份,黑潮海温呈明显的反位相变化,因此可被视为一个非常有效的前兆预测信号。分析了可能的影响机制,即当前期黑潮海温偏低时,海洋热力异常的持续性会导致其夏季低层出现反气旋式风场距平环流,在西太平洋副热带高压(副高)西北侧出现东北风距平及在东北冷涡东南侧出现西南风距平,导致在副高区和东北冷涡区均形成气旋式距平环流系统,从而减弱了副高并增强了东北冷涡。反之,黑潮海温偏高时,其上空气旋式距平环流系统将减弱东北冷涡强度和增强副高强度。这是黑潮海温影响东北夏季降水异常的主要原因。     

2022年8月长江流域持续性极端高温事件成因

2022年夏季长江流域经历了罕见的高温酷暑天气。2022年8月高温区几乎覆盖整个长江流域,形成全流域型高温,并持续近1个月。持续高温与西北太平洋副热带高压（简称副高）的异常活动关系密切。8月副高西伸且稳定,其西端脊点到达90°E,比常年偏西近40个经度,控制了几乎整个长江流域,引起罕见的持续高温。导致副高稳定西伸的重要原因如下：热带环流的异常从南面支持副高的维持;8月西太平洋至南海地区赤道辐合带持续偏强,对流明显偏强;南海地区出现明显增强的Hadley环流,支持115°E以西副高的维持。此外,西风带环流的异常分布有利于副高西伸;欧亚地区500 hPa位势高度场上维持两脊一槽的形势,鄂霍次克海高压脊几乎与副高打通,形成稳定的高压坝;乌拉尔地区的高压脊不断向东南方向输送Rossby波能量,也对副高西段的维持和加强起重要作用。     

Late-glacial and early Holocene lake sediments,ground-water formation and climate in the Atacama Altiplano 22–24°S

Precipitation rates in the Atacama Altiplano 22–24°S were 400–500 mm yr^–1 during late glacial and early Holocene times as opposed to 200 mm yr^–1 today. This humid phase (Tauca phase) was likely due to strengthened tropical (monsoonal) circulation, which brought continental moisture to the Atacama Altiplano. The lake level of Laguna Lejía (23°30S, 4350 m) at that time was up to 25 m higher than it is today. Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca data from lake sediments show that, what today is a highly saline lake was a freshwater lake at that time. Seasonally-laminated calcareous sediments were deposited between 13 500 and <10 400 yr B.P. indicating the maximum of the humid phase. Climatic changes in the past are important for current groundwater resources.¹⁴C and³H data from lake-, ground- and well water suggest that modern groundwater formation (i.e. water <40 years) in the Altiplano is very limited under current arid conditions. We conclude that significant amounts of the water resources in this area originated during the time of the late-glacial and early Holocene humid climate. Tritium data from snow samples show that the moisture in the Altiplano at 22–24°S is mainly of continental origin, whereas precipitation from the westerlies hardly contributes to the water supply in this area. This precipitation pattern matches the paleodata, and we suggest that current precipitation formation may provide an analogue framework for late-glacial circulation in this area.This is the 3rd in a series of papers published in this special AMQUA issue. These papers were presented at the 1994 meeting of the American Quaternary Association held 19–22 June, 1994, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Dr Linda C. K. Shane served as guest editor for these papers.     

Spatial patterns of Pinus tabulaeformis and Pinus massoniana forests in Qinling-Daba Mountains and the boundary of subtropical and warm temperate zones

The Qinling Mountains is not only the geographical boundary between North and South China,but also the boundary between subtropical and warm temperate zones.It plays an important role in the geo-ecological pattern of China.However,there is controversy about the specific location of this geographical boundary in academic community due to the complexity,transition and heterogeneity of the transitional zone,as well as the differences in the delimitation indicators and research purposes.To further reveal the characteristics of the North-South transitional zone and clarify the specific location of the geo-ecological boundary between North and South China,combined with SRTM topographic data,temperature and precipitation data,Pinus massoniana forest and Pinus tabulaeformis forest,which represent subtropical coniferous forest in South China and temperate coniferous forest in North China respectively,were chosen to analyze their spatial distributions in the Qinling-Daba Mountains and the climatic conditions at their boundary with the climatic indexes of annual precipitation,the coldest month(January) average temperature,the warmest month(July) average temperature and the annual average temperature.The results show that:(1) Pinus massoniana and Pinus tabulaeformis forests and the climate indicators of their boundary can be used as one of the vegetation-climate indexes for the delimitation of subtropical and warm temperate zones.The boundary between the subtropical coniferous forest(Pinus massoniana forest) and temperate coniferous forest(Pinus tabulaeformis forest) is located along the south slope of Funiu Mountain to the north edge of Hanzhong Basin(the south slope of Qinling Mountains) at an altitude of 1000–1200 m,where the climatic indictors are stable:the annual precipitation is about 750–1000 mm,the annual average temperature is about 12–14℃,the coldest monthly average temperature is 0–4℃,and the warmest monthly average temperature is about 22–26℃.(2) It can be more scientifically to delimitate the boundary of subtropical and warm temperate zones in China by comprehensively considering the vegetation-climate indicators.Additionally,the boundary between subtropical and warm temperate zones in Qinling-Daba Mountains should be a transitional zone consisting of the boundaries of coniferous forests,broad-leaved forests and shrubs between subtropical and warm temperate zones.The results provide a scientific basis for the selection of delimitation index of subtropical and warm temperate zones.     

0518号台风"达维"(Damrey)特征分析

0518号台风“达维”于2005年9月26日04时正面袭击海南省,给海南省的经济造成了严重的损失,本文对0518号台风“达维”的形成、发展过程特征进行初步的探讨和分析,为今后更好地预报相似台风积累经验。     

Improvements in Long-Lead Prediction of Early-Summer Subtropical Frontal Rainfall Based on Arctic Sea Ice

Seasonal prediction of East Asia(EA) summer rainfall, especially with a longer-lead time, is in great demand, but still very challenging. The present study aims to make long-lead prediction of EA subtropical frontal rainfall(SFR) during early summer(May-June mean, MJ) by considering Arctic sea ice(ASI) variability as a new potential predictor. A MJ SFR index(SFRI), the leading principle component of the empirical orthogonal function(EOF) analysis applied to the MJ precipitation anomaly over EA, is defined as the predictand. Analysis of 38-year observations(1979-2016) revealed three physically consequential predictors. A stronger SFRI is preceded by dipolar ASI anomaly in the previous autumn, a sea level pressure(SLP) dipole in the Eurasian continent, and a sea surface temperature anomaly tripole pattern in the tropical Pacific in the previous winter. These precursors foreshadow an enhanced Okhotsk High, lower local SLP over EA, and a strengthened western Pacific subtropical high. These factors are controlling circulation features for a positive SFRI. A physical-empirical model was established to predict SFRI by combining the three predictors. Hindcasting was performed for the 1979-2016 period, which showed a hindcast prediction skill that was, unexpectedly, substantially higher than that of a four-dynamical models’ ensemble prediction for the 1979-2010 period(0.72 versus 0.47). Note that ASI variation is a new predictor compared with signals originating from the tropics to mid-latitudes. The long-lead hindcast skill was notably lower without the ASI signals included, implying the high practical value of ASI variation in terms of long-lead seasonal prediction of MJ EA rainfall.     

The Faxinal System: Forest fragmentation and soil degradation on the communal grazing land

The Brazilian faxinal is a traditional agrosilvopastoral system, which combines extensive grazing, subsistence cropping and low impact forest extraction, managed within a communal property system. Today it is at serious risk of disappearing due to increasing grazing pressure and logging activities that are leading to environmental problems such as forest fragmentation and soil degradation. The objectives of the study were to: a) evaluate soil physical degradation levels in different grazing areas within the faxinal system; and b) correlate soil degradation, fodder quantity and livestock dynamics in different pasture areas according to the household's location. Landscape mapping, vegetation surveys, and livestock grazing dynamics were assessed. In addition, soil physical parameters were evaluated for each land use (e.g., resistance, bulk density, porosity, moisture, and water infiltration rates). Results showed that livestock grazing and household locations are the main driving forces that lead to forest fragmentation. The household location creates three interrelated gradients in the communal grazing land: 1) soil physical degradation decreases from the pasture areas to araucaria forests; 2) fodder quantity decreases from pastures to araucaria forests; and 3) the livestock grazing intensity decreases from pastures to araucaria forests. In addition, some management practices to mitigate land degradation, including improvement of pastures, installation of removable troughs for drinking water in the upland areas and restriction of livestock from the riparian zone, have been proposed.     

中亚热带红壤丘陵区松林生态系统表层土壤活性有机碳空间分异规律

土壤活性有机碳在指示土壤碳库平衡、表征土壤肥力与质量、衡量土壤微生物生长等方面具有重要意义。本文对中亚热带红壤丘陵区松林生态系统93个表层（0～20cm）土壤样品的活性有机碳空间分布特征及其与地形、植被和土壤特性的关系进行了深入分析。结果表明：表层土壤活性有机碳的平均值为1.92g/kg,占土壤有机碳的29.18%,变...     

台湾以东副热带环流区大中型浮游桡足类的生态特征

根据1995~1997年期间在台湾岛以东副热带环流区进行4个季度月的综合调查资料,分析了该海域浮游桡足类的数量分布及其群落的生态特征,探讨其与环境因素的相关性.结果表明,本区大中型浮游桡足类呈低丰度(4个季度平均为6.75个/m³)、低优势度(Y<0.131)以及季节变化幅度小等特点.所记录的206种浮游桡足类中,5种生态类群共存.不同性质水系在测区间的动态制约着不同生态类群的配比,但丝毫左右不了热带大洋广布类群的主导地位.