Review of the Study on the Stable Isotopes of Nitrogen and Oxygen in Atmospheric Nitrate

Due to the emissions from intensive human activities and rapid development of industry and agriculture, atmospheric nitrate (NO {}_3^{-} ) contamination is becoming more serious and now is a worldwide environmental problem. The isotopic compositions of NO {}_3^{-} (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) can deliver more information than the concentration alone, i.e., the nitrogen and oxygen isotopes can suggest the sources of NO {}_3^{-} and oxidation capability of the atmosphere, providing a powerful tool for investigating atmospheric nitrogen cycling and atmospheric NO {}_3^{-} pollution control. The δ¹⁵N of different sourced NO {}_3^{-} in the atmosphere, as well as the seasonal variation of δ¹⁵N (NO {}_3^{-} ) and the associated mechanisms were reviewed. In addition, the oxygen isotopes of various oxidants and NO {}_3^{-} (δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) in the atmosphere were summarized, and the global distribution patterns of the oxygen isotopes of NO {}_3^{-} were discussed. Lastly, the available analysis techniques of isotopic compositions of NO {}_3^{-} were reviewed. Based on the research progress of NO {}_3^{-} isotopes in the atmosphere, it was suggested that further investigations should focus on measuring the isotopic compositions of oxidants and NOx from different sources, characterizing the production mechanisms of NO {}_3^{-} , as well as investigating chemical recycling between NOx and NO {}_3^{-} with the aid of atmospheric chemical models.     

Sounding of Titan’s atmosphere at submillimeter wavelengths from an orbiting spacecraft

An investigation of the capabilities and science goals of a submillimeter-wave heterodyne sounder onboard a Titan orbiter is presented. Based on a model of Titan’s submillimeter spectrum, and including realistic instrumental performances, we show that passive limb observations of Titan’s submillimeter radiation would bring novel and unique information on the dynamical and chemical state of Titan’s atmosphere, particularly in the so far poorly probed 500-900 km region. The 300-360, 540-660 and 1080-1280 GHz spectral ranges appear especially promising, and could be explored with an instrument equipped with a tunable local oscillator system. Vertical temperature profiles can be determined up to ∼1200 km using rotational lines of CH₄, CO, and HCN. Winds can be measured over the 200-1200 km altitude range with an accuracy of 3-5 m/s from Doppler shift measurements of any strong optically thin line. Numerous molecular species are accessible, including H₂O, NH₃, CH₃C₂H, CH₂NH, and several nitriles (HC₃N, HC₅N, CH₃CN, and C₂H₃CN). Many of them are expected to be detectable in a large fraction of the atmosphere and in some cases at all levels, providing an observational link between stratospheric and thermospheric chemistry. Isotopic variants of some of these species can also be measured, providing new measurements of H, C, N, and O isotopic ratios. Mapping of the thermal, wind, and composition fields, best achieved from a polar orbit and with an articulated antenna, would provide a new view of the couplings between chemistry and dynamics over an extended altitude range of Titan’s atmosphere. Additional science goals at Saturn and Enceladus are briefly discussed.     

大气GPS掩星观测反演方法

大气GPS掩星观测可获得全球的大气气象参量剖面信息.本文阐述了地球大气GPS掩星观测反演原理,详细介绍了其几何光学近似反演方法和全谱反演方法,提出了将几何光学反演方法和全谱反演方法结合以形成可以处理多路径掩星数据的反演新方案.该方案和几何光学反演方法应用于GPS/MET和CHAMP大气掩星数据反演,成功地获得了大气参量剖面.结果表明,新反演方案是可行的、有效的GPS大气掩星反演方案.     

Correlation between clouds at different altitudes and solar activity: Fact or Artifact?

Studies of the relation between cosmic rays (CR) (solar activity) and atmospheric cloudiness are mostly based on the satellite ISCCP cloud data. However, doubts have been cast that these relations can be an artifact of instrumental effects, i.e., of the masking/obscuring low clouds by higher clouds in the satellite view. If this is the case, most of the earlier results based on ISCCP data would be devaluated. Here, we reanalyze the ISCCP cloud coverage data and its relation with the cosmic ray-induced ionization, and show that the correlation between low clouds and CR is affected by higher clouds in some geographical regions, but not everywhere. In turn, our results show that low clouds also may affect the relation of higher clouds with CR in some regions. Accordingly, correlation analysis can be performed only when the strong relation between clouds of different types is taken into account. In particular, studies based on global or latitudinal (zonally averaged) cloud data should be revised.     

Eddy diffusion coefficients and the variance of the atmosphere 30–60 km

The results of numerical models or of new observational programs are checked by comparing them with past observations. Also, it is desirable that the eddy diffusion coefficients used in two-dimensional models be derived from the same data set as the circulation statistics which the model outputs are checked against, so that all results refer to the same atmospheric conditions. For the first time, the three components of the eddy diffusion matrix, from 30–60 km, 80°N–10°S are computed, together with the means, variances and covariances of the wind and temperature through the same region using the same data set for 1960–76 and the same handling and analysis methods for all variables. Horizontal diffusivities,K _yy , are obtained from the variance and integral time scale of the meridional wind speed. The present values are generally smaller than past estimates, presumably because temporal variations longer than a month have been removed in this work. Estimates ofK _yz are based on the tentative assumption that the diffusivity is proportional to the slope of isentropic surfaces, and estimates ofK _zz are based on the assumption that small-scale gravity waves are primarily responsible for vertical mixing.     

关于亚洲夏季风爆发及北半球季节突变的物理机理的诊断分析:Ⅰ季风爆发的阶段性特征

该工作将亚洲季风区作为一个复杂的海-陆-气耦合系统,来深入考察季风区海-气、陆-气相互作用的基本事实和物理过程,探讨它们在决定亚洲季风爆发及北半球行星尺度大气环流的季节突变的物理机理。本文是系列文章的第一篇,着重研究亚洲夏季风爆发的区域性和阶段性特征,以及过渡季节热带、副热带地区海-气、陆-气相互作用的基本事实,初步分析了它们之间的联系。研究表明,热带季风对流于4月底到5月初越过赤道进入北半球,首先出现在孟加拉湾东部-中南半岛西南部地区,然后于5月中旬和6月上旬末分别出现在南海和印度半岛地区,呈阶段性爆发的特征。季风对流在孟加拉湾东部-中南半岛西南部地区爆发阶段,在大气环流变化和对流活动中心位置出现区别于南海季风和印度季风爆发的特征。通过对地表感热通量和海表潜热通量的分析,表明热带海洋上海表感热通量甚小于海表潜热通量,南海季风爆发时期印度洋上海表潜热通量显著增大,印度季风爆发后海表潜热通量的高值中心在孟加拉湾和阿拉伯海上建立起来。印度洋上低层增强的过赤道气流引起的强烈的海-气相互作用导致海表水汽的大量蒸发,并通过其输送作用,为季风对流的爆发提供了充足的水汽来源。过渡季节在副热带地区(沿27.5～37.5°N纬带上), 青藏高原和西太平洋上地(海)表感热通量和潜热通量均有迅速的季节变化性, 但趋势相反。当青藏高原上地表感热通量和潜热通量呈阶段性的显著加大, 西太平洋上海表感热通量和潜热通量迅速减小。这种大陆和海洋对大气加热的显著的季节化的差异, 影响着大气环流的季节转变。     

云南省5月份雨量的天气气候成因探讨

该文探讨了影响云南5月雨量的大气环流背景、天气气候成因，指出大气环流季节性转换、ITCZ、南亚高压、西太平洋副高等是大气环流背景;夏季风和西风槽相互作用、北方冷空气与南方暖湿气流相互作用是天气气候成因。以此为预报思路，得出一个云南5月雨量长期预报模式。     

兰州城区冬季大气气溶胶粒子谱的反演研究

从实测的兰州城市冬季大气气溶胶多波段光学厚度资料出发,应用消光法反演了大气柱气溶胶粒子谱,并对反演程序的可行性、反演结果的可靠性进行了分析讨论。结果表明,反演出的大气柱气溶胶粒子谱分布都为三峰型分布。通过正算方法计算出的光学厚度值检验反演方法,检验结果说明,反演程序是可行的,结果是可靠的。     

2003年陕西秋季连阴雨降水特点及环流条件分析

文章分析了陕西省2003年秋季连阴雨降水的特征和形成秋季连阴雨天气的天气学、热力学特点。结果表明:2003年陕西秋季连阴雨降水的主要特征是降水的落区和时间相对集中, 降水强度大, 日数多且持续时间长, 是1954年以来陕西又一次极端连阴雨事件。在大气环流由夏季型向冬季型转变过程中, 对流层高层西风急流南压至40°N时, 青藏高原东北侧包括陕西在内的西北地区东部, 位于急流南侧的高空辐散区, 该地区对流层低层却保持着高温高湿的热力特征, 对流上升运动活跃, 形成了低层辐合高层辐散的垂直环流机制, 这时对流层中部500 hPa欧亚环流形势相对稳定, 乌拉尔山的长波脊和中亚低槽维持, 偏强、偏北、偏西的副热带高压外围偏南气流为该区域输送了大量的水汽, 从而形成了陕西及西北地区东部持续的连阴雨天气; 当西风带中纬度新疆高压脊建立, 副热带高压东移南退时, 陕西及西北地区东部的连阴雨天气结束。     

Sea‐level response at Nain,Labrador, to atmospheric pressure and wind

Abstract

Two years of subtidal sea‐level data from Nain, Labrador, are analysed in terms of local atmospheric pressure and the two components of geostrophic wind or stress. Frequency‐dependent response coefficients are determined by multiple regression analysis involving inversion of the cross‐spectral matrix of the inputs. At very low frequencies the response to pressure is isostatic and the wind stress coefficients are consistent with those determined by Thompson et al. (1985) from analysis of a longer series of monthly means. There is very little change in the response between icy and ice‐free seasons. The wind, or stress, coefficients correspond to geostrophic set‐up by a narrow longshore current but do not show as much of an increase of phase lag with increasing frequency as expected. The pressure response is less than isostatic and lags as the frequency increases from zero to about 0.02 cph. Possible reasons for this are discussed. Removal of wind as well as pressure effects ffom the sea‐level data makes only minor changes to the monthly mean residual sea‐level.