FY-3A/MERSI, ocean color algorithm, products and demonstrative applications

A medium resolution spectral imager (MERSI) on-board the first spacecraft of the second generation of China’s polar-orbit meteorological satellites FY-3A, is a MODIS-like sensor with 20 bands covering visible to thermal infrared spectral region. FY-3A/MERSI is capable of making continuous global observations, and ocean color application is one of its main targets. The objective is to provide information about the ocean color products of FY-3A/MERSI, including sensor calibration, ocean color algorithms, ocean color products validation and applications. Although there is a visible on-board calibration device, it cannot realize the on-board absolute radiometric calibration in the reflective solar bands. A multisite vicarious calibration method is developed, and used for monitoring the in-flight response change and providing post-launch calibration coefficients updating. FY-3A/MERSI ocean color products consist of the water-leaving reflectance retrieved from an atmospheric correction algorithm, a chlorophyll a concentration (CHL1) and a pigment concentration (PIG1) from global empirical models, the chlorophyll a concentration (CHL2), a total suspended mater concentration (TSM) and the absorption coefficient of CDOM and NAP (YS443) from China’s regional empirical models. The atmospheric correction algorithm based on lookup tables and ocean color components concentration estimation models are described. By comparison with in situ data, the FY-3A/MERSI ocean color products have been validated and preliminary results are presented. Some successful ocean color applications such as algae bloom monitoring and coastal suspended sediment variation have demonstrated the usefulness of FY-3A/MERSI ocean color products.     

Spatial variation in shallow sediment methane sources and cycling on the Alaskan Beaufort Sea Shelf/Slope

The MITAS (Methane in the Arctic Shelf/Slope) expedition was conducted during September, 2009 onboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Polar Sea (WAGB-11), on the Alaskan Shelf/Slope of the Beaufort Sea. Expedition goals were to investigate spatial variations in methane source(s), vertical methane flux in shallow sediments (<10 mbsf), and methane contributions to shallow sediment carbon cycling. Three nearshore to offshore transects were conducted across the slope at locations approximately 200 km apart in water column depths from 20 to 2100 m. Shallow sediments were collected by piston cores and vibracores and samples were analyzed for sediment headspace methane (CH₄), porewater sulfate (SO₄²⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations, and CH₄ and DIC stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C). Downward SO₄²⁻ diffusion rates estimated from sediment porewater SO₄²⁻ profiles were between −15.4 and −154.8 mmol m⁻² a⁻¹ and imply a large spatial variation in vertical CH₄ flux between transects in the study region. Lowest inferred CH₄ fluxes were estimated along the easternmost transect. Higher inferred CH₄ flux rates were observed in the western transects. Sediment headspace ${\mathrm{\delta }}^{13}{\text{C}}_{{\text{CH}}_4}$ values ranged from −138 to −48‰, suggesting strong differences in shallow sediment CH₄ cycling within and among sample locations. Measured porewater DIC concentrations ranged from 2.53 mM to 79.39 mM with δ¹³C_DIC values ranging from −36.4‰ to 5.1‰. Higher down-core DIC concentrations were observed to occur with lower δ¹³C where an increase in ${\mathrm{\delta }}^{13}{\text{C}}_{{\text{CH}}_4}$ was measured, indicating locations with active anaerobic oxidation of methane. Shallow core CH₄ production was inferred at the two western most transects (i.e. Thetis Island and Halkett) through observations of low ${\mathrm{\delta }}^{13}{\text{C}}_{{\text{CH}}_4}$ coupled with elevated DIC concentrations. At the easternmost Hammerhead transect and offshore locations, ${\mathrm{\delta }}^{13}{\text{C}}_{{\text{CH}}_4}$ and DIC concentrations were not coupled suggesting less rapid methane cycling. Results from the MITAS expedition represent one of the most comprehensive studies of methane source(s) and vertical methane flux in shallow sediments of the U.S. Alaskan Beaufort Shelf to date and show geospatially variable sediment methane flux that is highly influenced by the local geophysical environment.     

Seasonal and Monthly Variation of Vertical Structure of Temperature,Salinity and Heat Flux of the Bay of Bengal

Seasonal and monthly variations of heat flux have been investigated in this study using the Modular Ocean Model of version 3 (MOM 3) simulations and 52 years Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) products. These variations of the heat flux in different boxes of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) in different depths show the different behavior of the boxes. It is seen that the model and SODA results are comparable. The basin shows north-south variation in the surface from winter to spring whereas there is east-west variation in the mixed layer throughout the year except winter. The remote effect caused by warm water penetration from Pacific Ocean through the Strait of Malacca and coastal Kelvin waves keeps the basin warm most of the year. This article addresses the mechanisms of the seasonal variation of the vertical structure of the temperature and heat flux components.     

TGR-2050型验潮仪在珠江口潮汐测量中的应用分析

使用压力式TGR-2050型验潮仪,在珠江口等河道入海口测量潮汐时,误差比较大;针对珠江口潮汐的特点,分析和研究了大气压扰动、潮流、海水密度、压力感应零点漂移等因素对潮汐测量带来的误差,有针对性地提出解决方案,并通过实验证明了方案的可行性。     

海岸沙坝近底悬移质通量实验研究

为了研究海岸沙坝的产生和演化机理,对不规则波和波群作用下沙坝上方的近底悬移质通量进行了实验研究。分析了短波、长波和平均水流对悬移质通量的影响。结果表明:各种波况下平均水流和长波的作用始终使泥沙向离岸方向输移,而短波的作用使泥沙向岸方向运动;平均水流引起的泥沙输移始终占主要成分,长波的次之。不规则波情况下平均水流的影响较规则波的情况相对较弱,三种成分对泥沙输运的贡献属于同一量级。波群情况下长波的影响随着波浪群性的增强而加大,短波的不明显,而平均水流的影响则随着波浪群性的增强而减弱。     

西江流域致洪暴雨的准双周振荡及大气环流模型

为了做好西江流域致洪暴雨的中期预报,采用小波分析、Lanczos滤波器分析了1961—2008年西江流域13次致洪暴雨期间降水与850 hPa风场的低频振荡特征,研究了850 hPa风场的10～30天低频传播对致洪暴雨的影响,并采用合成分析建立了由西风带系统导致的致洪暴雨准双周振荡的大气环流模型。结果表明,致洪暴雨期间降水主要以10～20天的准双周振荡为主,它们多数与西江流域850 hPa风场8～35天振荡的正位相有较好的对应关系。来自西江流域以南逐渐向北传播的低频纬向风或来自30 °N附近逐渐南传并加强的低频纬向风与多数来自西北太平洋向西传播的低频纬向风在西江流域相遇,是导致致洪暴雨具有准双周振荡的可能原因之一。当500 hPa巴尔喀什湖以东的高压脊开始隆起并逐渐东移,我国东北-华北-长江中下游逐渐转为明显的华北低槽控制,华南由青藏高原东部弱的西风槽转为明显的高空槽控制,副高不断加强西伸,同时850 hPa上空来自孟加拉湾穿过中南半岛的西南风不断加强,位于华南急流轴以西弱的气旋性弯曲也不断加强,地面上转为东高西低、等压线经向度明显,西江流域致洪暴雨开始并逐渐达到强盛期。这些特征可作为西江流域致洪暴雨的中期预报提供参考依据。      

中国东部夏季降水年际变化与同期东海潜热通量的关系

利用1985~2008年OAflux3、NCEP＼NCAR再分析资料与中国大陆东部108个站点的降水资料,应用回归和合成方法,分析了中国东部夏季降水的年际变化与同期东海及邻近海域潜热通量变异的关系。结果表明:东海及邻近海域(以下称东海)夏季潜热通量年际变化显著的区域位于东海区域,为与同期中国东部降水密切相关的关键区域。当东海的潜热通量偏高(低)时,中国东部长江以南地区上空盛行偏东北(西南)风异常,这将不(有)利于水汽由南向北的输送,从而可能使到达长江中下游流域及以北地区的水汽偏少(多);并且,长江中、下游流域为下沉(上升)气流和低层水汽辐散(辐合)正异常,对应降水偏少(偏多);华南地区为上升(下沉)气流和低层水汽辐合(辐散)正异常,对应降水偏多(偏少)。分析结果还表明,东海的潜热通量可通过影响东亚大气环流而成为引起中国东部夏季汛期降水年际异常的重要原因之一。     

大气水汽变化及其反馈效应研究进展

大气水汽变化的反馈作用是影响平衡气候系统敏感性的最大反馈作用之一,能够放大其他温室气体增暖的效应,并可能导致极端天气气候事件的发生趋多趋强。因此,全面分析大气水汽的时空分布特征及其长期变化趋势,评估大气水汽反馈的区域气候效应,对于我们深入认识和理解全球变暖背景下区域气候响应的机理具有重要意义。综合国内外最新研究,已基本能够确定水汽反馈效应为一种使得全球增暖加快近一倍的强烈正反馈,并已能够估计其大致变化范围,但是此估计仍存在较大不确定性。随着卫星和探空技术的发展,目前已有的长期水汽资料日趋丰富,但资料之间也存在一些不确定性问题,同时单个资料本身也存在非均一性问题。最新的气候系统模式已能够大致模拟大气水汽的反馈效应,但近年的进展速度却并不令人乐观。我国的水汽观测和水汽反馈效应的研究也已取得长足进步,可以基本确定为水汽变化与地面温度存在正反馈关系,而与降水的关系虽然也较为密切,但因区域气候变化仍存在较大的不一致性。     

南亚高压强度的年代际变化及可能原因分析

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和NOAA ERSST海温资料,对夏季南亚高压的年代际变化特征及其可能机制进行了分析。结果表明,南亚高压由弱到强的年代际转折发生在1970年代末,或者说南亚高压强度在1978年前后发生了年代际突变。对南亚高压偏弱和偏强两个阶段的对比分析表明,大气环流(包括风场、温度场和垂直运动场等)的异常形势和特征显著不同,几乎是相反的。夏季地表潜热通量异常的分析说明,夏季高原(特别是高原西北部)的地表热通量异常对南亚高压强度的年代际变化有重要影响;相对而言,地表感热通量异常可能对南亚高压强度的年代际变化起更重要作用。夏季热带印度洋海温的全区一致型模态在1970年代末也发生了明显的年代际变化,与南亚高压强度的年代际异常有很好的一致性,表明夏季热带印度洋海温一致型模态异常对南亚高压年代际变化有影响。