Effects of Lateral Variation in Vegetation and Basin ‘Dome’ Shape on Tropical Lowland Peat Stabilisation in the Kota Samarahan-Asajaya Area, West Sarawak, Malaysia

Field surveys indicate lateral variation in peat humification levels （von Post） in dominantly occurring fibric,fibric to hemic,sapric and hemie to sapric peats across a gradient from the margin towards the centre of tropical lowland peat domes.Cement-peat stabilisation can be enhanced by adding mineral soil fillers （silt,clays and fine sands） obtained from Quaternary floodplain deposits and residual soil （weathered schist）.The unconfined compressive strength （UCS） of the stabilised cement-mineral soil fifler-peat mix increases with the increased addition of selected mineral soil filler.Lateral variation in the stabilised peat strength （UCS） in the top 0 to 0.5 m layer was found from the margin towards the centre of the tropical lowland peat dome.The variations in the UCS of stabilised tropical lowland peats along a gradient from the periphery towards the centre of the peat dome are most likely caused by a combination of factors due to variations in the mineral soil or ash content of the peat and horizontal zonation or lateral variation in the dominant species of the plant assemblages （due to successive vegetation zonation of the peat swamp forest from the periphery towards the centre of the tropical lowland peat dome）.     

Is rainfall intensity significant in the rainfall–runoff process within tropical rainforests of northeast Queensland? The Hewlett regression analyses revisited

Following the statistical analyses of long‐term rainfall‐runoff records from research basins in humid temperate latitudes, Hewlett and co‐workers extended the global challenge to disprove their findings that rainfall intensity was non‐significant. This paper responds to Hewlett's challenge as no preceding analyses have involved forested basins in a tropical cyclone‐prone area. Based on a 7 year rainfall‐runoff record, quickflow (QF), peak flow (QP) and quickflow response ratios (QRR) were regressed as dependent variables against rainfall parameters (intensity, P_i, amount, P), storm duration, D and antecedent flow, I. These data sets were categorised into total streamflow (Q) classes and stratified into three seasons, (monsoon, post‐monsoon and dry) for forested and cleared catchments. Where rainfall variable collinearity met acceptable levels, the addition of P_i to regression models including P, D, I contributed up to 9% and 66% of the respective variations in quickflow and peak flow. For the highest Q storm classes (monsoon), P_i alone accounted for up to 67% and 91% of the variation in Q_F and Q_P respectively and was the dominant influence on Q_P for all seasons. The very high rainfall intensities experienced in the monsoon season is a causal factor why these results differ from those of other research drainage basins. Surprisingly, P_i continued to have a significant influence on Q_F for dry season classes when less‐intense rainfall occurs. Further the results were similar for both catchments across all seasons. P was the dominant independent variable affecting Q_F above a threshold Q of 50 mm (monsoon), as rainfall contributes directly to saturation overland flow and return flow under saturated conditions. Further although QRR increased with increasing Q for each season, the regression results for that parameter were poor possibly due to the non‐linearity of the rainfall‐runoff relationship. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Statistical Analysis on the E ect of Vertical Wind Shear on Tropical Cyclone Development

Using tropical cyclone (TC) best track and intensity of the western North Pacific data from the Joint TyphoonWarning Center (JTWC) of the United States and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for the period of 1992-2002, the effects of vertical wind shear on TC intensity are examined. The samples were limited to the westward or northwestward moving TCs between 5°N and 20°N in order to minimize thermodynamic effects. It is found that the effect of vertical wind shear between 200 and 500 hPa on TC intensity change is larger than that of the shear between 500 and 850 hPa, while similar to that of the shear between 200 and 850 hPa. Vertical wind shear may have a threshold value, which tends to decrease as TC intensifies. As the intensifying rate of TC weakens, the average shear increases. The large shear has the obvious trend of inhibiting TC development. The average shear of TC which can develop into typhoon (tropical depression or tropical storm) is below 7 m s-1 (above 8 m s-1).     

红外卫星云图和相关向量机的有眼热带气旋客观定强模型

热带气旋TC(Tropical Cyclone)是全球影响最严重的自然灾害之一。TC强度和路径的准确预报,对于减轻其带来的灾害影响至关重要。本文基于静止红外卫星云图和相关向量机RVM(Relevance Vector Machine)构建有眼TC客观定强模型。首先,利用高斯平滑对红外卫星云图进行去噪;然后,利用基于测地活动轮廓GAC(Geodesic Active Contour)模型的偏微分方程PDE(Partial Differential Equation)法对有眼TC的眼壁进行分割,提取眼壁的亮温梯度信息,计算眼壁亮温梯度的最大值及梯度数据不同概率时的均值,从而构造与TC强度密切相关的特征因子;最后,利用RVM构建单特征因子、多特征因子与近地面最大中心风速的客观定强模型,研究不同特征维度对TC客观定强误差的影响。实验结果表明,在单特征因子的模型定强中,95%概率眼壁亮温梯度均值的定强误差最小,相比利用单特征因子所构建的定强模型,多特征因子的模型定强误差更小,即多特征因子中包含更多与TC强度相关的特征信息。在多特征因子的模型定强中,二特征因子优于三特征因子模型,说明应当合理选择特征因子维数,并非越多越好。本文所用RVM模型具有良好的高维非线性处理能力,能对TC强度进行有效估计。     

Carbon stock of oil palm plantations and tropical forests in Malaysia: A review

In Malaysia, the main land change process is the establishment of oil palm plantations on logged‐over forests and areas used for shifting cultivation, which is the traditional farming system. While standing carbon stocks of old‐growth forest have been the focus of many studies, this is less the case for Malaysian fallow systems and oil palm plantations. Here, we collate and analyse Malaysian datasets on total carbon stocks for both above‐ and below‐ground biomass. We review the current knowledge on standing carbon stocks of 1) different forest ecosystems, 2) areas subject to shifting cultivation (fallow forests) and 3) oil palm plantations. The forest ecosystems are classified by successional stage and edaphic conditions and represent samples along a forest succession continuum spanning pioneer species in shifting cultivation fallows to climax vegetation in old‐growth forests. Total carbon stocks in tropical forests range from 4 to 384 Mg C/ha, significantly wider than the range of total carbon stocks of oil palm plantations, 2 to 60 Mg C/ha. Conversion of old‐growth forest areas to oil palm plantations leads to substantial reduction in carbon storage, while conversion of forest fallows to oil palm plantations may sustain or even increase the standing carbon stock.     

热带气旋"凤凰"（2014）的结构演变及其引起的海洋响应分析

利用日本多功能运输卫星（Multi-functional Transport Satellite,简称为MTSAT-2）逐小时云顶亮温资料、Climate Prediction Center Morphing Technique（CMORPH）逐3小时降水资料及南海北部的现场观测资料,对2014年第16号热带气旋"凤凰"的结构演变和远距离洋面上的海洋响应特征进行了研究。结果表明:高空环流形势场的变化主导了"凤凰"的移动方向,调整其云系结构;"凤凰"过境期间测站处气压和气温明显下降,风速和相对湿度有所增加,并伴随有多次阵性降雨过程,最大降雨量可达174 mm/h;"凤凰"引起的强混合的热泵作用导致测站处海洋混合层冷却加深,三个站位观测到的最大海表面降温分别为0.53 ℃（站位2）、0.50 ℃（站位4）、1.18 ℃（站位5）;"凤凰"期间海表面盐度下降,且强降盐过程与降水时段具有较好的时间一致性,降水时段内,三个站位观测到的表层最大降盐量分别为0.557 psu（站位2）、0.407 psu（站位4）、0.773 psu（站位5）。      

2020年夏季海洋天气评述

2020年夏季（6—8月）,北半球极涡呈现明显的单极型分布,极涡主体位于北极圈内,中心偏向东半球,中高纬环流呈现4波型分布。6—7月,西太平洋副热带高压较常年平均偏强,且位置偏西偏南,不利于热带气旋活动。2020年夏季共有8个热带气旋在西北太平洋和南海生成,其中7月没有热带气旋生成。除西北太平洋和南海之外,其他热带洋面另有20个热带气旋生成,其中北大西洋11个,东太平洋8个,北印度洋1个。受偏南暖湿气流的影响,我国北方海域多海雾天气。同时受入海气旋活动影响,多海上大风过程。夏季近海海域共出现了7次比较明显的海雾过程,其中6月3次,7月1次,8月3次。大风过程出现了10次, 2次由热带气旋影响,7次与入海气旋活动有关。发生2 m以上的大浪过程12次,6—8月分别出现了4次、5次和3次。     

Diurnal Variation of Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Western North Pacific in 2008-2010

Diurnal variation of tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall in the western North Pacific (WNP) is investigated using the high-resolution Climate Prediction Center's morphing technique (CMORPH) products obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). From January 2008 to October 2010, 72 TCs and 389 TC rainfall days were reported by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center's (JTWC) best-track record. The TC rain rate was partitioned using the Objective Synoptic Analysis Technique (OSAT) and interpolated into Local Standard Time (LST). Harmonic analysis was applied to analyze the diurnal variation of the precipitation. Obvious diurnal cycles were seen in approximately 70% of the TC rainfall days. The harmonic amplitude and phase of the mean TC rainfall rate vary with TC intensity, life stage, season, and spatial distribution. On the basis of intensity, tropical depressions (TDs) exhibit the highest precipitation variation amplitude (PVA), at approximately 30%, while super typhoons (STs) contain the lowest PVA, at less than 22%. On the basis of lifetime stage, the PVA in the decaying stage (more than 37%) is stronger than that in the developing (less than 20%) and sustaining (28%) stages. On the basis of location, the PVA of more than 35% (less than 18%) is the highest (lowest) over the high-latitude oceanic areas (the eastern ocean of the Philippine Islands). In addition, a sub-diurnal cycle of TC rainfall occurs over the high-latitude oceans. On the basis of season, the diurnal variation is more pronounced during summer and winter, at approximately 30% and 32%, respectively, and is weaker in spring and autumn, at approximately 22% and 24%, respectively.     

Diurnal Variation of Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Western North Pacific in 2008–10

Diurnal variation of tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall in the western North Pacific (WNP) is investigated using the high-resolution Climate Prediction Center’s morphing technique (CMORPH) products obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). From January 2008 to October 2010, 72 TCs and 389 TC rainfall days were reported by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s (JTWC) best-track record. The TC rain rate was partitioned using the Objective Synoptic Analysis Technique (OSAT) and interpolated into Local Standard Time (LST). Harmonic analysis was applied to analyze the diurnal variation of the precipitation. Obvious diurnal cycles were seen in approximately 70% of the TC rainfall days. The harmonic amplitude and phase of the mean TC rainfall rate vary with TC intensity, life stage, season, and spatial distribution. On the basis of intensity, tropical depressions (TDs) exhibit the highest precipitation variation amplitude (PVA), at approximately 30%, while super typhoons (STs) contain the lowest PVA, at less than 22%. On the basis of lifetime stage, the PVA in the decaying stage (more than 37%) is stronger than that in the developing (less than 20%) and sustaining (28%) stages. On the basis of location, the PVA of more than 35% (less than 18%) is the highest (lowest) over the high-latitude oceanic areas (the eastern ocean of the Philippine Islands). In addition, a sub-diurnal cycle of TC rainfall occurs over the high-latitude oceans. On the basis of season, the diurnal variation is more pronounced during summer and winter, at approximately 30% and 32%, respectively, and is weaker in spring and autumn, at approximately 22% and 24%, respectively.