States of maximum entropy production in a one-dimensional vertical model with convective adjustment

We investigate the hypothesis that the atmosphere is constrained to maximize its entropy production by using a one-dimensional (1-D) vertical model. We prescribe the lapse rate in the convective layer as that of the standard troposphere. The assumption that convection sustains a critical lapse rate was absent in previous studies, which focused on the vertical distribution of climatic variables, since such a convective adjustment reduces the degrees of freedom of the system and may prevent the application of the maximum entropy production (MEP) principle. This is not the case in the radiative-convective model (RCM) developed here, since we accept a discontinuity of temperatures at the surface similar to that adopted in many RCMs.
For current conditions, the MEP state gives a difference between the ground temperature and the air temperature at the surface ≈10 K. In comparison, conventional RCMs obtain a discontinuity ≈2K only. However, the surface boundary layer velocity in the MEP state appears reasonable (≈m s⁻¹). Moreover, although the convective flux at the surface in MEP states is almost uniform in optically thick atmospheres, it reaches a maximum value for an optical thickness similar to current conditions. This additional result may support the maximum convection hypothesis suggested by Paltridge (1978 ).     

Assimilation and Fractional Crystallization Controlled by Transport Process of Crustal Melt: Implications from an Alkali Basalt-Dacite Suite from Rishiri Volcano, Japan

Mechanisms of fractional crystallization with simultaneous crustalassimilation (AFC) are examined for the Kutsugata and Tanetomilavas, an alkali basalt–dacite suite erupted sequentiallyfrom Rishiri Volcano, northern Japan. The major element variationswithin the suite can be explained by boundary layer fractionation;that is, mixing of a magma in the main part of the magma bodywith a fractionated interstitial melt transported from the mushyboundary layer at the floor. Systematic variations in SiO₂ correlatewith variations in the Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions ofthe lavas. The geochemical variations of the lavas are explainedby a constant and relatively low ratio of assimilated mass tocrystallized mass (‘r value’). In the magma chamberin which the Kutsugata and Tanetomi magmas evolved, a strongthermal gradient was present and it is suggested that the marginalpart of the reservoir was completely solidified. The assimilantwas transported by crack flow from the partially fused floorcrust to the partially crystallized floor mush zone throughfractures in the solidified margin, formed mainly by thermalstresses resulting from cooling of the solidified margin andheating of the crust. The crustal melt was then mixed with thefractionated interstitial melt in the mushy zone, and the mixedmelt was further transported by compositional convection tothe main magma, causing its geochemical evolution to be characteristicof AFC. The volume flux of the assimilant from the crust tothe magma chamber is suggested to have decreased progressivelywith time (proportional to t^–1/2), and was about 3 x 10^–2m/year at t = 10 years and 1 x 10^–2 m/year at t = 100years. It has been commonly considered that the heat balancebetween magmas and the surrounding crust controls the couplingof assimilation and fractional crystallization processes (i.e.absolute value of r). However, it is inferred from this studythat the ratio of assimilated mass to crystallized mass canbe controlled by the transport process of the assimilant fromthe crust to magma chambers. KEY WORDS: assimilation and fractional crystallization; mass balance model; magma chamber; melt transport; Pb isotope     

Assessment of the soil CO2 gradient method for soil CO2 efflux measurements: comparison of six models in the calculation of the relative gas diffusion coefficient

This paper uses a refined soil gradient method to estimate soil CO₂ efflux. Six different models are used to determine the relative gas diffusion coefficient (ξ). A weighted harmonic averaging is used to estimate the soil CO₂ diffusion coefficient, yielding a better estimate of soil CO₂ efflux. The resulting soil CO₂ efflux results are then compared to the soil CO₂ efflux measured with a soil chamber. Depending on the choice of ξ model used, the estimated soil CO₂ efflux using the gradient method reasonably approximates the efflux obtained using the soil chamber method. In addition, the estimated soil CO₂ efflux obtained by this improved method is well described by an exponential function of soil temperature at a depth of 0.05 m with the temperature sensitivity ( Q ₁₀) of 1.81 and a linear function of soil moisture at a depth of 0.12 m, in general agreement with previous findings. These results suggest that the gradient method is a practical cost-effective means to measure soil CO₂ emissions. Results from the present study suggest that the gradient method can be used successfully to measure soil CO₂ efflux provided that proper attention is paid to the judicious use of the proper diffusion coefficient.     

Is the recent build-up of atmospheric CO2 over Europe reproduced by models. Part 2: an overview with the atmospheric mesoscale transport model CHIMERE

In this issue, Ramonet et al. revealed a positive trend in European, atmospheric CO₂ concentrations relative to a marine, North Atlantic reference baseline, for the years 2001–2006. The observed build up mainly occurred during the cold season where it reaches a 0.8 ppm yr⁻¹ at low-altitude stations to a 0.3 ppm yr⁻¹ at mid-altitude stations. We explore the cause of this build-up using the mesoscale model CHIMERE. We first model the observed trends, using interannually varying fluxes and transport, then suppress the interannual variability in fluxes or aspects of transport to elucidate the cause. The run with no interannual variability in fluxes still matches observed trends suggesting that transport is the major cause. Separate runs varying either boundary layer height or winds show that changes in boundary layer height explain the trends at low-altitude stations within the continents while changes in wind regimes drive changes elsewhere.     

沈积岩石学

沈积学,在二十世纪初叶始渐起而为地质学中之新支,近数十年来随着石油工业之发达,而日趋蓬勃;一变昔日仅以岩石性质研究为沈积原因之解说,而侧重沈积作用及沈积环境之     

An analysis of regional climate model performance over the tropical Americas. Part I: simulating seasonal variability of precipitation associated with ENSO forcing

Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) constitute a major source of predictability in the tropics. We evaluate the ability of a regional climate model (the Rossby Centre Atmospheric Model; RCA) to downscale SST and large-scale atmospheric anomalies associated with ENSO. RCA is configured over the tropical east Pacific and tropical Americas and runs for the period 1979–2005, using European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) lateral and surface boundary conditions. We study the ability of RCA to represent regional patterns of precipitation, with respect to both the climatology and interannual variability associated with ENSO. The latter is achieved by grouping the simulations into El Niño and La Niña composites and studying the delayed response of precipitation to SST forcing in four regions of Central and South America.
In this paper, we concentrate on seasonal mean timescales. We find that RCA accurately simulates the main features of the precipitation climatology over the four regions and also reproduces the majority of the documented regional responses to ENSO forcing. Furthermore, the model captures the variability in precipitation anomalies between different ENSO events. The model exhibits a wet bias over the northern Amazon and slightly overestimates the magnitude of ENSO anomalies over Central America.     

Suspension and calibration of a sediment trap

The aim of this technical note is to introduce a new, simple construction of a buoy-carried, suspended sediment trap that meets given demands concerning design (geometry of vessels) and stability during the registration period. The device is based on a ball-and-socket joint in the center and two Plexiglas cylinders (D=5cm, H=30cm) on PVC plastic arms. The suspension consists of only three parts. To determine the optimal construction, the apparatus has been calibrated in a circulating flume at various water velocities.     

运用上月各气象要素的特征来预告下月雨量——(沈阳夏季各月雨量作例)

一个地方下月的雨量,能不能从当地上月天气演变的结果所记录下来的各种气象要素的数值来推测呢?现在这篇报告的目的就想解答这个问题。关於这方面的研究,以前早有人注意,例如竺可桢教授研究过冬天温度与夏季雨量的关系,     

Intermediate time error growth and predictability: tropics versus mid-latitudes

The evolution of identical twin errors from an atmospheric general circulation model is studied in the linear range (small errors) through intermediate times and the approach to saturation. Between forecast day 1 and 7, the normalized error variance in the tropics is similar to that at higher latitudes. After that, tropical errors grow more slowly. The predictability time τ taken for tropical errors to reach half their saturation values is larger than that for mid-latitudes, especially for the planetary waves, thus implying greater potential predictability in the tropics.
The discrepancy between mid-latitude and tropical τ is more pronounced at 850 hPa than at 200 hPa, is largest for the planetary waves, and is more pronounced for errors arising from wave phase differences (than from wave amplitude differences).
The spectra of the error in 200 hPa zonal wind show that for forecast times up to about 5 d, the tropical error peaks at much shorter scales than the mid-latitude errors, but that subsequently tropical and mid-latitude error spectra look increasingly similar.
The difference between upper and lower level tropical τ may be due to the greater influence of mid-latitudes at the upper levels.