Environmental zonation across the Australian arid region based on long-term vegetation dynamics

Zonation of landscapes is generally based on broad scale biophysical data, field surveys, imagery and expert knowledge. Such zonation represents a static view of the environment and does not reflect dynamics and function. Arid environments are however often highly dynamic, and spatial and temporal patterns may be expressed over long periods of time. These dynamics need to be understood for management. Our aim is to understand the dynamics and functional response of vegetation in the Australian arid zone, and use this to inform and potentially improve the currently employed stratification. Principal component analysis of 25 years of satellite imagery identified underlying factors influencing patterns of arid vegetation growth, and regions of similar long-term response. Dominant factors of variation were identified as the spatial distribution of total vegetation growth, seasonality of growth, magnitude of seasonal variability in growth, and regularity of variation in growth. Additional variation resulted from episodic vegetation growth of limited spatial extent and duration. Classes expressing these functional components were compared with the existing biogeographical regions, revealing agreement in some instances, and in other cases adding information previously not available. The study demonstrates a new approach to Australian landscape zonation that has potential for much wider application.     

Comparison of the Global Energy Cycle between Chinese Reanalysis Interim and ECMWF Reanalysis

The global energy cycle is a diagnostic metric widely used to gauge the quality of datasets. In this paper, the "Mixed Space-Time Domain" method for diagnosis of energy cycle is evaluated by using newly developed datasets-the Chinese Reanalysis Interim (CRAI) and ECMWF Reanalysis version 5 (ERA5), over a 7-yr period (2010-16) on seasonal and monthly timescales. The results show that the energy components calculated from the two reanalysis datasets are highly consistent;however, some components in the global energy integral from CRAI are slightly larger than those from ERA5. The main discrepancy in the energy components stems from the conversion of baroclinic process, whereas the dominant difference originates from the conversion from stationary eddy available potential energy to stationary eddy kinetic energy (CES), which is caused by systematic differences in the temperature and vertical velocity in low-mid latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and near the Antarctic, where there exist complex terrains. Furthermore, the monthly analysis reveals that the general discrepancy in the temporal variation between the two datasets also lie mainly in the CES as well as corresponding generation and dissipation rates.     

The creation of governments-in-waiting: The Arab Uprisings and legitimacy in the international system

During the Arab Uprisings from 2010 a series of new interim governments were formed in which processes of international brokerage played a significant role. Some governments were formed only once the old political order had been displaced, but others were established during, and partly as a means to achieve, that displacement amidst continuing armed conflict. It is this second type of case that will be examined in this paper, where the move by major powers to shift recognition to new administrations forms part of the process of delegitimising a national political system that still, at least in part, exists. This paper will look at the multi-site formation of these “governments-in-waiting”, as they seek to bridge the gap between the diaspora and the resident, between the long established parties of exile and the local military commanders. The process of formation also acts as a channel through which external authorities seek – not always successfully – to act as dispensers of legitimation, and thus arbiters of rightful inclusion within structures of government. It will explore how the act of legitimation translates into changing modes of governance in areas that came under the control of the new authorities, their role in facilitating and managing processes of civil and military defection, and, in the some cases, the consequences of prior formation for the establishment of full governments once the ancien régime has finally been overthrown.     

基于ERA Interim的L波段探空秒级风速算法检验

本文基于L波段探空雷达高垂直分辨率方位数据,通过在不同探空高度处选取不同尺度的时间窗口,设计了计算秒级风速的3种方案。通过比较3种计算方案得到的秒级风速与ERA-Interim再分析资料在平均偏差Bias和均方根误差RMSE等指标上的差异,给出了计算秒级风速的最优算法。结果表明:由于雷达的定位存在系统偏差,窗口选取过大或过小均会引入较大的秒级风速误差,选取适当尺度的时间窗口是准确计算秒级风速的必要条件。另外,基于ERA-Interim再分析资料具备良好的时空一致性,本文提出了1种检验L波段秒级风速算法优劣的新方案。     

稻麦轮作农田区大气边界层高度的日变化和季节特征

利用2015年7月至2016年5月寿县稻麦轮作农田区观测站地基多通道微波辐射计观测的高时间分辨率温度廓线资料,结合位温梯度法,计算了该站点的大气边界层高度,分析了边界层高度的日、月和季节演变规律。结果显示,晴朗天气情况下,边界层高度具备典型的日变化特征,随着地面温度的升高边界层高度不断增大。其最大平均值通常出现在午后,8月平均高度最高,超过1520m,1月最低,只有520m。而且边界层高度具有季节变化趋势,春季(3—5月)、夏季(6—8月)、秋季(9—11月)和冬季(12月至次年2月)平均高度分别为436m,499m,377m和322m。将边界层高度结果与FNL和ERA-Interim数据进行对比,发现在白天时间段(08:00—19:00)FNL和ERA-Interim比观测平均值分别高258m,346m,夜间时间段(19:00至次日08:00)比观测平均值分别低144m,102m。     

中国第一代再分析产品CRA Interim气温在东南极中山站 - Dome A断面的适用性分析

2017年中国气象局发布中国第一代全球大气和陆面再分析产品（以下简称“中国再分析产品”）CRA Interim, 通过对比CRA Interim气温资料与中国在南极考察区域中山站 - Dome A断面气象站实测2 m气温、 欧洲中期数值预报中心再分析产品（以下简称“欧洲再分析产品”）ERA Interim和ERA5相应的气温资料, 分析了CRA Interim气温在东南极中山站 - Dome A断面的适用性。结果表明： 三种再分析产品均能反映研究区域的气温变化, 均具有一定适用性, 但是都存在一定偏差且适用性存在区域差异和季节差异。CRA Interim、 ERA Interim、 ERA5对中山站 - Dome A断面气温的解释方差分别为81.3%、 87.1%、 87.2%。中国与欧洲再分析产品对日均值与最低温的反演都呈现负偏差, CRA Interim对最高温的反演表现为负偏差（-1.8 ℃）, 欧洲再分析产品则表现为正偏差（ERA Interim和ERA5偏差分别为0.5 ℃和0.8 ℃）。中国与欧洲再分析产品在位于冰盖边缘的中山站适用性最好, 位于冰盖内陆的Dome A次之, 对Eagle站气温的反演偏差较大。三种再分析产品对冬季气温反演最差, ERA Interim对秋季气温反演最好, CRA Interim和ERA5对夏季气温反演最好。CRA Interim、 ERA Interim、 ERA5对极端低温事件发生时最低温的解释方差分别为46.1%、 76.9%、 87.3%, 对极端高温事件发生时最高温的解释方差分别为59.9%、 65.1%、 73.6%, 极端事件发生时ERA5对极端气温的反演更为准确。2016年9月3日 - 13日极端低温事件主要受冷高压的影响, 7月25日 - 8月6日极端高温事件主要受暖低压和暖舌的影响。CRA Interim能够反演东南极中山站 - Dome A断面的气温及极端气温事件的变化, 但对风场尤其是中山站风场的反演不准确。与欧洲再分析产品相比, CRA Interim在中山站 - Dome A断面的适用性较低, 三种再分析产品中ERA5更适于南极极端天气与气候的研究。     

基于ERAlnlerim资料的2003年淮河流域梅雨期水汽收支分析

以2003年6月29日-7月11日淮河流域梅雨期强降水为研究对象,采用ERAInterim再分析资料和站点降水资料,综合分析该期间慢降水时段水汽收支。结果表明：降水主要来自低层水汽辐合的贡献,而与低空急流相联系的水汽辐合具有显著的日变化,即后半夜至凌晨最大,午后最小,并由此造成了梅雨期强降水独特的日变化特征,最强降水出现在后半夜至凌晨;蒸发主要集中在白天,夜晚很小,数值约为降水量的15％,表明局地水循环的重要作用。针对淮河流域强降水区进行的水汽收支计算表明,水汽收支方程左、右两边数值在整个强降水时段具有较好的一致性,相关系数为0．77;对整个强降水期取时间平均,获得的水汽收支方程左、右两端数值的偏差为18％。     

EAR70、CLDAS和ERA-Interim表层土壤温度在中国地区的评估

本文利用2010-2015年2400多国家气象站逐小时观测数据对覆盖中国的EAR70、CLDAS和ERA-Interim 3种表层土壤温度进行了评估和对比.结果 表明:空间上CLDAS表层土壤温度精度最高(平均误差为-0.5℃,均方根误差为3.0℃,相关系数为0.96),受益于CLDAS高精度的陆面初始场,EAR70平...