Investigating the mechanisms leading to the deglaciation of past continental northern hemisphere ice sheets with the CLIMBER–GREMLINS coupled model

A coupling procedure between a climate model of intermediate complexity (CLIMBER-2.3) and a 3-dimensional thermo-mechanical ice-sheet model (GREMLINS) has been elaborated. The resulting coupled model describes the evolution of atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, cryosphere and their mutual interactions. It is used to perform several simulations of the Last Deglaciation period to identify the physical mechanisms at the origin of the deglaciation process. Our baseline experiment, forced by insolation and atmospheric CO₂, produces almost complete deglaciation of past northern hemisphere continental ice sheets, although ice remains over the Cordilleran region at the end of the simulation and also in Alaska and Eastern Siberia. Results clearly demonstrate that, in this study, the melting of the North American ice sheet is critically dependent on the deglaciation of Fennoscandia through processes involving switches of the thermohaline circulation from a glacial mode to a modern one and associated warming of the northern hemisphere. A set of sensitivity experiments has been carried out to test the relative importance of both forcing factors and internal processes in the deglaciation mechanism. It appears that the deglaciation is primarily driven by insolation. However, the atmospheric CO₂ modulates the timing of the melting of the Fennoscandian ice sheet, and results relative to Laurentide illustrate the existence of threshold CO₂ values, that can be translated in terms of critical temperature, below which the deglaciation is impeded. Finally, we show that the beginning of the deglaciation process of the Laurentide ice sheet may be influenced by the time at which the shift of the thermohaline circulation from one mode to the other occurs.     

Extension of a qualitative model on nutrient cycling and transformation to include microtidal estuaries on wave-dominated coasts: Southern hemisphere perspective

Estuaries are dynamic transition zones acting as filters and transformers of nutrients passing from catchments to the sea. We propose an extension to an existing southern hemisphere model on nutrient dynamics in estuaries to include the relatively constricted, microtidal estuaries located along wave-dominated coasts in the region, specifically focusing on the limiting macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and on key processes, including physical (e.g. flushing, mixing and sedimentation), geochemical (e.g. flocculation), biochemical (e.g. remineralisation) and biological (e.g. primary production) processes. A simplified model of the physical states (primarily controlled by hydrological characteristics) is used as the basis for the qualitative model, where these are defined in terms of characteristic salinity-induced stratification of the water column, flushing time and the mouth condition. Four physical states are identified: a freshwater-dominated state, freshwater pulsed/recovery state, marine-dominated state and the closed mouth state. The states and their physical characteristics largely resemble that of the earlier model, except that the extended model reflects the dynamics of restricted inlets and introduces the closed mouth state. This model specifically explores the variation within southern African estuarine systems to better inform research and management programmes on the appropriate trophic, temporal and spatial scales at which uncertainties in ecosystem functioning need resolving. It can also be applied to other regions in the southern hemisphere, and even the northern hemisphere, with similar hydrological and estuarine geomorphological characteristics (e.g. the Mediterranean coast, the west coasts of North and South America, and the south-west and south-eastern coasts of Australia).     

中国SLR在南半球观测取得良好进展

本文简要介绍了用中国研制的人造卫星激光测距仪(SLR),安装在阿根廷与San Juan大学天文台开展SLR合作观测与研究的意义,以及这个SLR系统的指标和性能.该仪器系统于2006年初在阿根廷国立San Juan大学天文台工作以来,进展良好,取得了观测数量丰富、精度高的优良结果.该合作的进展状况和未来的发展设想也在文中做了介绍.     

Tropospheric methane in the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere

Results of more than 800 new measurements of methane (CH₄) concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere troposphere (34–41° S, 130–150° E) are reported. These were obtained between September 1980 and March 1983 from the surface at Cape Grim, Tasmania, through the middle (3.5–5.5 km) to the upper troposphere (7–10 km). The concentration of CH₄ increased throughout the entire troposphere over the measurement period, adding further support to the view that CH₄ concentrations are currently increasing on a global scale. For data averaged vertically through the troposphere the rate of increase found was 20 ppbv/yr or 1.3%/yr at December 1981. In the surface CH₄ data a seasonal cycle with a peak to peak amplitude of approximately 28 ppbv is seen, with the minimum concentration occurring in March and the maximum in September–October. A cycle with the same phase as that seen at the surface, but with a significantly decreased amplitude, is apparent in the mid troposphere but no cycle is detected in the upper tropospheric data. The phase and amplitude of the cycle are qualitatively in agreement with the concept that the major sink for methane is oxidation by hydroxyl radicals. Also presented is evidence of a positive vertical gradient in methane, with a suggestion that the magnitude of this gradient has changed over the period of measurements.     

南半球环流异常与我国夏季旱涝分布关系及其影响机制

利用1951—2000年NCEP/NCAR风场和高度场再分析资料及全国160站降水量资料, 采用奇异值分解、相关和合成分析方法, 研究6—8月南半球500 hPa高度、高低层纬向风距平差异常 (Δu₈₅₀-Δu₂₀₀) 与我国夏季旱涝分布的关系及其影响机制。结果表明:当500 hPa澳大利亚高压脊偏强及西南太平洋热带地区高低层纬向风距平差为负值时, 来自南半球冷空气活动偏弱, 有利于西北太平洋副热带高压位置偏南, 热带季风偏弱, 我国夏季雨带偏南。反之, 当澳大利亚高压脊偏弱及西南太平洋热带地区高低层纬向风距平差为正值时, 我国北方降水偏多。同时, 定义了澳大利亚冬季风指数, 指出澳大利亚冬季风强年和弱年影响我国夏季旱涝分布异常的水汽输送型式不同。     

Late Holocene Isotopic and Molecular Signals in Saline Sediments of Lake Cantara South,Australia

正Isotopic,biomarker,and trace elements of a 65 cm long sedimentary core from Lake Cantara south in Adelaide,Australia were measured in an effort to trace environmental change clues in the southern Hemisphere.The geochemical     

雪龙船南北极考察走航图的制作

“雪龙船南北极考察走航图”是采用新编《系列世界地图》制作的成果。极地考察是一项全球性的重要的科学活动,雪龙船是我国目前唯一的极地科学考察破冰船,表现雪龙船极地科学考察航行路线的走航图,将成为我国南北极考察活动与社会公众沟通的新形式和重要媒介之一。     

大尺度大气环流变化及其对北半球冬季温度的影响

近半个世纪来的全球温度的变化表现出有很大的空间尺度和显著的线性趋势 ,许多研究强调温室效应对全球气候变暖的影响。文中的研究表明大尺度的大气环流的变化对北半球冬季温度有很重要的影响。最近一些学者侧重北大西洋涛动 (NAO)和北太平洋涛动 (NPO)的作用 ,而NAO和NPO都是行星尺度大气环流在区域的特殊表现形式。全球西风环流系统可能具有根本性的作用。当西风环流处于高指数时期时 ,则温度偏高 ;当处于低指数时期时 ,则温度偏低。西风强度及NAO和NPO能解释近 50年来北半球冬季温度变化方差的 2 7 2 %。     

集合预报及其在中期天气预报中的应用

作者概述了集合预报的基本概念，集合预报中期天气预报中的意义与作用，现有的主要集合预报产品以及集合预报在美国美国国家气象中心和欧洲中期天气预报的业务运行。简要介绍了我国国家气象中心在动力延伸预报和集合预报方面的试验研究情况。