The possible connection between ionization in the atmosphere by cosmic rays and low level clouds

Recent analysis of monthly mean cloud data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project uncovered a strong correlation between low cloud and the cosmic ray flux for extensive regions of the Earth. Additional data have been recently released covering the period up to September 2001 with which we have made a new study of the geographical variation of the correlation between low cloud and predicted ionization level from cosmic rays at an altitude of 2 km. When analysed globally, we find that the correlations do not correspond to the latitude variation of cosmic ray flux and they are not field significant. Nonetheless they appear to be marginally field significant over broad latitude and longitude bands with a peak positive correlation at 50 degrees North and South and a tendency to negative correlation at lower latitudes. The correlation is strongest over the North and South Atlantic. Several of these features are consistent with the predictions of the electroscavenging process.We use a simple model to calculate the climatic impact should the correlation be confirmed. We show that, under the most favorable conditions, a reduction in low cloud cover since the late 19th century, combined with the direct forcing by solar irradiance can explain a significant part of the global warming over the past century, but not all. However, this computation assumes that there is no feedback or changes in cloud at other levels.     

形变数字化观测曲线畸变与处理——兼论资料预处理中遇到的一些问题

数字化形变台站日常下载、处理直至管理数据,都应用《数字化通讯控制软件》、《形变前兆台站(网)数据处理系统》及《形变前兆数据库服务软件(台站版)》等三个软件交互进行,在实际使用过程中会遇到一些棘手的问题。本文结合我台的观测工作的实践,总结经验,以供台站同行共享。     

Intensified Eastward and Northward Propagation of Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillation over the Equatorial Indian Ocean in a Global Warming Scenario

Northward propagation in summer and eastward propagation in winter are two distinguished features of tropical intraseasonal oscillation(TISO) over the equatorial Indian Ocean.According to numerical modeling results,under a global warming scenario,both propagations were intensified.The enhanced northward propagation in summer can be attributed to the enhanced atmosphere-ocean interaction and the strengthened mean southerly wind;and the intensified eastward propagation in winter is associated with the enhanced convection-wind coupling process and the strengthened equatorial Kevin wave.Future changes of TISO propagations need to be explored in more climate models.     

二维能量平衡模式中大气温度对二氧化碳增温效应的响应

利用一个考虑了辐射能传输的二维能量平衡气候模式,解析地分析了二氧化碳浓度改变后冰界纬度的变化,得到了冰界纬度随CO2浓度变化的关系以及全球平均温度的变化曲线.结果表明,当CO2浓度由工业革命前的280×10-6增加到700×10-6时,冰界仅后退(北半球向北)几个纬度;当CO2的浓度继续增加时,冰界纬度会加速向极地退缩,直至出现全球无极冰覆盖的现象.同样地,当CO2浓度由280×10-6增加到700×10-6时,全球地表平均温度虽然在增加,但增加的速率很小,并且增加的速率在减小,而当大于700×10-6之后,温度增加的速率会快速增大,温度将加速上升.对不同反照率进行敏感性试验,发现当反照率从0.1到0.32时,结果并没有显著地改变,即结果对反照率的变化并不敏感.这一计算结果表明,在目前的状态下,由CO2引起的增温作用似乎处于变化很小的准饱和状态,即目前气候不会因为CO2浓度的增加而迅速变暖.较为实际的情形可能是大气温度在缓慢增加到一定程度后才会迅速升高.这并不意味着可以忽视CO2的增温效应,因为根据计算结果,这个临界值大概在700×10-6左右,当CO2浓度增加到超过临界值之后,气温会剧烈上升,气候将会处在一个非常温暖的阶段.     

我国南方冬季气候变暖前后极端降水事件分析

利用我国南方逐日降水资料及逐月温度资料,采用Mann-Kendall突变检验方法,并计算极端降水的GPD(Generalized Pareto Distribution)重现值,讨论了气候变暖前后我国南方冬季极端降水事件的变化。结果表明,我国南方冬季气候变暖的突变发生在1991年前后,且气候变暖后我国南方冬季的极端降水强度普遍有所增加。利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料进一步分析气候变暖前后的环流场特征,发现东亚热带冬季风异常与我国华南、江南地区降水异常有显著的相关关系。东亚热带冬季风偏强(弱),华南、江南地区降水偏少(多)。气候变暖后中高纬度环流经向度加大,有利于北方的冷空气向南输送。此外,气候变暖后我国南方地面气温升高,海陆热力差异减小,东亚热带冬季风减弱,有利于西太平洋的暖湿气流向我国大陆东南部输送,并在东南部形成异常的水汽通量辐合,有利于形成强降水。气候变暖后,中高纬度与中低纬度异常环流系统的相互作用是我国东南部降水强度增加的主要原因。     

本世纪全球增暖的显著性分析

用Ｊｏｎｅｓ、Ｗａｌａｃｅ等人全球年平均气温距平和全球陆地和海洋月平均气温距平格点资料,通过相关和趋势分析及Ｍａｎｎ－Ｋｅｎｄａｌ趋势检验（以下简称ＭＫＴ检验）发现：本世纪全球绝大部分地区增暖是显著的,而热带、副热带海洋,尤其是印度洋近百年来增暖最稳定．北大西洋近几十年来的显著降温导致了西半球３０°Ｎ以北大部分地区增暖趋势明显下降．与之相反,东半球欧亚大陆近几十年来冬季的强烈增温使地球增暖趋势大大增高,以致形成了东亚大陆和北大西洋－北美大陆东部地区在近５０年来变温反相的不均衡格局     

Modeling Arctic Ocean heat transport and warming episodes in the 20th century caused by the intruding Atlantic Water

This study investigates the Arctic Ocean warming episodes in the 20th century using both a high-resolution coupled global climate model and historical observations. The model, with no flux adjustment, reproduces well the Atlantic Water core temperature （AWCT） in the Arctic Ocean and shows that four largest decadalscale warming episodes occurred in the 1930s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, in agreement with the hydrographic observational data. The difference is that there was no pre-warming prior to the 1930s episode, while there were two pre-warming episodes in the 1970s and 80s prior to the 1990s, leading the 1990s into the largest and prolonged warming in the 20th century. Over the last century, the simulated heat transport via Fram Strait and the Barents Sea was estimated to be, on average, 31.32 TW and 14.82 TW, respectively, while the Bering Strait also provides 15.94 TW heat into the west- ern Arctic Ocean. Heat transport into the Arctic Ocean by the Atlantic Water via Fram Strait and the Barents Sea correlates significantly with AWCT （ C = 0.75 ） at 0- lag. The modeled North Atlantic Oscillation （NAO） index has a significant correlation with the heat transport （ C = 0.37 ）. The observed AWCT has a significant correlation with both the modeled AWCT （ C =0.49） and the heat transport （ C =0.41 ）. However, the modeled NAO index does not significantly correlate with either the observed AWCT （ C = 0.03 ） or modeled AWCT （ C = 0.16 ） at a zero-lag, indicating that the Arctic climate system is far more complex than expected.     

1990年代长江中下游地区多雨的机制分析

对长江中下游地区３２个测站１９５１以来的降水记录以及上海、南京等６个站１２０年降水序列的分析表明,１９９０年代是长江中下游地区百年来降水最多的１０年。降水的偏多导致洪涝发生的频率及强度都加强。最近１２０年中１２次异常多雨的年份,出现在１９９０年代的就有４次。１９５１年以来的６个异常多雨夏季个例的合成分析表明,与洪涝直接相联系的大气环流形式是在江南有偏强的向北经向风及水汽输送异常,而在华北及偏北地区     

全球1.5℃和2.0℃升温对中国小麦产量的影响研究

采用部门间影响模式比较计划（ISI-MIP）的气候模式,确定全球升温1.5℃和2.0℃出现的时间,并结合农业技术转移决策支持系统（DSSAT）模型模拟小麦的产量,最终选取4套数据对比研究中国小麦区温度和降水变化特征以及各区域小麦产量变化趋势,综合评价了不同升温情景对中国小麦产量的影响。结果表明：(1)在全球升温1.5℃和2.0℃背景下,我国小麦生育期内温度相对于工业革命前分别升高1.17℃和1.81℃。两种升温情景下我国春麦区升温幅度大于冬麦区升温幅度。春麦区中新疆春麦区升温幅度最大,西北春麦区升温幅度最小;冬麦区中温度变化最大和最小的麦区分别为西南冬麦区和黄淮冬麦区。(2)在全球升温1.5℃和2.0℃情景下,我国小麦生育期内降水相对于历史时段(1986—2005年)分别增加9.1%和11.3%。从各麦区来看,两种升温情景下春麦区降水增加幅度略大于冬麦区的增加幅度。所有麦区中只有新疆春麦区降水低于历史时段降水。春麦区降水增加幅度最大的麦区为北部春麦区。冬麦区中降水增加较大的麦区为北部冬麦区和黄淮冬麦区,降水增加较小的麦区为华南冬麦区和西南冬麦区。(3)两种升温情景下,我国小麦单产相对于历史时段(1986—2005年)平均减产分别为5.2%和4.6%,两种升温情景对中国小麦产量并没有显著的差异。在全球升温大背景下我国春小麦主要呈现增产趋势,冬小麦主要呈现减产趋势。减产幅度较大的麦区为华南冬麦区和青藏春麦区,增产幅度最大的麦区为西北春麦区。从各麦区产量减产面积比例上看,我国各麦区减产面积所占比例趋势为从北向南由多变少再变多,其中华南冬麦区减产面积所占比例最大,北部冬麦区最小。     

北京一次罕见夜间突发性强增温事件成因分析

夜间降温是正常的地表气温日变化,但统计表明北京及周边地区冬半年时常出现入夜后气温不降反升的现象,甚至出现了小时升温超过10℃的剧烈增温事件。这种增温具有明显的突发性,且很快转为降温,常对业务预报造成困扰。2010年11月26日夜间冷锋过境该区域造成了最强达12℃·h^-1的夜间急剧增温事件,与气候统计结果相比,该次增温幅度和影响区域范围非常罕见且极端。文章对其进行了详细诊断分析,使用的资料包括自动气象站、常规地面和探空、铁塔、卫星、风廓线雷达等观测资料和美国环境预报中心(NCEP)最终分析资料。分析结果表明:该次过程对流层低层有非常显著的冷平流;垂直速度诊断、卫星和风廓线雷达观测都表明,对流层中低层都存在显著的强下沉运动;铁塔观测和北京探空观测演变都表明增温过程中近地面大气有显著的湍流运动。分析此次罕见过程的机理包括三个方面:高原地区地面位温显著高于平原地区(二者最大可差10 K),是该次罕见增温事件形成的首要条件;强下沉运动使得低密度高位温空气强迫下沉到边界层,是增温必要条件;强湍流混合作用则是地面空气增温的必要机制。估算结果表明,边界层急流伴随的强湍流混合可引起约8℃的罕见地面空气增温。最后,给出了该次事件的机理概念模型。