Stratospheric wave activity and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation

Using the monthly mean NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and NOAA Extended Reconstructed sea surface temperature (SST) datasets, strong correlations between the SST anomalies in the North Pacific and calculated three-dimensional Eliassen–Palm vertical fluxes are indicated in December 1958–1976 and 1992–2006. These correlations between the interannual variations of the SST anomalies and the penetration of planetary waves into the stratosphere are much less during the decadal sub-period 1976–1992 in the positive phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the decadal cold SST anomalies in the North Pacific. Interannual variations of the polar jet in the lower stratosphere in January are strongly associated with SST anomalies in the Aleutian Low region in December for the years with positive PDO index. This sub-period corresponds well with that of the violation of the Holton–Tan relationship between the equatorial Quasi-Beinnial Oscillation (QBO) and the stratospheric circulation in the extra-tropics. It is shown that interannual and interdecadal variations of stratospheric dynamics, including stratospheric warming occurrences in January, depend strongly on changes of the upward propagation of planetary waves from the troposphere to the stratosphere over North Eurasia in preceding December. These findings give evidences of a large impact of the decadal SST variations in the North Pacific on wave activity in early winter due to changes of thermal excitation of planetary waves during distinct decadal periods. Possible causes of the decadal violation of the Holton–Tan relationship, its relation to the PDO and an influence of the 11-year solar cycle on the stratosphere are discussed.     

Global ENSO-streamflow teleconnection,streamflow forecasting and interannual variability

Abstract

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been linked to climate anomalies throughout the world. This paper presents an overview of global ENSO-streamflow teleconnection and identifies regions where the relationship may be exploited to forecast streamflow several months ahead. The teleconnection is investigated by fitting a first harmonic to 24-month El Niño streamflow composites from 581 catchments worldwide and the potential for forecasting is investigated by calculating the lag correlation between streamflow and two indicators of ENSO. The analyses indicate clear ENSO-streamflow teleconnections in many catchments, some of which are consistent across large geographical regions. Strong and regionally consistent ENSO-streamflow teleconnections are identified in Australia and New Zealand, South and Central America, and weaker signals are identified in some parts of Africa and North America. The results suggest that the ENSO-streamflow relationship and the serial correlation in streamflow can be used to successfully forecast streamflow. The streamflow forecasts can be used to help manage water resources, particularly in systems with high interannual variability in Australia, southern and drier parts of Africa and some areas of North America.     

Hadley环流的年际和年代际变化特征及其与热带海温的关系

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析风场资料和NOAA海表温度(SST)资料，分析了冬、夏季Hadley环流的变化特征及其与热带海温在年际、年代际尺度上的关系. 结果表明，冬季北半球Hadley环流强度具有明显的年际和年代际变化，同时还呈现出明显的增强趋势. 伴随着Hadley环流的加强，环流中心位置南移，高度上升；夏季南半球Hadley环流变化主要表现为强、弱、强的年代际振动，没有明显的线性趋势. 研究还显示冬季Hadley环流与Nino3区SST正相关，这种相关性具有年代际变化特征. 年际尺度上，冬季北半球Hadley环流与Nino3区SST正相关；夏季南半球Hadley环流与Nino3区SST负相关，即当赤道中东太平洋SST异常偏暖(冷)时，冬、夏季Hadley环流变强(弱).     

非洲磁异常对地磁场结构及其长期变化的控制作用

地球非偶极磁场在主磁场结构及其长期变化中起着重要作用.非偶极磁场主要表现为行星尺度磁异常,它们是南大西洋磁异常、非洲磁异常、欧亚大陆磁异常、澳洲磁异常和北美磁异常.在这5块磁异常中,非洲磁异常对磁赤道的形状和位置以及全球长期变化特征有极大的影响.非洲磁异常的重要性主要表现在3方面：第一,由于异常区位于赤道这一特殊的地理位置,所以它极大地影响磁赤道的形状和位置.相对于偶极场的地磁赤道而言,异常区所在的中北非洲和中大西洋地区的磁赤道向北移动,最大移动量可达约15°.第二,非洲磁异常的快速西漂对全球长期变化的分布起着决定性作用,它在该异常区西边的中美洲形成了全球最主要的长期变化区,在1900~2005年期间,最大年变率Z_max超过200 nT/a.第三,非洲负磁异常区与其南面的南大西洋正磁异常区相结合,〖HJ〗它们的变化使西半球地磁场强度大大减弱,也使全球磁场发生显著畸变.这两块磁异常与深部的反极性斑区有着成因联系.     

Effects of Arctic Sea Ice Decline on Weather and Climate: A Review

The areal extent, concentration and thickness of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas have strongly decreased during the recent decades, but cold, snow-rich winters have been common over mid-latitude land areas since 2005. A review is presented on studies addressing the local and remote effects of the sea ice decline on weather and climate. It is evident that the reduction in sea ice cover has increased the heat flux from the ocean to atmosphere in autumn and early winter. This has locally increased air temperature, moisture, and cloud cover and reduced the static stability in the lower troposphere. Several studies based on observations, atmospheric reanalyses, and model experiments suggest that the sea ice decline, together with increased snow cover in Eurasia, favours circulation patterns resembling the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation and Arctic Oscillation. The suggested large-scale pressure patterns include a high over Eurasia, which favours cold winters in Europe and northeastern Eurasia. A high over the western and a low over the eastern North America have also been suggested, favouring advection of Arctic air masses to North America. Mid-latitude winter weather is, however, affected by several other factors, which generate a large inter-annual variability and often mask the effects of sea ice decline. In addition, the small sample of years with a large sea ice loss makes it difficult to distinguish the effects directly attributable to sea ice conditions. Several studies suggest that, with advancing global warming, cold winters in mid-latitude continents will no longer be common during the second half of the twenty-first century. Recent studies have also suggested causal links between the sea ice decline and summer precipitation in Europe, the Mediterranean, and East Asia.     

2008年和2012年冬季欧洲气候的差异及成因

2008年冬季（1月和2月）和2012年冬季均发生了较强的拉尼娜事件,但欧洲气候,尤其是西欧在这两年差异较大,2008年异常偏暖,而2012年却出现了极寒事件.诊断表明,大气环流异常是造成气候差异的直接原因.2008年冬季,北大西洋上空大气环流异常呈正位相的北大西洋涛动,有利于欧洲异常偏暖;2012年冬季,北大西洋和欧亚高纬阻塞的长期维持是西欧发生极端严寒的重要原因.通过数值试验,研究了前期海表热状况异常对大气的影响.结果表明：北大西洋海温异常能在一定程度上解释这两年欧洲各自的气候异常;尽管热带海温异常对2012年冬季的北大西洋环流形势和欧洲气候异常起一定的贡献,但不能解释2008年的情形;靠近欧洲的北极海冰异常偏少使得欧洲气候偏冷,对2008年的偏暖气候贡献为负,对2012年则有正贡献.     

Global projections of changing risks of floods and droughts in a changing climate

Abstract

Simulated daily discharge derived from a relatively high-resolution (approximately 1.1-degree) general circulation model was used to investigate future projections of extremes in river discharge under global warming. The frequency of floods was projected to increase over many regions, except those including North America and central to western Eurasia. The drought frequency was projected to increase globally, while regions such as northern high latitudes, eastern Australia, and eastern Eurasia showed a decrease or no significant changes. Changes in flood and drought are not explained simply by changes in annual precipitation, heavy precipitation, or differences between precipitation and evapotranspiration. Several regions were projected to have increases in both flood frequency and drought frequency. Such regions show a decrease in the number of precipitation days, but an increase in days with heavy rain. Several regions show shifts in the flood season from springtime snowmelt to the summer period of heavy precipitation.     

新疆北部汛期降水年际和年代际异常的环流特征

新疆北部汛期（7～8月）降水量具有明显的年际和年代际变化.针对年代际、除去年代际后年际和不同年代际背景下年际变化三种时间尺度，利用NECP/NCAR再分析资料，分析相应的大气环流.结果表明，三种时间尺度降水变化的物理机制不同，年代际背景非常重要.新疆北部汛期降水异常时，欧亚中高纬环流系统具有相当正压结构的显著异常.从气候角度和年代际大气环流变化，提出新疆年代际增湿存在索马里越赤道急流到新疆的三段式水汽接力输送方式，索马里急流和热带印度洋是中亚和新疆的重要水汽补充源之一.     

华北降水年代际、年际变化特征与北半球大气环流的联系

利用美国NCEP再分析月平均资料及我国华北地区26个测站月降水资料,采用奇异值分解（SVD）方法,研究了华北降水的年代际和年际变化特征与北半球大气环流的联系.结果表明,首先对降水和大气变量资料作相应时间尺度的分离是非常必要的,否则所得到的SVD结果不能反映年代际变化特征而只能反映年际变化特征;华北降水年代际和年际变化对应的大气环流异常有明显的差异;对应发生在20世纪70年代后期华北降水的一次年代际跃变,环流场均存在明显的跃变,而且有一个从地面向对流层上层传播的过程.     

全球五大板块的运动和形变──用卫星激光测距数据导出的站速度分析

根据德国卫星激光测距（ＳＬＲ）数据分析中心ＧＦＺ对１９８０年１月－１９９１年７月获取的ＳＬＲ观测数据处理后得到的４１个ＳＬＲ站的站速度，解算了北美、欧亚、太平洋、南美和澳大利亚板块之间的相对运动欧拉矢量，得到了第１个ＳＬＲ实测的板块运动模型ＳＰＭＭ１．与地学板块模型ＲＭ２和ＮＵＶＥＬ－１的比较指出，ＳＰＭＭ１大体上与地学模型一致，与ＮＵＶＥＬ－１更为接近；ＳＰＭＭ１的欧亚与北美板块相对运动欧拉极与ＮＵＶＥＬ－１的相应极很接近，但旋转速率明显偏小．还分析了各板块上ＳＬＲ站的局部形变特征．欧亚板块东部和西部存在１０－２０ｍｍ／ａ的相对运动；板块边界附近ＳＬＲ站的残差站速度基本上反映了该边界的构造形变特征．     

Plate kinematics: The Americas,East Africa,and the rest of the world

Euler vectors (relative angular velocity vectors) have been determined for twelve major plates by global inversion of carefully selected sea-floor spreading rates, transform fault trends, and earthquake slip vectors. The rate information comes from marine magnetic anomalies less than 5 m.y. old, so the motions are valid for post-Miocene times. Plate motions in a mean hotspot frame of reference have also been determined, and statistical confidence limits for all the Euler vectors estimated. Among the consequences of the global motion model is the conclusion that fast-spreading ridges (separation rates greater than 3 cm/yr) have plate motion nearly perpendicular to the strike of the ridge and magnetic anomalies. Four more slowly separating ridges have an average obliquity of spreading of almost 20°.For several plate boundaries, results that differ from previous studies are in agreement with geological evidence. The North and South American plates converge slowly about a pole east of the Antilles and near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The results for Africa versus Somalia imply slow east-west extension on the East African Rift Valleys. The pole for motion of Eurasia relative to North America is located near Sakhalin, in accordance with evidence from Siberia and Sakhalin.     

全球纬向平均大气环流基本模态年代际变化的凝聚小波分析

应用1871-2008年NCEP／NCAR月平均再分析资料,研究了1948-2008年期间全球纬向平均大气环流基本模态的年代际变化.小波凝聚谱的结果表明全球纬向平均大气环流基本模态存在显著的20年左右周期的年代际变化.小波凝聚位相的结果清楚地显示了纬向平均大气环流基本模态的变化顺序.在20年左右的年代际变化时间尺度上,全球纬向平均温度超前纬向平均位势高度2个月,同时超前纬向平均流10个月出现变化;全球纬向平均位势高度又超前纬向平均流8个月出现变化.全球温度上升(下降), 将使高纬度的纬向平均位势高度降低(升高),中低纬度的纬向平均位势高度升高(降低);进而使得中高纬和热带的纬向平均西风加(减)速或东风减(加)速,同时使极地和副热带的西风减(加)速或东风加(减)速.20世纪70年代末期以来全球显著增暖的异常信号最早出现在南半球对流层顶附近,其次出现在南半球对流层低层、北半球对流层顶附近和北半球对流层低层.     

华北降水年代际变化特征及相关的海气异常型

利用近50年华北地区26个站逐月降水观测资料和全球大气海洋分析资料,分析了华北降水的年代际变化特征及其和全球海气系统年代际变化的关系.对华北降水距平指数变化分析表明,近50年来华北降水具有减少的总体趋势,叠加在该趋势之上的是年代际变化,其中1965年和1980年发生了两次跃变,使得20世纪80年代干旱尤为严重.在对华北地区降水年代际变化特征分析的基础上,揭示了与华北降水年代际异常相伴随的大气环流和上层海洋热力异常型.结果表明,华北降水年代际异常与太平洋上层海洋热力状况异常有显著关系,主要表现为太平洋年代际振荡（PDO）与华北降水异常的相关.在年代际时间尺度上,华北干旱与上层海洋热力及大气环流异常的配置关系如下：当华北地区干旱时,则热带中东太平洋海温偏高,北太平洋中部海温偏低,即太平洋上主要表现为PDO暖位相,全球大部分地区（包括华北地区）气温偏高,青藏高原地区气温偏低,日本北部及东西伯利亚气压异常偏低,华北及其以南大片地区气压偏高,华北地区由异常西北风控制,不利于水汽向华北地区输送.     

North Atlantic Oscillation – Concepts And Studies

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of previous studies and concepts concerning the North Atlantic Oscillation. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and its recent homologue, the Arctic Oscillation/Northern Hemisphere annular mode (AO/NAM), are the most prominent modes of variability in the Northern Hemisphere winter climate. The NAO teleconnection is characterised by a meridional displacement of atmospheric mass over the North Atlantic area. Its state is usually expressed by the standardised air pressure difference between the Azores High and the Iceland Low. ThisNAO index is a measure of the strength of the westerly flow (positive with strong westerlies, and vice versa). Together with the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, the NAO is a major source of seasonal to interdecadal variability in the global atmosphere. On interannual and shorter time scales, the NAO dynamics can be explained as a purely internal mode of variability of the atmospheric circulation. Interdecadal variability maybe influenced, however, by ocean and sea-ice processes.     

Temporal and spatial features of the soil moisture in boreal spring in eastern China

Soil moisture data of 45 years from European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) and the in situ observational data are used to study the temporal and spatial characteristics of the soil moisture in boreal spring in the area to the east of 100°E in China. Results show that ERA-40 soil moisture well reproduces the temporal and spatial features of observations. ERA-40 data capture the spatial pattern that the soils in Northeast China and Southwest China are wetter than those...     

Impact of oceans on climate change in drylands

Drylands account for approximately 41% of the global total land area. Significant warming and rare precipitation in drylands result in a fragile ecology and deterioration of the living environment, making it more sensitive to global climate change. As an important regulator of the Earth's climate system, the oceans play a vital role in the process of climate change in drylands. In modern climate change in particular, the impact of marine activities on climate change in drylands cannot be neglected. This paper reviews the characteristics of climate change in drylands over the past 100 years, and summarizes the researches conducted on the impact of marine activities on these changes. The review focuses on the impact of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation(AMO), El Ni?o and La Ni?a on climate change in drylands, and introduces the mechanisms by which different oceanic oscillation factors synergistically affect climate change in drylands.Studies have shown that global drylands have experienced a significant intensification in warming in the past 100 years, which shows obvious characteristics of interdecadal dry/wet variations. The characteristics of these changes are closely related to the oscillatory factors of the oceanic interdecadal scale. Different phase combinations of oceanic oscillation factors significantly change the land-sea thermal contrast, which in turn affects the westerly jet, planetary wave and blocking frequency, resulting in changes in the temperature and dry/wet characteristics of drylands. With the intensification of climate change in drylands, the impact of marine activities on these regions will reveal new characteristics in the future, which will increase the uncertainty of future climate change in drylands and intensify the impact of these drylands on global climate.     

我国北方干湿演变规律及其与区域增暖的可能联系

用中国地区60个站的月平均气温和月降水资料,计算了我国北方地区地表水分收支、蒸发等水分过程.以此为基础,分析了三北地区（西北、东北和华北）地表水分的历史演变规律及其与气温变化的关系,特别分析了和区域增暖的关系.结果指出：在北方地区,地表水分有其显著的演变规律,不同地区其变化规律不同.而实际蒸发和气温的关系存在明显的阶段性,在1965年前与1965年后的相关关系是完全相反的.分析的结果还指出：当前北方地区的普遍增温是干旱化加剧的主要原因.     

Temperature variability in the Bay of Biscay during the past 40 years,from an in situ analysis and a 3D global simulation

A global in situ analysis and a global ocean simulation are used jointly to study interannual to decadal variability of temperature in the Bay of Biscay, from 1965 to 2003. A strong cooling is obtained at all depths until the mid-1970's, followed by a sustained warming over ～30 years. Strong interannual fluctuations are superimposed on this slow evolution. The fluctuations are intensified at the surface and are weakest at ～500 m. A good agreement is found between the observed and simulated temperatures, in terms of mean values, interannual variability and time correlations. Only the decadal trend is significantly underestimated in the simulation. A comparison to satellite sea surface temperature (SST) data over the last 20 years is also presented. The first mode of interannual variability exhibits a quasi-uniform structure and is related to the inverse winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index. Regarding the vertical structure, most cool and warm anomalies are generated at the surface, with the strongest ones penetrating down to 700 m and lasting up to 5 years. The complete heat budget from 1965 to 2004 is presented, including the contributions of vertical transport, freshwater flux and surface elevation. Interannual anomalies are mainly generated by the surface heat flux, while oceanic transports may become more important at longer time scales.     

利用IGS数据分析全球TEC的周年和半年变化特性

利用太阳活动高年（2000年）IGS提供的全球TEC数据，采用傅里叶展开的方法，分析了白天电离层TEC周年和半年变化的全球特征.结果显示：电离层TEC周年变化幅度在南北半球中高纬度地区较大、赤道和低纬地区很小.半年变化的幅度在“远极地区”（远离地球南北地磁极点的东北亚和南美地区） 比“近极地区”（靠近地球南北地磁极点的北美和澳大利亚）大得多.进一步的统计显示，全球大部分地区TEC在春秋月份出现最大值，北半球近极地区最大值在冬季出现.南半球的南美和澳大利亚部分地区，最大值出现在夏季.同样，采用傅里叶方法分析了中性大气模式MSIS90计算的全球大气原子分子浓度比值（［O/N2］）的数据，发现在南北半球中高纬度地区，中性成分［O/N2］周年变化幅度较大且有明显的冬季异常现象，依据Rishbeth等提出的理论，我们认为大气成分［O/N2］可能对TEC周年变化的产生有重要作用，并且也是TEC在近极地区出现冬季异常现象的主要原因.TEC半年变化的全球分布特征形成的原因较复杂，我们初步分析可能是由于中性成分［O/N2］、太阳天顶角控制的电离层光化学产生率变化共同作用而产生的.     

Possible climate change/variability and human impacts,vulnerability of drought-prone regions,water resources and capacity building for Africa

ABSTRACT

This review article discusses the climate, water resources and historical droughts of Africa, drought indices, vulnerability, impact of global warming and land use for drought-prone regions in West, southern and the Greater Horn of Africa, which have suffered recurrent severe droughts in the past. Recent studies detected warming and drying trends in Africa since the mid 20th century. Based on the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), both northern and southern Africa are projected to experience drying, such as decreasing precipitation, runoff and soil moisture in the 21st century and could become more vulnerable to the impact of droughts. The daily maximum temperature is projected to increase by up to 8°C (RCP8.5 of CMIP5), precipitation indices such as total wet day precipitation (PRCPTOT) and heavy precipitation days (R10 mm) could decrease, while warm spell duration (WSDI) and consecutive dry days (CDD) could increase. Uncertainties of the above long-term projections, teleconnections to climate anomalies such as ENSO and the Madden-Julian Oscillation, which could also affect the water resources of Africa, and capacity building in terms of physical infrastructure and non-structural solutions are also discussed. Given that traditional climate and hydrological data observed in Africa are generally limited, satellite data should also be exploited to fill the data gap for Africa in the future.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor N. Ilich