Reliability based approach for offloading operation related to motion of two side-by-side moored LNG carriers

A reliability based approach for analysis of offloading operations with two identical LNG carriers moored in a side-by-side configuration is suggested. The approach, although adopted for two tankers, is generally applicable to different types of LNG terminals. Different heading controls are conceivable for the discharging vessel in the case that the heading is not fixed: heading toward wind-sea, heading toward swell, heading toward wind and free weather vaning. The analyses show that heading toward the governing sea state is the most beneficial option for two identical LNG carriers moored in a side-by-side configuration. Strategies are discussed for estimation of limiting weather criteria that are consistent with prescribed target failure probabilities.     

Species richness,diversity and density of understory vegetation along disturbance gradients in the Himalayan conifer forest

We investigated whether species richness, diversity and density of understory herbaceous plants differed along logging(gap) and grazing(primarily by cattle) disturbance gradients, and sought to identify drivers of richness, diversity and density of understory vegetation of logged sites. A factorial experiment was conducted in the mixed conifer forest of Gidakom in Western Bhutan. Levels of the logging treatment included small(0.15 – 0.24 ha), medium(0.25 – 0.35 ha) and large(0.36 – 1.31 ha) gaps. The grazing treatment included grazed(primarily by cattle) and ungrazed(where herbivores were excluded by a fence) plots nested within each gap. Data were collected from 12 gaps(4 replicates at each level of logging) using the point intercept method. Shannon Weaver Diversity and Margalef's indices were used to estimate species diversity and describe species richness, respectively. Soil samples were analyzed for pH and nutrients. The interaction effect of logging and grazing was significant(p≤0.001) only on species diversity. Relative to ungrazed areas, species diversity was significantly higher(0.01≤p≤0.05) in medium grazed gaps. Under grazed conditions, soil P was negatively correlated with gap size and species diversity. While species diversity was positivelycorrelated(0.01≤p≤0.05) with soil N in grazed plots species richness was positively correlated(0.001≤p≤0.01) with soil N in ungrazed plots. Relative density of Yushania microphylla and Carex nubigena were higher under ungrazed conditions. Our study suggests that the combined effect of cattle grazing and logging results in higher species diversity of understory vegetation in medium and grazed gaps in mixed conifer forests of Bhutan,whereas increase or decrease in relative density of major species is determined primarily by the independent effects of grazing and logging. From management perspective, forest managers must refrain from creating large gaps to avoid loss of nutrients(mainly P and N), which may eventually affect tree regeneration. Managers intending to maintain understory vegetation diversity must consider the combined effects of grazing and logging, ensuring low to moderate grazing pressure.     

江淮入梅前后气象因子变化特征及预报着眼点探析

针对2010年江淮地区入梅日预报偏差情况,利用2010年6—7月高低空实况资料和NCEP再分析资料,分析了入梅前后湿度、经向风、地转西风急流的变化特征,并结合1985—2005年21 a历史平均状况和近几年的变化特征,分析了江淮地区入梅前后气象因子变化的规律性、普遍性,丰富了江淮地区入梅预报着眼点。研究发现:有些年份地转西风急流从30°N以南北跳到30~37.5°N区域,对江淮地区进入梅雨期有很好的预示作用,且其稳定维持,有利于江淮梅雨期降水的持续。70%湿度区北跳到30°N的时间及持续时间对江淮地区入梅日的预报和梅雨期长度有着较好的指示作用。在30~35°N区域内v850 hPa-v200 hPa风速差值的突然增大和江淮地区入梅有着较好对应关系。这为梅雨的预报提供了新的思路和方法。     

一次台风暴雨过程的水汽特征分析

对2014年7月18-19日桂东南受1409号台风＂威马逊＂影响,出现一次降雨强度大、影响范围广、降雨时间长的暴雨过程进行水汽特征分析,得出和验证了有利于出现强降水的大尺度环流背景下,充分的水汽供应是暴雨形成的基本条件之一,水汽通量场反映了水汽源源不断向桂东南输送,水汽通量散度进一步反映有大量的水汽往桂东南输送。     

基于地基微波辐射计资料对咸宁两次冰雹天气的观测分析

利用地基微波辐射计观测资料,对两次冰雹过程进行观测分析。结果表明:中低层暖湿气流输送、中层干冷空气侵入,在0~10 km形成"上干、下湿"2层垂直分布结构。低层的感热和潜热随上升气流向上输送,2~3 km层明显增温,0、-5和-20℃层略微上升。同时,低层水汽也随上升气流向上输送,降雹前大气液态水总含量(ILW,下同)和大气水汽总含量(IWV,下同)及过冷水含量快速增长。水汽经过冷层后,冰晶增多增大。当冰晶增大落入0℃以上区融化层时,冰晶融化导致液态水增加,一部分形成冰雹或地面降水,导致降雹之后ILW、IWV及0℃以下液态水含量减小。上述结论对冰雹的预警有一定指示意义。     

北京城区近地面比湿和风场时空分布特征

利用2008—2012年北京城区平均5 km的高密度自动气象站逐时观测数据,分析了北京城区近地面比湿、风向和风速的时空精细分布特征,初步探究了城市下垫面对局地气象要素的影响机制。研究表明:夏季白天北京城区为干岛,冬季城区表现为弱湿岛特征。受城市效应的影响,北京城区与郊区比湿日变化有明显差异。近地面10 m风受到地形、城市和季节性盛行风的共同影响。当气流经过城区时有明显的绕流现象。夏季05:00—10:00 (北京时,下同),受山风、弱的夏季偏南风和城市热岛共同作用,气流向城市中心辐合。冬季15:00—19:00,受季节盛行风偏北气流和谷风偏南气流的共同作用,在城区形成一条西北—东南走向的辐合线。对风速研究发现:城市粗糙下垫面使北京城区风速减小,二环路和三环路之间存在一条“n”状的风速小值带。由此可见,除已开展较多研究的城市热岛效应外,北京城市效应对近地面湿度和风场亦有显著影响。     

基于一维变分算法的地基微波辐射计遥感大气温湿廓线研究

为研究地基微波辐射计遥感温、湿度廓线的一维变分算法的反演能力,用北京地区2010—2011年00和12时(世界时)的多通道地基微波辐射计亮温资料进行试验。首先,利用同时次的地面观测资料、红外亮温(由地基微波辐射计自带红外传感器测得)及探空观测数据,给出提取无云样本的方案,得到432个无云样本;再以辐射传输模式计算得到的模拟亮温为参考,对无云条件下的观测亮温进行质量控制;然后利用探空数据进行模拟试验,结果发现,一维变分算法对3 km以下的温度廓线有较大调整。使反演结果更加接近探空,而对湿度廓线在0—10 km都有不同程度的优化;最后利用一维变分算法对地基微波辐射计观测亮温进行大气温湿廓线反演,将结果与探空对比可以看出,温度廓线的均方根误差小于2.9 K,绝对湿度的均方根误差小于0.47 g/m~3;进一步与地基微波辐射计自带神经网络的反演结果比较表明,一维变分的反演结果更接近实际大气。     

我国东南沿海午后短时降水极端峰值强度与湿度和地表气温的关联

利用中国东南沿海地区55个站点的逐时降水、日平均地面温湿场、低空气温露点差及OISST海表温度资料,对午后短时降水的极端峰值强度与湿度和地表气温的关联进行分析。结果表明,东南沿海地区午后短时降水极端峰值强度随气温的变化趋势存在明显变化,日最高气温低于29℃时,峰值强度随气温升高而上升;日最高气温高于29℃时,峰值强度随气温升高而下降。分析水汽条件作用发现,峰值强度在高温条件下随气温的升高而下降的现象与相对湿度变化有关,日最高气温较高时,相对湿度随气温的升高而大幅减小。初步分析可知,当陆地达到较高温度并进一步增温时,附近海域海表温度变化不大,使得洋面水汽含量增加较少。在陆地水汽主要来自于海洋的情况下,伴随陆地的进一步升温,地表相对湿度将减小。     

贵州省冬季人体舒适度对温湿环境的响应

在贵州冬季相对湿度大、风速小的气候背景下,综合考虑气温和相对湿度对人体舒适度的影响,计算并讨论了9个市州代表站人体舒适度指数IHC及其对温湿环境的响应,发现贵州省冬季低温、高湿对IHC指数具有负贡献,其中气温的高低对IHC指数影响尤为明显,并且在平均相对湿度越高的环境下,IHC指数对平均气温的变化就具有越高的敏感性,因此在贵州省西部和北部地区冬季由于平均气温较低、加之平均相对湿度较大,人体舒适感降低尤为明显。从回归方程出发,讨论贵州省冬季△IHC对△T=1σ或△RH=1σ变化的响应,发现平均气温是影响IHC指数变化的主要指标,而相对湿度作为辅助指标对IHC指数有着增大或减小的调节作用。通过分析IHC指数的稳定持续性,发现其能有效客观的表征出贵州省低温的持续性特征,并且能反映出在平均相对湿度较高的环境下,人体感觉的不舒适持续日数增加,即加大了人体的不舒适感。     

Extreme value modelling of daily areal rainfall over Mediterranean catchments in a changing climate

Heavy rainfall events during the fall season are causing extended damages in Mediterranean catchments. A peaks‐over‐threshold model is developed for the extreme daily areal rainfall occurrence and magnitude in fall over six catchments in Southern France. The main driver of the heavy rainfall events observed in this region is the humidity flux (FHUM) from the Mediterranean Sea. Reanalysis data are used to compute the daily FHUM during the period 1958–2008, to be included as a covariate in the model parameters. Results indicate that the introduction of FHUM as a covariate can improve the modelling of extreme areal precipitation. The seasonal average of FHUM can improve the modelling of the seasonal occurrences of heavy rainfall events, whereas daily FHUM values can improve the modelling of the events magnitudes. In addition, an ensemble of simulations produced by five different general circulation models are considered to compute FHUM in future climate with the emission scenario A1B and hence to evaluate the effect of climate change on the heavy rainfall distribution in the selected catchments. This ensemble of climate models allows the evaluation of the uncertainties in climate projections. By comparison to the reference period 1960–1990, all models project an amplification of the mean seasonal FHUM from the Mediterranean Sea for the projection period 2070–2099, on average by +22%. This increase in FHUM leads to an increase in the number of heavy rainfall events, from an average of 2.55 events during the fall season in present climate to 3.57 events projected for the period 2070–2099. However, the projected changes have limited effects on the magnitude of extreme events, with only a 5% increase in the median of the 100‐year quantiles. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.