Mega-monsoon variability during the late Triassic: Re-assessing the role of orbital forcing in the deposition of playa sediments in the Germanic Basin

The formation of the supercontinent Pangaea during the Permo–Triassic gave rise to an extreme monsoonal climate (often termed ‘mega-monsoon’) that has been documented by numerous palaeo-records. However, considerable debate exists about the role of orbital forcing in causing humid intervals in an otherwise arid climate. To shed new light on the forcing of monsoonal variability in subtropical Pangaea, this study focuses on sediment facies and colour variability of playa and alluvial fan deposits in an outcrop from the late Carnian (ca 225 Ma) in the southern Germanic Basin, south-western Germany. The sediments were deposited against a background of increasingly arid conditions following the humid Carnian Pluvial Event (ca 234 to 232 Ma). The ca 2·4 Myr long sedimentary succession studied shows a tripartite long-term evolution, starting with a distal mud-flat facies deposited under arid conditions. This phase was followed by a highly variable playa-lake environment that documents more humid conditions and finally a regression of the playa-lake due to a return of arid conditions. The red–green (a*) and lightness (L*) records show that this long-term variability was overprinted by alternating wet/dry cycles driven by orbital precession and ca 405 kyr eccentricity, without significant influence of obliquity. The absence of obliquity in this record indicates that high-latitude forcing played only a minor role in the southern Germanic Basin during the late Carnian. This is different from the subsequent Norian when high-latitude signals became more pronounced, potentially related to the northward drift of the Germanic Basin. The recurring pattern of pluvial events during the late Triassic demonstrates that orbital forcing, in particular eccentricity, stimulated the occurrence and intensity of wet phases. It also highlights the possibility that the Carnian Pluvial Event, although most likely triggered by enhanced volcanic activity, may also have been modified by an orbital stimulus.     

A Nonlinear Representation of Model Uncertainty in a Convective-Scale Ensemble Prediction System

How to accurately address model uncertainties with consideration of the rapid nonlinear error growth characteristics in a convection-allowing system is a crucial issue for performing convection-scale ensemble forecasts. In this study, a new nonlinear model perturbation technique for convective-scale ensemble forecasts is developed to consider a nonlinear representation of model errors in the Global and Regional Assimilation and Prediction Enhanced System (GRAPES) Convection-Allowing Ensemble Prediction System (CAEPS). The nonlinear forcing singular vector (NFSV) approach, that is, conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation-forcing (CNOP-F), is applied in this study, to construct a nonlinear model perturbation method for GRAPES-CAEPS. Three experiments are performed: One of them is the CTL experiment, without adding any model perturbation; the other two are NFSV-perturbed experiments, which are perturbed by NFSV with two different groups of constraint radii to test the sensitivity of the perturbation magnitude constraint. Verification results show that the NFSV-perturbed experiments achieve an overall improvement and produce more skillful forecasts compared to the CTL experiment, which indicates that the nonlinear NFSV-perturbed method can be used as an effective model perturbation method for convection-scale ensemble forecasts. Additionally, the NFSV-L experiment with large perturbation constraints generally performs better than the NFSV-S experiment with small perturbation constraints in the verification for upper-air and surface weather variables. But for precipitation verification, the NFSV-S experiment performs better in forecasts for light precipitation, and the NFSV-L experiment performs better in forecasts for heavier precipitation, indicating that for different precipitation events, the perturbation magnitude constraint must be carefully selected. All the findings above lay a foundation for the design of nonlinear model perturbation methods for future CAEPSs.     

IPCC AR6报告解读：地球能量收支、气候反馈和气候敏感度

文中对IPCC第六次评估报告（AR6）第一工作组（WGI）报告的第七章关于地球能量收支、气候反馈和气候敏感度中的重要内容进行了凝练,并简要总结该方面的最新研究成果和结论。评估显示,自工业革命以来,人类活动造成的有效辐射强迫（ERF）为2.72 [1.96~3.48] W/m²,其中,均匀混合温室气体的贡献为3.32 [3.03~3.61] W/m²,气溶胶的贡献为-1.1 [-1.7~-0.4] W/m²。净的气候反馈参数为-1.16 [-1.81~-0.51] W/(m²∙℃),云仍然是气候反馈整体不确定性的最大来源。平衡态气候敏感度（ECS）和瞬态气候响应（TCR）可用于评估全球平均地表气温对强迫的响应,是衡量全球气候响应的有效手段。ECS和TCR的最佳估计分别为3.0 [2.0~5.0]℃和1.8 [1.2~2.4]℃。     

三组火山强迫资料差异及其对模式模拟结果的影响

Gao2008、Crowley2013和Sigl2015火山强迫资料,均基于极地冰芯重建。由于每组重建使用的冰芯数据和分析方法等不同,因此结果存在差异,从而影响气候模式应用。文中详细梳理三组火山强迫资料在原始冰芯数据、信号识别提取和沉积通量计算等方面的差异;介绍重建中涉及的对未知火山事件发生季节、纬度及从极地硫酸盐沉积通量向平流层辐射强迫通量转换等所做的假设;归纳资料中存在的共性问题。在此基础上,总结重建不确定性对模式应用的影响,希望为涉及气候模式的研究工作提供从气候系统外强迫资料解读或审视气候变化模拟与影响评估的视角,更好为气候模拟和预测服务。     

第四次国际古气候模拟比较计划（PMIP4）概况与评述

古气候模拟比较计划（PMIP）是古气候数值模拟领域一项重大的国际合作研究计划,其主旨是为古气候模拟和模拟结果评估提供一个协调机制,理解过去气候变化的物理机制和气候反馈的重要作用,为未来气候预估提供科学依据。同时,通过对比分析验证模式的模拟性能,探索其不确定性,促进耦合气候系统模式的发展。PMIP目前进行到第四阶段（PMIP4)。PMIP4进一步加强了与第六次国际耦合模式比较计划（CMIP6）的协作,选取了5组共同关注的PMIP4-CMIP6古气候模拟试验（中全新世、末次盛冰期、过去千年、末次间冰期和上新世暖期),考察气候系统对不同气候背景的综合响应。除此以外,PMIP4还设计了众多敏感性试验研究不同外强迫因子的影响。PMIP4模拟试验不仅为古气候研究提供大量的模拟数据,还将服务于CMIP6及其他众多模式比较计划。     

北太平洋冬季西部发展型天气尺度涡旋对平均流的影响

在中纬度北太平洋大气强斜压区,存在频繁的天气尺度涡旋活动,通过水分、动量和能量输送维持大气环流。为了进一步研究天气尺度涡旋发生发展与大尺度环流之间的联系,利用1981—2013年再分析资料,筛选出西部发展型天气尺度涡旋114个偏强日和87个偏弱日,给出了西部发展型天气尺度涡旋异常导致的动力和热力强迫的变化,同时从能量转换的角度分析了西部发展型天气尺度涡旋与平均流之间的相互作用,并探讨了其与西太平洋遥相关型的关系。结果表明:西部发展型天气尺度涡旋通过动力强迫和热力强迫影响平均流,其中动力强迫主要造成北太平洋中纬度上空的西风气流加速并向北移动;热力强迫的作用则是减弱中纬度大气斜压性。同时,强西部发展型天气尺度涡旋有利于西北太平洋上空对流层低层斜压有效位能向扰动动能的转化增大和扰动动能向平均流的转化增大,有利于中纬度地区对流层高层平均流向扰动动能的转化增大。此外,西部发展型天气尺度涡旋通过与平均流的作用,对维持西太平洋遥相关型的负位相有一定影响。     

The Neogene and Quaternary of England: landscape evolution,tectonics, climate change and their expression in the geological record

During the Neogene and Quaternary, tectonic and climatic processes have had a profound impact upon landscape evolution in England and, perhaps as far back as 0.9 Ma, patterns of early human occupation. Until the Late Miocene, large-scale plate tectonic processes were the principal drivers of landscape evolution causing localised basin inversion and widespread exhumation. This drove, in places, the erosion of several kilometres of Mesozoic cover rocks and the development of a regional unconformity across England and the North Sea Basin. By the Pliocene, the relative influence of tectonics on landscape evolution waned as the background tectonic stress regime evolved and climatic influences became more prominent. Global-scale climate-forcing increased step-wise during the Plio-Pleistocene amplifying erosional and depositional processes that operated within the landscape. These processes caused differential unloading (uplift) and loading (subsidence) of the crust (‘denudational isostasy’) in areas undergoing net erosion (upland areas and slopes) and deposition (basins). Denudational isostasy amplified during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (c.0.9 Ma) as landscapes become progressively synchronised to large-scale 100 ka ‘eccentricity’ climate forcing. Over the past 0.5 Ma, this has led to the establishment of a robust climate record of individual glacial/interglacial cycles enabling comparison to other regional and global records. During the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition and early Holocene (c.16–7 ka), evidence for more abrupt (millennial/centennial) scale climatic events has been discovered. This indicates that superimposed upon the longer-term pattern of landscape evolution is a more dynamic response of the landscape to local and regional drivers.     

ERA-Interim和CMFD气象驱动数据在新疆额尔齐斯河流域的适用性评价

气象驱动数据质量是影响流域水文过程模拟精度的一个重要因素。基于新疆额尔齐斯河流域及周边区域8个气象站记录的数据,对ERA-Interim再分析资料和中国区域地面气象要素驱动数据集（CMFD）在流域的适用性进行了评价,并对比了ERA-Interim和CMFD气象要素年均值在流域的空间分布。结果表明：ERA-Interim和CMFD记录气温、相对湿度、向下短波辐射和向下长波辐射数据与观测数据具有较高的一致性,但降水和风速数据与观测数据的一致性比较差。小时尺度上ERA-Interim记录的气温、相对湿度、降水量、向下短波辐射准确度略高于CMFD数据,而日尺度上CMFD记录的所有气象要素的准确度均高于ERA-Interim数据,结合Noah-MP模型的模拟结果,认为CMFD数据在新疆额尔齐斯河流域的适用性整体优于ERA-Interim数据。从两种驱动数据获取的流域气象要素空间分布来看,ERA-Interim和CMFD获取的年平均气温、风速、相对湿度、降水量、向下长波辐射在流域空间具有高度一致性,但向下短波辐射空间分布差别较大。     

三极地区雪冰中黑碳研究进展

黑碳被认为是除温室气体外对气候变暖贡献最大的辐射强迫因子。三极（北极、南极和青藏高原）地区是全球雪冰分布最集中的区域,沉积至雪冰中的黑碳可反映人类活动的历史变化,并可能导致反照率降低而影响物质能量平衡。通过系统回顾三极地区雪冰黑碳的研究方法、空间分布、时间变化及其造成的辐射强迫,得到的研究结果表明： 由于处于不同的地理位置和环境条件,三极雪冰中黑碳的时空分布及其辐射强迫差异较大,其中青藏高原是浓度和辐射强迫影响最大的地区,也是对水资源和生态安全潜在影响最严重的区域。三极地区雪冰中保存着长时间序列的黑碳沉积记录,是研究自然变率、人类活动影响黑碳沉积历史（如北极与青藏高原冰芯中记录的工业革命以来黑碳沉积的快速上升）的良好介质,同样为模型预测未来变化提供了数据支持。三极地区是全球变化的指示器和放大器,在全球变暖不断加剧的背景下,黑碳必然会在未来的三极地区气候演变中扮演更为重要的角色。     

基于计算机模拟模型LESS的落叶松林木质元素影响分析

目前大部分植被辐射传输模型在模拟太阳辐射与植被之间的相互作用过程时,将植物结构进行了简化,只保留了叶片的结构和空间分布特征,而忽略了木质元素(枝干等)对冠层反射特性的影响。计算机模拟模型LESS能够充分考虑植被的多种组分光谱和结构特征,精确模拟植被冠层内部的光散射和辐射过程。本文以地面实测数据为基础,发展了以单木为基本单元的复杂森林三维场景重建基本流程;并在重建森林场景基础上,利用计算机模拟模型LESS模拟森林三维场景反射率,对比分析了森林木质元素对冠层反射率的影响。结果表明,忽略木质元素会引起植被冠层反射率模拟的偏差,特别是在近红外波段,在不同叶面积指数(LAI)下,其相对偏差都在40%以上。高空间分辨率是一个会突出木质元素影响的重要因素,随着空间分辨率提高,偏差也随之增大。不同等级枝干结构均对冠层反射率产生影响,即使忽略最小分枝也会引起17.7%(近红外)的估计误差。因此,在进行定量遥感研究中,必须考虑到忽略木质元素引起的偏差,即使是高LAI森林也无法忽视木质元素的影响。特别是在高分辨率遥感图像中,传统的以统计特征代替三维结构分布的辐射传输模型已经无法满足精度的要求。