Search

Consensus has been reached that precipitation extremes vary proportionally with global warming. Nevertheless, the underlying cause and magnitude of these factors affecting their relationships remain highly debated. To elucidate the complex relationship between precipitation extremes and temperature in China during the warm seasons (May through September), a 60-year (1958–2017) record of hourly rain gauge measurements, in combination with surface air temperature, RH, precipitable water (PW), and convective available potential energy (CAPE) collected from 120 radiosonde stations were examined. Spatially, the scaling relationship between precipitation extremes and temperature exhibits a large geographic difference across China. In particular, the Clausius–Clapeyron (CC) and sub-CC relationships tend to occur in northwest (ROI-N) and southeast China (ROI-S), whereas the super-CC relationship is found to mainly concentrates in central China (ROI-C). Additionally, the response of precipitation extremes to temperature becomes more sensitive as precipitation intensity increases, shifting from CC to super-CC at a certain point of inflection that varies by geographic regions. This shift occurs at approximately 15 °C in ROI-C and ROI-N, but at around 20 °C in ROI-S. Within the temperature range of the super-CC slope, the PW rises with the increases in temperature, whereas the CAPE decreases with rising temperature, which is contrary to the monotonic scaling of precipitation with temperature. From the perspective of interannual variation, the precipitation extremes correlate positively with temperature. This further confirms the notion that global warming, through jointly affecting PW and CAPE, is able to considerably regulate precipitation extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decreases in diurnal temperature range (DTR) observed in most regions are generally linked to the increase in cloud cover. However, declining clouds and rising aerosols observed over the North China Plain (NCP) of China make it elusive to elucidate the underlying mechanisms behind the declining DTR observed in this region. Here, we analyze the changes in DTR characteristics in the NCP based on 54-year surface temperature observations, in combination with collocated environmental variable measurements. Overall, there is a significant declining trend of DTR from 1960 to 2014 at a rate of − 0.12 °C/decade, largely due to a larger increase in minimum temperature during the night. The cloud effect on DTR is further explored by comparing DTR under clear-sky and overcast conditions, which exhibits a distinct annual cycle with a minimum in summer and a maximum in winter. The decreasing rate of DTR under overcast condition is − 0.30 °C/decade, much faster than the rate of − 0.17 °C/decade under clear-sky condition, indicating steady increases in the nighttime warming effect of middle- or high-clouds. Also, the elevated aerosol concentration could contribute to the declining DTR, due to the cooling effect of aerosols. Moreover, the effect induced by sunshine duration and water vapor on DTR cannot be ignored either. All of the aforementioned environmental variables combine to affect the long-term trend of DTR, despite their different roles in modulating DTR. Our findings call for better understanding of the influence of environmental factors on regional climate system at the diurnal timescale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiyuan frequently experiences heavy PM2.5 pollution in winter under unfavorable meteorological conditions. To understand how the meteorological factors influence the pollution in Taiyuan, this study involved a systematic analysis for a continuous period from November 2016 to January 2017, using near-surface meteorological observations, radiosonde soundings, PM2.5 measurements, and three-dimension numerical simulation, in combination with backward trajectory calculations. The results show that PM2.5 concentration positively correlates with surface temperature and relative humidity and anti-correlates with near-surface wind speed and boundary layer height (BLH). The low BLH is often associated with a strong thermal inversion layer capping over. In addition to the high local emissions, it is found that under certain synoptic conditions, the southwesterly and southerly winds could bring pollutants from Linfen to Taiyuan, leading to a near-surface PM2.5 concentration higher than 200 μg m−3. Another pollution enhancing issue is due to the semi-closed basin of Taiyuan affecting the planetary boundary layer (PBL): the surrounding mountains favor the formation of a cold air pool in the basin, which inhibits vertical exchanges of heat, flux, and momentum between PBL and the free troposphere, resulting in stagnant conditions and poor air quality in Taiyuan. These findings can be utilized to improve the understanding of PM2.5 pollution in Taiyuan, to enhance the accuracy of forecasting pollution, and to provide scientific support for policy makers to mitigate the pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid development has led to frequent haze in Beijing. With mountains and sea surrounding Beijing, the pollution is found to be influenced by the mountain-plain breeze and sea-land breeze in complex ways. Meanwhile, the presence of aerosols may affect the surface energy balance and impact these boundary layer (BL) processes. The effects of BL processes on aerosol pollution and the feedback between aerosol and BL processes are not yet clearly understood. Thus, the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) is used to investigate the possible effects and feedbacks during a haze episode on 23 September 2011. Influenced by the onshore prevailing wind, sea-breeze, and upslope breeze, about 45 % of surface particulate matter (PM) in Beijing are found to be contributed by its neighbor cities through regional transport. In the afternoon, the development of upslope breeze suppresses the growth of BL in Beijing by imposing a relatively low thermal stable layer above the BL, which exacerbates the pollution. Two kinds of feedback during the daytime are revealed as follows: (1) as the aerosols absorb and scatter the solar radiation, the surface net radiation and sensible heat flux are decreased, while BL temperature is increased, resulting in a more stable and shallower BL, which leads to a higher surface PM concentration in the morning and (2) in the afternoon, as the presence of aerosols increases the BL temperature over plains, the upslope breeze is weakened, and the boundary layer height (BLH) over Beijing is heightened, resulting in the decrease of the surface PM concentration there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assist emergency management planning and prevention in case of hazardous chemical release into the atmosphere, especially in densely built-up regions with large populations, a multi-scale urban atmospheric dispersion model was established. Three numerical dispersion experiments, at horizontal resolutions of 10 m, 50 m and 3000 m, were performed to estimate the adverse effects of toxic chemical release in densely built-up areas. The multi-scale atmospheric dispersion model is composed of the Weather Forecasting and Research (WRF) model, the Open Source Field Operation and Manipulation software package, and a Lagrangian dispersion model. Quantification of the adverse health effects of these chemical release events are given by referring to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Acute Exposure Guideline Levels. The wind fields of the urban-scale case, with 3 km horizontal resolution, were simulated by the Beijing Rapid Update Cycle system, which were utilized by the WRF model. The sub-domain-scale cases took advantage of the computational fluid dynamics method to explicitly consider the effects of buildings. It was found that the multi-scale atmospheric dispersion model is capable of simulating the flow pattern and concentration distribution on different scales, ranging from several meters to kilometers, and can therefore be used to improve the planning of prevention and response programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations collected in the Badan Jaran desert hinterland and edge during 19-23 August 2009 and in the Jinta Oasis during 12-16 June 2005 are used to assess three methods for calculating the heat storage of the 5-20-cm soil layer. The methods evaluated include the harmonic method, the conduction-convection method, and the temperature integral method. Soil heat storage calculated using the harmonic method provides the closest match with measured values. The conduction-convection method underestimates nighttime soil heat storage. The temperature integral method best captures fluctuations in soil heat storage on sub-diurnal timescales, but overestimates the amplitude and peak values of the diurnal cycle. The relative performance of each method varies with the underlying land surface. The land surface energy balance is evaluated using observations of soil heat flux at 5-cm depth and estimates of ground heat flux adjusted to account for soil heat storage. The energy balance closure rate increases and energy balance is improved when the ground heat flux is adjusted to account for soil heat storage. The results achieved using the harmonic and temperature integral methods are superior to those achieved using the conduction-convection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a numerical model that simulates the wind fields, turbulence fields, and dispersion of gaseous substances in urban areas on building to city block scales. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach using the steady-state, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the standard k-ɛ turbulence model within control volumes of non-uniform cuboid shapes has been employed. Dispersion field is computed by solving an unsteady transport equation of passive scalar. Another approach based on Gaussian plume model is used to correct the turbulent Schmidt number of tracer, in order to improve the dispersion simulation. The experimental data from a wind tunnel under neutral conditions are used to validate the numerical results of velocity, turbulence, and dispersion fields. The numerical results show a reasonable agreement with the wind tunnel data. The deviation of concentration between the simulation with corrected turbulent Schmidt number and the wind tunnel experiments may arise from 1) imperfect point sources, 2) heterogeneous turbulent diffusivity, and 3) the constant turbulent Schmidt assumption used in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The airflow and dispersion of a pollutant in a complex urban area of Beijing, China, were numerically examined by coupling a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model with a mesoscale weather model. The models used were Open Source Field Operation and Manipulation (OpenFOAM) software package and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. OpenFOAM was firstly validated against wind-tunnel experiment data. Then, the WRF model was integrated for 42 h starting from 0800 LST 08 September 2009, and the coupled model was used to compute the flow fields at 1000 LST and 1400 LST 09 September 2009. During the WRF-simulated period, a high pressure system was dominant over the Beijing area. The WRF-simulated local circulations were characterized by mountain valley winds, which matched well with observations. Results from the coupled model simulation demonstrated that the airflows around actual buildings were quite different from the ambient wind on the boundary provided by the WRF model, and the pollutant dispersion pattern was complicated under the influence of buildings. A higher concentration level of the pollutant near the surface was found in both the step-down and step-up notches, but the reason for this higher level in each configurations was different: in the former, it was caused by weaker vertical flow, while in the latter it was caused by a downward-shifted vortex. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the coupled WRF-OpenFOAM model is an important tool that can be used for studying and predicting urban flow and dispersions in densely built-up areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their energy-efficient merits as promising light-weight structural materials, magnesium (Mg) based alloys suffer from inadequate corrosion resistance. One primary reason is that the native surface film on Mg formed in air mainly consists of Mg(OH)2 and MgO, which is porous and unprotective, especially in humid environments. Here, we demonstrate an environmentally benign method to grow a protective film on the surface of Mg/Mg alloy samples at room temperature, via a direct reaction of already-existing surface film with excited CO2. Moreover, for samples that have been corroded obviously on surface, the corrosion products can be converted directly to create a new protective surface. Mechanical tests show that compared with untreated samples, the protective layer can elevate the yield stress, suppress plastic instability and prolong compressive strains without peeling off from the metal surface. This environmentally friendly surface treatment method is promising to protect Mg alloys, including those already-corroded on the surface. Magnesium alloys usually have poor corrosion resistance, which inhibits their use in the automotive and biomedical industries. Here, the authors use an environmental TEM to carbonate the natural corrosion products at the surface of magnesium alloys and form a compact and protective surface layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]