Modeling Study of Aerosol Indirect Effectson Global Climate with an AGCM

Aerosol indirect effects （AIEs） on global climate were quantitatively investigated by introducing aerosol–cloud interaction parameterizations for water stratus clouds into an AGCM （BCC AGCM2.0.1）, which was developed by the National Climate Center of the China Meteorological Administration. The study yielded a global annual mean of -1.14 W m^-2 for the first indirect radiative forcing （IRF）, with an obvious seasonal change. In summer, large forcing mainly occurred in mid to high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, whereas in winter, large values were found at 60°S. The second indirect effect led to global annual mean changes in net shortwave flux of -1.03 W m^-2 at the top of the atmosphere （TOA）, which was relatively significant in mid-latitude regions of both hemispheres. The total AIE reduced the global annual means of net shortwave flux at the TOA and of surface temperature by 1.93 W m^-2 and 0.12 K, respectively. Change in surface temperature induced by the total AIE was clearly larger in the Northern Hemisphere （-0.23 K） than in the Southern Hemisphere, where changes were negligible. The interhemispheric asymmetry in surface cooling resulted in significant differences in changes of the interhemispheric annual mean precipitation rate, which could lead to a tendency for the ITCZ to broaden. The total AIE decreased the global annual mean precipitation rate by 0.055 mm df^-1.

Aerosol Indirect Effects on Warm Clouds in the Grid-Point Atmospheric Model of IAP LASG(GAMIL)

Aerosol indirect effects on warm clouds are estimated in the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics,Institute of Atmospheric Physics(IAP LASG)(GAMIL) with a new two-moment cloud microphysics scheme using two different physically-based aerosol activation parameterizations:Abdul-Razzak and Ghan,and Nenes and Seinfeld.The annual global mean changes in shortwave cloud forcing from preindustrial times to present day(a measure of the aerosol indirect effects) estimated from these two parameterizations are remarkably similar:0.76 W m?2 with the Abdul-Razzak and Ghan parameterization,and 0.78 W m?2 with the Nenes and Seinfeld parameterization.Physically-based parameterizations can provide robust representations of aerosol effects on droplet nucleation,meaning that aerosol activation is no longer the most uncertain factor in modeling aerosol indirect effects.

Indirect effects among biodiversity loss of mutualistic ecosystems

Drastic reduction in biodiversity has been a severe threat to ecosystems,which is exacerbated when losing few species leads to disastrous and even irreparable consequences.Therefore,revealing the mechanism underlying biodiversity loss is of uttermost importance.In this study,we show that abundant indirect interactions among mutualistic ecosystems are critical in determining species’status.Combining topological and ecological characteristics,we propose an indicator derived from a dynamic model to identify keystone species and quantify their influence,which outperforms widely-used indicators like degree in realistic and simulated networks.Furthermore,we demonstrate that networks with high modularity,heterogeneity,biodiversity,and less intimate interactions tend to have larger indirect effects,which are more amenable in predicting decline of biodiversity with the proposed indicator.These findings shed some light onto the influence of apposite biodiversities,paving the way from complex network theory to ecosystem protection and restoration.

Indirect effects among biodiversity loss of mutualistic ecosystems

Drastic reduction in biodiversity has been a severe threat to ecosystems,which is exacerbated when losing few species leads to disastrous and even irreparable consequences.Therefore,revealing the mechanism underlying biodiversity loss is of uttermost importance.In this study,we show that abundant indirect interactions among mutualistic ecosystems are critical in determining species’status.Combining topological and ecological characteristics,we propose an indicator derived from a dynamic model to identify keystone species and quantify their influence,which outperforms widely-used indicators like degree in realistic and simulated networks.Furthermore,we demonstrate that networks with high modularity,heterogeneity,biodiversity,and less intimate interactions tend to have larger indirect effects,which are more amenable in predicting decline of biodiversity with the proposed indicator.These findings shed some light onto the influence of apposite biodiversities,paving the way from complex network theory to ecosystem protection and restoration.

Indirect Radiative Forcing and Climatic Effect of the Anthropogenic Nitrate Aerosol on Regional Climate of China

The regional climate model （RegCM3） and a tropospheric atmosphere chemistry model （TACM） were coupled, thus a regional climate chemistry modeling system （RegCCMS） was constructed, which was applied to investigate the spatial distribution of anthropogenic nitrate aerosols, indirect radiative forcing, as well as its climatic effect over China. TACM includes the thermodynamic equilibrium model ISORROPIA and a condensed gas-phase chemistry model. Investigations show that the concentration of nitrate aerosols is relatively high over North and East China with a maximum of 29μg m-3 in January and 8 μg m-3 in July. Due to the influence of air temperature on thermodynamic equilibrium, wet scavenging of precipitation and the monsoon climate, there are obvious seasonal differences in nitrate concentrations. The average indirect radiative forcing at the tropopause due to nitrate aerosols is -1.63 W m 2 in January and -2.65 W m 2 in July, respectively. In some areas, indirect radiative forcing reaches -10 W m-2. Sensitivity tests show that nitrate aerosols make the surface air temperature drop and the precipitation reduce on the national level. The mean changes in surface air temperature and precipitation are 0.13 K and -0.01 mm d-1 in January and -0.09 K and -0.11 mm d-1 in July, respectively, showing significant differences in different regions.

Analytical Studies of the Cloud Droplet Spectral Dispersion Influence on the First Indirect Aerosol Effect

Atmospheric aerosols （acting as cloud condensation nuclei） can enhance the cloud droplet number concentration and reduce the cloud droplet size, and in turn affect the cloud optical depth, as well as the cloud albedo, and thereby exert a radiative influence on climate （the first indirect aerosol effect）. In this paper, based on various relationships between cloud droplet spectral dispersion （c） and cloud droplet number concentration （Nc）, we analytically derive the corresponding expressions of the cloud radiative forcing induced by changes in the cloud droplet number concentration. Further quantitative evaluation indicates that the cloud radiative forcing induced by aerosols for the different ^-Nc relationships varies from -29.1% to 25.2%, compared to the case without considering spectral dispersion （e = 0）. Our results suggest that an accurate description of e - Nc relationships helps to reduce the uncertainty of the first indirect aerosol effect and advances our scientific understanding of aerosol-cloud-radiation interactions.

First Surface-based Estimation of the Aerosol Indirect Effect over a Site in Southeastern China

The deployment of the U.S. Atmospheric Radiation Measurement mobile facility in Shouxian from May to December 2008 amassed the most comprehensive set of measurements of atmospheric, surface, aerosol, and cloud variables in China. This deployment provided a unique opportunity to investigate the aerosol-cloud interactions, which are most challenging and, to date, have not been examined to any great degree in China. The relationship between cloud droplet effective radius （CER） and aerosol index （AI） is very weak in summer because the cloud droplet growth is least affected by the competition for water vapor. Mean cloud liquid water path （LWP） and cloud optical depth （COD） significantly increase with increasing AI in fall. The sensitivities of CER and LWP to aerosol loading increases are not significantly different under different air mass conditions. There is a significant correlation between the changes in hourly mean AI and the changes in hourly mean CER, LWP, and COD. The aerosol first indirect effect （FIE） is estimated in terms of relative changes in both CER （FIEcER） and COD （FIEcoD） with changes in AI for different seasons and air masses. FIEcoD and FIEcER are similar in magnitude and close to the typical FIE value of - 0.23, and do not change much between summer and fall or between the two different air mass conditions. Similar analyses were done using spaceborne Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data. The satellite-derived FIE is contrary to the FIE estimated from surface retrievals and may have large uncertainties due to some inherent limitations.

Modeling of the Second Indirect Effect of Anthropogenic Aerosols in East Asia

This study investigated the second indirect climatic effect of anthropogenic aerosols,including sulfate,organic carbon(OC) ,and black carbon(BC) ,over East Asia.The seasonal variation of the climatic response to the second indirect effect was also characterized.The simulation period for this study was 2006.Due to a decrease in autoconversion rate from cloud water to rain as a result of aerosols,the cloud liquid water path(LWP) ,and radiative flux(RF) at the top of the atmosphere(TOA) changed dramatically,increasing by 14.3 g m-2 and decreasing by-4.1 W m-2 in terms of domain and annual average.Both LWP and RF changed most in autumn. There were strong decreases in ground temperature in Southwest China,the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in spring and autumn,while maximum cooling of up to-1.5 K occurred in the Chongqing district.The regional and annual mean change in ground temperature reached-0.2 K over eastern China.In all seasons except summer,precipitation generally decreased in most areas north of the Yangtze River,whereas precipitation changed little in South China.Precipitation changed most in summer,with alternating bands of increasing(～40 mm) and decreasing(～40 mm) precipitation appearing in eastern China.Precipitation decreased by 1.5-40 mm over large areas of Northeast China and the Huabei Plain.The domain and annual mean change in precipitation was approximately-0.3 mm over eastern China.The maximum reduction in precipitation occurred in summer,with mean absolute and relative changes of-1.2 mm and-3.8%over eastern China.This study revealed considerable climate responses to the second indirect effect of aerosols over specific regions of China.

An improved recommendation algorithm via weakening indirect linkage effect

We propose an indirect-link-weakened mass diffusion method（IMD）, by considering the indirect linkage and the source object heterogeneity effect in the mass diffusion（MD） recommendation method. Experimental results on the MovieLens, Netflix, and RYM datasets show that, the IMD method greatly improves both the recommendation accuracy and diversity, compared with a heterogeneity-weakened MD method（HMD）, which only considers the source object heterogeneity. Moreover, the recommendation accuracy of the cold objects is also better elevated in the IMD than the HMD method. It suggests that eliminating the redundancy induced by the indirect linkages could have a prominent effect on the recommendation efficiency in the MD method.

On the parameters for electrocaloric effect predicted by indirect method

The influences of specific heat capacity CP, temperature step ？T, electric field step ？E, and initial electric field E1 on predicted electrocaloric（EC） temperature ？T of monodomain Ba TiO3 are examined by combining the Maxwell equation and phenomenological theory. Since the procedure is similar to indirect measurement of the EC effect, the results can serve as a reference for experiments. The results suggest that（i） it is reasonable to use zero-field CP,（ii） optimized ？T should be 2 K,（iii） it is better to keep △E 〈 EC, and（iv） E1〈 EC. Here, EC is the coercive field of material.

The gravity field and gravity data reduction across the continental area of Nigeria

This research presents the variation of the gravity field and associated gravity field components over the continental area of Nigeria to provide data for geoscience research,geodetic and engineering works,aerodynamic studies and deep crustal inferences.Accurate positions and elevations were observed at 58 of the 59 base stations of the Primary Gravity Network of Nigeria(PGNN),whose absolute gravity values had been accurately determined.The absolute gravity values were plotted against their respective positions to reveal the distribution pattern and strength of the gravity field within the study area.Theoretical gravity values at each base station were generated using the Somigliana's equation.The free-air gravity and free-air anomaly gravity values were generated with respect to the World Geodetic System 1984(WGS84)ellipsoid using GPS-derived elevation data.Then,the perturbing potential,free-air gravity with respect to the geoid,and the indirect effects were evaluated.The average of the indirect effects was used to adjust the WGS84 gravity formula to produce a gravity formula that better approximates the geoid across the continental area of Nigeria,compatible with the heights measured relative to the geoid,which can serve as a reference for establishing a vertical height control.The Bouguer gravity and Bouguer gravity anomalies across Nigeria revealed a“trans-southern gravity high strip”interpreted to be associated with mantle upwelling.Two new major mega-lineaments related to mantle upwelling were mapped.A batholith province trending NWeSE was delineated,occurring from north central Nigeria to the north western region and containing closures of“Bouguer gravity lows”interpreted as batholiths.A separate closure of“Bouguer gravity low”was detected at Azare,north eastern Nigeria,which may be due to the presence of intrusive granitic body.It is recommended that the mantle structure beneath“the trans-southern gravity high strip”,“delineated batholith province”and“isolated gravity closures”around the northeast of Nigeria should be studied from seismic shear wave splitting analysis for better understanding of the deep lithospheric structures and moho relief.

End-Cretaceous Quartz Arenite Formation in an Estuarian Environment under Brine Influence, N. Germany;Linked to both Deccan Volcanism and Chicxulub Impact Degassing during Climate Change

Maastrichtian off-shore carbonate sediments and transitional estuarian quartz arenite (primarily subarkosic/arkosic) deposited in N Germany, underwent indirect effects by end-Cretaceous plume volcanism (Caribbean Arc/Antilles, Amirante Arc/Seychelles, Deccan Traps) and by the Chicxulub impact during climate change. In addition, brines of local salt structures had increasing influence on pore water chemistry of siliciclastics deposited in rim synclines and sub-rosion bowls during the transition from salt pillow state (Upper Campanian/Maastrichtian) to diapirism since the KPgB (66.043 Ma) until end-Paleocene. As main drivers degassing (CO2, SO2 et al.), temperature rise, acid rain/metal toxicity of both volcanic and impact origin caused kill effects by acidification (pH-drop) of sea water resp. dissolution processes on land initiated by complex acid mixtures onto both marine and continental sediments;all in all, leaving a remarkable reduction of the clastics’ primary mineral content, accompanied by kaolinite in-situ neoformation (quartz, kaolinite). Furthermore, driving effects even controlled lithofacies and sequence-analytical patterns (LST, TST, HST). Around the Lower/Upper Maastrichtian B. (MFS) radiolarian ooze was deposited across flat estuarian mouth channels during an ingression (tsunami), originally as soft pebbles, then diagenetically slightly consolidated. Surprisingly, the radiolarian skeletons normally composed of opal or celestite, were identified as β-quartz and elementary silicon. The latter hitherto unknown in nature, demands extreme reducing conditions (in Industries: by elementary A1, Mg, C) in pore water as possibly given by brines (see Atlantis II-Deep, Red Sea). The top portions of the uppermost Maastrichtian deposits of N Germany were eroded by the KPgB-convulsive events. However, recent publications (i.e. from Seymour Island, Antarctica) make evident that Deccan volcanism played obviously a prime role versus the Chicxulub impact during reversal magnetization (Chron 29 R). Thus, there exists a high probability that plume volcanism had important influence on the quartz arenite in-situ formation by degassing and related acid in combination with brines in trap position of the ascending salt diapirs. Accordingly, Price’s concept (2001) major impacting may cause plate motion, has to be modified towards the version plume mechanism and may have the same or even stronger effect, thereby relating to recent studies on the Arabian Platform, Jordan. A synopsis of Phanerozoic loss of biodiversity-events caused by both plume volcanism and impacting comparatively exposes Homo sapiens since the Industrial Revolution as a geological force in biotic as well as abiotic processes in Earth History.

THE OVERLOOKED ECOSYSTEM DRIVING FORCE IN NON-EUTROPHICATED FRESHWATER SYSTEMS:DISSOLVED HUMIC SUBSTANCES-A SHORT REVIEW AND OUTLOOK

This review starts with the description of the quantitative significance of dissolved organic material in general and dissolved humic substances (HS) in particular in various ecosystems. Despite their high quantities, the knowledge about the role of HS is still very low and full of old, but still recycled paradigms. HS are thought to be inert or at least refractory and too large to be taken up by aquatic organisms. Instead, I present evidence that dissolved HS that mainly derives from the terrestrial environment, are taken up and directly and/or indirectly interfere with freshwater organisms and, thus, structure biocenoses. Relatively well known is in the meantime the fuelling function of allochthonous HS, which, upon irradiation, release fatty acids, which serve as substrates for microbial growth. This is an indirect effect of HS. Microbes, in turn, are food for mixotrophic algae and (heterotrophic) zooplankton. Thus, non-eutrophicated freshwaters are net-heterotrophic, meaning that respiration exceeds primary production. Furthermore, model calculations exemplify that only a very small portion of the terrestrial production is sufficient to cause net-heterotrophy in these freshwater bodies. But, recent papers show also that due to different stoichiometries the maximal plankton biomass production with algae or mixotrophs is higher than with bacteria. Very recently, several direct effects of HS have been elucidated. Among them are:induction of chaperons (stress shock proteins), induction and modulation of biotransformation enzymes, modulation (mainly inhibition) of photosynthetic oxygen release of aquatic plants, production of an internal oxidative stress, modulation of the offspring numbers in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans[WTBZ], feminization of fish and amphibs, interference within the thyroid system, and action as chemical attractant to C. elegans. We are still in the phase of identifying the various physiological, biochemical, and molecular-biological effects. Hence, the ecological and ecophysiological significance of these HS-mediated effects still remain somewhat obscure. Nevertheless, HS appear generally to have an impact on the individual as well as on the community and even ecosystem level comparable to that of, for instance, nutrients.

The mediating role of export-oriented Japanese foreign direct investment in China

Since the early 1990s, China has become the largest destination of Japanese foreign direct investment （FDI）. Observing this trend, the authors analyzed whether Japanese FDI did promote exports from China to the rest of the world, and more importantly, whether this is a strategy adopted by Japanese multinationals to penetrate not only the Chinese market but also the global market. This analysis takes into account not only the direct effects of FDI on exports, but also the indirect effects, by examining the mediating role of export oriented Japanese FDI in China from 1998 to 2007 through panel analysis. The study contributes to the conceptual framework of indirect relationship among the macroeconomic variables, FDI and exports provides some insights into the strategy of export oriented Japanese FDI in creating a win-win platform for Japan and China.

From trees to fleas: masting indirectly affects flea abundance on a rodent host

Mast seeding causes strongfluctuations in populations of forest animals.Thus,this phenomenon can be used as a natural experiment to examine how variation in host abundance affects parasite loads.We investigatedfleas infesting yellow-necked mice in beech forest after 2 mast and 2 non-mast years.We tested 2 mutually exclusive scenarios:(1)as predicted by classical models of density-dependent transmission,an increase in host density will cause an increase in ectoparasite abundance(defined as the number of parasites per host),versus(2)an increase in host density will cause a decline inflea abundance(“dilution,”which is thought to occur when parasite population growth is slower than that of the host).In addition,we assessed whether masting alters the relationship between host traits(sex and body mass)andflea abundance.We found a hump-shaped relationship between host andflea abundance.Thus,the most basic predictions are too simple to describe ectoparasite dynamics in this system.In addition,masting modified seasonal dynamics offlea abundance,but did not affect the relationship between host traits andflea abundance(individuals with the highest body mass hosted the mostfleas;after controlling for body mass,parasite abundance did not vary between sexes).Our results demonstrate that pulses of tree reproduction can indirectly,through changes in host densities,drive patterns of ectoparasite infestation.

Dynamics and Responses of Vegetation to Climatic Variations in Ziya- Daqing Basins, China

Examining the direct and indirect effects of climatic factors on vegetation growth is critical to understand the complex linkage between climate change and vegetation dynamics. Based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI) data and meteorological data(temperature and precipitation) from 2001 to 2012, the trend of vegetation dynamics were examined in the Ziya-Daqing basins, China. The path analysis was used to obtain the information on the relationships among climatic factors and their effects on vegetation growth. It was found that the trends of growing season NDVI were insignificant in most plain dry land, while the upward trends were significant in forest, grass and dry land in Taihang Mountains. According to the path analysis, in 23% of the basins the inter-annual NDVI variation was dominated by the direct effect of precipitation, in 5% by the direct effects of precipitation and temperature, and in less than 1% by the direct effect of temperature or indirect effects of these two climatic factors. It indicated that precipitation significantly affected the vegetation growth in the whole basins, and this effect was not regulated by temperature. Precipitation increase(especially in July, August and September) was favorable to greenness enhancement. Summer temperature rising showed negative effect on plant productivity enhancement, but temperature rise in April was beneficial for the vegetation growth. When April temperature increases by 1℃, the onset date of greenness for natural vegetation will be 2 days in advance. There was a lag-time effect of precipitation or temperature on monthly NDVI for all land use types except grass.

Aerosol Properties and Their Impacts on Surface CCN at the ARM Southern Great Plains Site during the 2011 Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment

Aerosol particles are of particular importance because of their impacts on cloud development and precipitation processes over land and ocean. Aerosol properties as well as meteorological observations from the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement （ARM） platform situated in the Southern Great Plains （SGP） are utilized in this study to illustrate the dependence of continental cloud condensation nuclei （CCN） number concentration （NccN） on aerosol type and transport pathways. ARM-SGP observations from the 2011 Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment field campaign are presented in this study and compared with our previous work during the 2009-10 Clouds, Aerosol, and Precipitation in the Marine Boundary Layer field campaign over the current ARM Eastern North Atlantic site. Northerly winds over the SGP reflect clean, continental conditions with aerosol scattering coefficient （~rsp） values less than 20 Mm-1 and Ncct~ values less than 100 cm .3. However, southerly winds over the SGP are responsible for the observed moderate to high correlation （R） among aerosol loading （Crsp 〉 60 Mm 1） and NCCN, carbonaceous chemical species （biomass burning smoke）, and precip- itable water vapor. This suggests a common transport mechanism for smoke aerosols and moisture via the Gull＇ of Mexico, indicating a strong dependence on air mass type. NASA MERRA-2 reanalysis aerosol and chemical data are moderately to highly correlated with surface ARM-SGP data, suggesting that this facility can represent surface aerosol conditions in the SGE especially during strong aerosol loading events that transport via the Gulf of Mexico. Future long-term investigations will help to understand the seasonal influences of air masses on aerosol, CCN, and cloud properties over land in comparison to over ocean.

Potential responses of vegetation to atmospheric aerosols in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia

Changes in atmospheric aerosols have profound effects on ecosystem productivity,vegetation growth and activity by directly and indirectly influencing climate and environment conditions.However,few studies have focused on the effects of atmospheric aerosols on vegetation growth and activity in the vulnerable arid and semi-arid regions,which are also the source areas of aerosols.Using the datasets of aerosol optical depth(AOD),normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)and multiple climatic variables including photosynthetically active radiation(PAR),surface solar radiation(SSR),surface air temperature(TEM)and total precipitation(PRE),we analyzed the potential responses of vegetation activity to atmospheric aerosols and their associated climatic factors in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia from 2005 to 2015.Our results suggested that areas with decreasing growing-season NDVI were mainly observed in regions with relatively sparse vegetation coverage,while AOD tended to increase as NDVI decreased in these regions.Upon further analysis,we found that aerosols might exert a negative influence on vegetation activity by reducing SSR,PAR and TEM,as well as suppressing PRE in most arid and semi-arid regions of Asia.Moreover,the responses of atmospheric aerosols on vegetation activity varied among different growing stages.At the early growing stage,higher concentration of aerosol was accompanied with suppressed vegetation growth by enhancing cooling effects and reducing SSR and PAR.At the middle growing stage,aerosols tended to alter microphysical properties of clouds with suppressed PRE,thereby restricting vegetation growth.At the late growing stage,aerosols exerted significantly positive influences on vegetation activity by increasing SSR,PAR and TEM in regions with high anthropogenic aerosols.Overall,at different growing stages,aerosols could influence vegetation activity by changing different climatic factors including SSR,PAR,TEM and PRE in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia.This study not only clarifies the impacts of aerosols on vegetation activity in source areas,but also explains the roles of aerosols in climate.

Model Analysis of the Anthropogenic Aerosol Effect on Clouds over East Asia

A coupled meteorology and aerosol/chemistry model WRF-Chem （Weather Research and Forecast model coupled with Chemistry） was used to conduct a pair of simulations with present-day （PD） and preindustrial （P1） emissions over East Asia to examine the aerosol indirect effect on clouds. As a result of an increase in aerosols in January, the cloud droplet number increased by 650 cm-3 over the ocean and East China, 400 cm-3 over Central and Southwest China, and less than 200 cm-3 over North China. The cloud liquid water path （LWP） increased by 40-60 g m-2 over the ocean and Southeast China and 30 g m-2 over Central China; the LWP in- creased less than 5 g m-2 or decreased by 5 g m2 over North China. The effective radius （Re） decreased by more than 4 pm over Southwest, Central, and Southeast China and 2 pm over North China. In July, variations in cloud properties were more uniform; the cloud droplet number increased by approximately 250400 cm-3, the LWP increased by approximately 30-50 g m 2, and Re decreased by approximately 3 μm over most regions of China. In response to cloud property changes from PI to PD, shortwave （SW） cloud radiative m-2 over the ocean and 10 forcing strengthened by 30 W W m-2 over Southeast China, and it weakened slightly by approximately 2-10 W m-2 over Central and Southwest China in January. In July, SW cloud radiative forcing strengthened by 15 W m-2 over Southeast and North China and weakened by l0 W m-2 over Central China. The different responses of SW cloud radiative forcing in different regions was related to cloud feedbacks and natural variability.

Numerical study of aerosol effect on three types of clouds and precipitation in Beijing area

Three types of rainfall （storm, moderate and slight rainfall） in the Beijing area were simulated by the Weather Research and Fore- cast （WRF3.2） model coupled with Milbrandt-two-moment cloud microphysics scheme, to explore the effect of aerosols on clouds and precipitation under continental and maritime aerosol scenarios. Results indicate that an increase of aerosols has various effects on clouds and precipitation. （1） The amount of surface precipitation is obviously affected. With an increase of aerosol con- centration, the 48-hr total precipitation of storm and moderate rainfall decreased by 23% and 16.6%, respectively, and the 24-hr total precipitation of slight rainfall decreased by 14.0%. （2） The distribution of surface precipitation is also clearly affected. The average precipitation for a rain storm increases in most parts of western Beijing and decreases by more than 20 mm in most parts of eastern Beijing with increasing aerosol concentration. The average precipitation of moderate rainfall decreases by 0.1-5 mm in most parts of the Beijing area. The effect of increased aerosol concentration is weak for slight rainfall distribution in the study area. （3） With an increase of aerosol concentration, a narrower width and lower precipitation peak value are found in the storm rainfall, and its duration is prolonged for the high aerosol concentration. An earlier precipitation termination of moderate rainfall is found with increasing aerosol concentration. （4） The upper-air hydrometeors vary with aerosol concentration, For storm and moderate rainfall, significantly higher cloud water concentration and lower rain water were found under the continental aerosol scenario.