Impact of temperature and precipitation lapse rate on hydrological modelling over Himalayan Gandak River Basin

The hydrology of Himalayan region is influenced by temperature lapse rate(TLAPS)and precipitation lapse rate(PLAPS).Therefore,hydrological modeling considering TLAPS and PLAPS is crucial to manage the water resources in these terrains.In this research,Himalayan Gandak River basin is considered as the study area where TLAPS and PLAPS vary significantly due to high altitude of Himalayas.To assess the impact of TLAPS and PLAPS on water balance components,Soil Water Assessment Tool(SWAT)model was calibrated(2000-2007)and validated(2008-2014)on daily time step for three projects i.e.,Reference Project(RP),Snowmelt Project(SP)and distributed elevation band snowmelt project(SWAT-ETISM).The analysis discloses that SWAT-ETISM model(which has TLAPS and PLAPS parameters)outperforms the RP and the SP models in predicting streamflow with improved statistical indicators R2=0.88,NSE=0.84 and PBIAS=11.9.Furthermore,it was observed that SWAT-ETISM model comprehensively improved the streamflow statistics by improving the snow water equivalent and water balance components through the consideration of TLAPS and PLAPS values for the region.Hence,the proposed SWAT-ETISM model can be used for estimation of the water budget at the high-altitude and data scarce alpine Himalayan regions and worldwide,where PLAPS and TLAPS are substantial due to altitudinal variation.

Unraveling the distribution patterns of near-surface temperature lapse rates in the Northwestern Kunlun Mountains

The near-surface temperature lapse rates for the core area of the Kunlun Mountains remain critically unresolved due to data scarcity.Here,we revealed the spatial and temporal patterns of nearsurface temperature lapse rate in the Kunlun Mountain regions based on both long-term meteorological records(1961-2017)and field surveys measured data(2012-2017).The results showed that(1)The near-surface temperature lapse rates(β;)has spatiotemporal distribution patterns on the Northwestern Kunlun Mountains(NWKM),and in complex terrain areas the complexity of the temperature-elevation relationship cannot be explained by the constant environmental temperature lapse rate(0.65℃/100 m)throughout alone.(2)Theβ;for the daily mean,minimum,and maximum temperature on the north slopes in the Kunlun mountain area are 0.41,0.47,and 0.37℃/100 m and on the Tiznafu River(TR)basin are 0.51,0.47 and 0.53℃/100 m,respectively.(3)The variations ofβ;for daily maximum and minimum temperature of the two regions exhibit similar monthly characteristics,which are lower in the winter and spring months than in other months.A greatest variability ofβ;for the daily mean,minimum,and maximum temperature appears in winter and a light variability ofβ;occurs in spring.The seasonal variability ofβ;for daily maximum temperature is greater than that for daily minimum temperature,and the seasonal variability ofβ;for daily average temperature has the smallest variability.(4)There is no significant trend of change occurred in theβ;of NWKM.(5)The spatial and temporal variations ofβ;for the NWKM are linked to the geographic differences and climate factors.The results of Grey Relational Analysis showed that theβ;distribution is mainly influenced by the wind speed and relative humidity of the NWKM.

Planetary Layer Lapse Rate Comparison of Tropical, Montane and Hot Semi-Arid Climates of Nigeria

This study assessed the pattern of planetary layer lapse rate across the major climate belts of Nigeria.Six years’data(2010-2015)for air temperature values between 1000 mbar and 850 mbar atmospheric pressure levels was acquired from Era-Interim Re-analysis data centre.The data was retrieved at 6-hourly synoptic hours:00:00 Hr,06:00 Hr.at 0.125o grid resolution.Results showed that the lower tropospheric layers throughout the various climate belts has a positive lapse rate.Findings also revealed that the average annual lapse rate condition were:Tropical wet zone(Port Harcourt)-5.6 oC/km;Bi-modal Tropical continental zone(Enugu)-5.8 oC/km;Montane zone(Jos)-6.5 oC/km;Mono-modal Tropical continental zone(Kano)-6.6 oC/km;and Hot semi-arid zone(Maiduguri)-6.6 oC/km.This average values presents the lapse rates to be near the Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate(SALR).Average diurnal results for the climate belts showed that lapse rate is higher during the afternoon and transition periods than the rest periods and increases from the coastal areas northward.The seasonal periods of highest lapse rates during the day time are from December-May(i.e.-5.8-9.5 oC/km)with slight decrease from June-November.The positive lapse rates of range-1.8 to 5.9 oC/km observed during the period of dawn across the entire region showed that infrared radiation was still being released and modified by less energetic mechanical turbulence that characterizes the surface layer across Nigeria.This also indicate that global warming is real and in substantial effect.The study findings imply that conditional instability prevailed over the entire region,therefore,the planetary layer environment will be of slow to moderate dispersive potential and will require forceful mechanism to lift emissions introduced into it.It is recommended that industrial stacks should be above 50 m to enhance the dispersion of emissions aloft.

BOUNDARY LAYER GROWTH AND LAPSE RATE CHANGES DETERMINED BY LIDAR AND SURFACE HEAT FLUX IN SOFIA

In this study the results from a boundary layer experiment,conducted in autumn 1991 over a flat,build-up urban area in Southeast Sofia,together with some models for mixed layer growth rates are used to investigate the layered struc- ture of the vertical atmospheric stability distribution in the Sofia Valley.Lidar measurements of aerosol layer heights and morning boundary layer development are combined with surface eddy correlation measurements of kinematic heat and moisture fluxes,profiles of temperature and humidity,wind speed and wind direction.A diagnostic method is pres- ented for determining vertical lapse rates using surface meteorological measurements and lidar returns observed during the transition from nighttime stable stratification to daytime convective boundary layer after the sunrise.

Using satellite-derived land surface temperatures to clarify the spatiotemporal warming trends of the Alborz Mountains in northern Iran

The Alborz Mountains are some of the highest in Iran,and they play an important role in controlling the climate of the country’s northern regions.The land surface temperature(LST)is an important variable that affects the ecosystem of this area.This study investigated the spatiotemporal changes and trends of the nighttime LST in the western region of the Central Alborz Mountains at elevations of 1500-4000 m above sea level.MODIS data were extracted for the period of 2000-2021,and the Mann-Kendall nonparametric test was applied to evaluating the changes in the LST.The results indicated a significant increasing trend for the monthly average LST in May-August along the southern aspect.Both the northern and southern aspects showed decreasing trends for the monthly average LST in October,November,and March and an increasing trend in other months.At all elevations,the average decadal change in the monthly average LST was more severe along the southern aspect(0.60°C)than along the northern aspect(0.37°C).The LST difference between the northern and southern aspects decreased in the cold months but increased in the hot months.At the same elevation,the difference in the lapse rate between the northern and southern aspects was greater in the hot months than in the cold months.With increasing elevation,the lapse rate between the northern and southern aspects disappeared.Climate change was concluded to greatly decrease the difference in LST at different elevations for April-July.

A Diagnostic Analysis on the Effect of the Residual Layer in Convective Boundary Layer Development near Mongolia Using 20th Century Reanalysis Data

Although the residual layer has already been noted in the classical diurnal cycle of the atmospheric boundary layer, its effect on the development of the convective boundary layer has not been well studied. In this study, based on 3-hourly 20th century reanalysis data, the residual layer is considered as a common layer capping the convective boundary layer. It is identified dally by investigating the development of the convective boundary layer. The region of interest is bounded by （30^-60~N, 80^-120~E）, where a residual layer deeper than 2000 m has been reported using radiosondes. The lapse rate and wind shear within the residual layer are compared with the surface sensible heat flux by investigating their climatological means, interannual variations and daily variations. The lapse rate of the residual layer and the convective boundary layer depth correspond well in their seasonal variations and climatological mean patterns. On the interannual scale, the correlation coefficient between their regional averaged （40°-50°N, 90°-110°E） variations is higher than that between the surface sensible heat flux and convective boundary layer depth. On the daily scale, the correlation between the lapse rate and the convective boundary layer depth in most months is still statistically significant during 1970-2012. Therefore, we suggest that the existence of a deep neutral residual layer is crucial to the formation of a deep convective boundary layer near the Mongolian regions.

Elevational patterns of temperature and humidity in the middle Tianshan Mountain area in Central Asia

The vertical distribution of vegetation types along an elevational gradient in mountain areas largely depends on the elevational changes in air temperature and humidity. In this study, we presented the seasonal and diurnal variations in the elevational gradients of air temperature and humidity on the southern and northern slopes in the middle Tianshan Mountain Range using data collected throughout the year via HOBO data loggers. The measurements were conducted at 12 different elevations from 1548 to 3277 m from September 2004 to August 2005. The results showed that the annual mean air temperature decreased along the elevational gradients with temperature lapse rates of(0.71±0.20)°C/100 m and(0.59±0.05)°C/100 m on the northern and southern slopes, respectively. The annual mean absolute humidity significantly decreased with increasing elevation on the northern slope but showed no significant trend on the southern slope. The annual mean relative humidity did not show a significant trend on the northern slope but increased with increasing elevation on the southern slope. The mean air temperature lapse rate exhibited significant seasonal variation, which is steeper insummer and shallower in winter, and this value varied between 0.37°C/100 m and 0.75°C/100 m on the southern slope and between 0.30°C/100 m and 1.02°C/100 m on the northern slope. The mean absolute and relative humidity also exhibited significant seasonal variations on both slopes, with the maximum occurring in summer and the minimum occurring in winter or spring. The monthly diurnal range of air temperature on both slopes was higher in spring than in winter. The annual range of air temperature on the southern slope was higher than that on the northern slope. Our results suggest that significant spatiotemporal variations in humidity and temperature lapse rate are useful when analyzing the relationships between species range sizes and climate in mountain areas.

Comparison of Spatial Interpolation Methods for Gridded Bias Removal in Surface Temperature Forecasts

All numerical weather prediction（NWP） models inherently have substantial biases, especially in the forecast of near-surface weather variables. Statistical methods can be used to remove the systematic error based on historical bias data at observation stations. However, many end users of weather forecasts need bias corrected forecasts at locations that scarcely have any historical bias data. To circumvent this limitation, the bias of surface temperature forecasts on a regular grid covering Iran is removed, by using the information available at observation stations in the vicinity of any given grid point. To this end, the running mean error method is first used to correct the forecasts at observation stations, then four interpolation methods including inverse distance squared weighting with constant lapse rate（IDSW-CLR）, Kriging with constant lapse rate（Kriging-CLR）, gradient inverse distance squared with linear lapse rate（GIDS-LR）, and gradient inverse distance squared with lapse rate determined by classification and regression tree（GIDS-CART）, are employed to interpolate the bias corrected forecasts at neighboring observation stations to any given location. The results show that all four interpolation methods used do reduce the model error significantly,but Kriging-CLR has better performance than the other methods. For Kriging-CLR, root mean square error（RMSE）and mean absolute error（MAE） were decreased by 26% and 29%, respectively, as compared to the raw forecasts. It is found also, that after applying any of the proposed methods, unlike the raw forecasts, the bias corrected forecasts do not show spatial or temporal dependency.

地理加权回归模型在地表气温直减率估算中的应用

The surface air temperature lapse rate(SATLR)plays a key role in the hydrological,glacial and ecological modeling,the regional downscaling,and the reconstruction of high-resolution surface air temperature.However,how to accurately estimate the SATLR in the regions with complex terrain and climatic condition has been a great challenge for researchers.The geographically weighted regression(GWR)model was applied in this paper to estimate the SATLR in China’s mainland,and then the assessment and validation for the GWR model were made.The spatial pattern of regression residuals which was identified by Moran’s Index indicated that the GWR model was broadly reasonable for the estimation of SATLR.The small mean absolute error(MAE)in all months indicated that the GWR model had a strong predictive ability for the surface air temperature.The comparison with previous studies for the seasonal mean SATLR further evidenced the accuracy of the estimation.Therefore,the GWR method has potential application for estimating the SATLR in a large region with complex terrain and climatic condition.

Higher palaeoelevation in the Baoshan Basin:Implications for landscape evolution at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Surface uplift at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau has been widely studied,but more palaeoaltimetry data are required to better understand the elevation history of this geologically complex region.In this study,fossil leaves of Abies(Pinaceae),a cool-temperate element,recovered from the latest Miocene-Pliocene Yangyi Formation of the southern Baoshan Basin,were used as a proxy to estimate the local palaeoelevation.Based on the regional modern altitude range(2100-4280 m)of the genus as well as regional temperature discrepancy(1.5℃)between the past and present,the palaeoelevation of the study area was calculated to be>2360 m above sea level as compared to 1670 m at present.Our result suggests that the southern Baoshan Basin experienced pronounced uplift prior to the time of fossil deposition,probably as a result of crustal shortening and thickening of the northern Baoshan Terrane during the Eocene-Oligocene.We infer that surface growth in areas south of the Dali Basin may have been greater than previously interpreted,and that a widespread plateau or plateau patches higher than 2000 m probably extended southwards into at least the Baoshan Basin by the latest Miocene-Pliocene.We also infer that the elevation of the southern Baoshan Basin has decreased by at least 690 m since then,in contrast to most other scenarios in which the elevation of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau has increased or remained close to modern levels since the late Miocene.The major cause of the inferred altitude decline is likely tectonic deformation.As a transtensional graben basin,the Baoshan Basin has experienced pull-apart and base-fall movement since the late Miocene,which would reduce the altitude of its southern part located on the hanging wall.Surface erosion associated with the increased summer rainfall might also have played a role especially in reducing the local relief,although its contribution can be limited.Our study provides one of the few palaeoelevation estimates from areas south of the Dali Basin and an example of past elevation loss at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau,thus shedding important light on the landscape evolution of this region.