Autumn Snow Cover Variability over Northern Eurasia and Roles of Atmospheric Circulation

This study analyzes the variability of northern Eurasian snow cover（SC） in autumn and the impacts of atmospheric circulation changes. The region of large SC variability displays a southward shift from September to November, following the seasonal progression of the transition zones of surface air temperature（SAT）. The dominant pattern of SC variability in September and October features a zonal distribution, and that in November displays an obvious west-east contrast. Surface air cooling and snowfall increase are two factors for larger SC. The relative contribution of SAT and snowfall changes to SC, however, varies with the region and depends upon the season. The downward longwave radiation and atmospheric heat advection play important roles in SAT changes. Anomalous convergence of water vapor flux contributes to enhanced snowfall.The changes in downward longwave radiation are associated with those in atmospheric water content and column thickness.Changes in snowfall and the transport of atmospheric moisture determine the atmospheric moisture content in September and October, and the snowfall appears to be a main factor for atmospheric moisture change in November. These results indicate that atmospheric circulation changes play an important role in snow variability over northern Eurasia in autumn. Overall, the coupling between autumn Eurasian snow and atmospheric circulation may not be driven by external forcing.

Effects of Post-Thermal Treatment on Quality of SiC Grown by PVT Method

We report the effects of post-thermal treatment on the quality of 2-inch 6H-SiC wafer cut from a crystal boule grown by physical vapour transportation method. The full widths at half maximum of x-ray diffraction rocking curves measured on sites across the 2-inch wafer become narrower, indicating the quality improvement after a three-step post-thermal treatment. It is found that the most common defects such as micropipes and inclusions can be significantly reduced after the treatment. Our results show that the post-thermal treatment is an effective route to improve the quality of SiC single crystals.

大气河对2013年“7.9”四川盆地持续性暴雨作用的诊断分析

2013年7月7~11日,四川盆地大部分地区出现了持续性强降雨天气（以下简称四川＂7.9＂暴雨）。此次过程的降水中心稳定少动、降水强度及总量大、持续时间长,累积降水量最高达到了1000mm以上,造成严重灾害。为分析位于孟加拉湾地区的大气河对四川＂7.9＂暴雨的影响。利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,通过研究孟加拉湾大气河水汽对这次暴雨的作用及影响,得到的结果表明：此次持续性暴雨过程中,孟加拉湾大气河受西太平洋副高东撤影响,并在200 h Pa和850 h Pa高低空急流的共同作用下,不断向四川地区输送水汽。这种水汽输送一直持续到11日才停止,此时降水也趋于结束。在整个暴雨过程中,850 h Pa上孟加拉湾大气河输送的水汽由于云贵高原阻挡,而绕开云贵高原在南海地区与西太副高外围的水汽以及南半球的越赤道气流汇合后,在低空急流左侧辐合气流作用下输送到四川盆地,为暴雨产生提供水汽。同时,700 h Pa上的水汽直接越过云贵高原到达四川盆地。孟加拉湾大气河的这两种输送方式为四川盆地持续性暴雨提供了充足的水汽供应。

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SPRING KUROSHIO SSTA AND SUMMER RAINFALL IN CHINA

Based on the data of SST and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the relationship is analyzed of spring SSTA in the Kuroshio region with summer precipitation in China, summer 500 hPa field and water vapor transport, using the methods of Morlet wave, correlation and composite analysis. The results show that annual and interdecadal change of spring SST in the Kuroshio region is distinct. Spring SST displays a significantly increasing trend and there exist different periodic oscillations in the Kuroshio region, with the 23-year periodic oscillation being the most obvious. Troughs and ridges in the mid- and higher- latitudes turn deeper in high Kuroshio SSTA years. At the same time, the western Pacific subtropical high strengthens and stretches westwards. As a result, the warm / wet air from the west of the subtropical high locates in the mid- and lower- reaches of the Yangtze River and south China and summer rainfall in the above regions increases accordingly. Composite anomalous water vapor flux fields indicate that the vapor transport from the South China Sea and western Pacific and the vapor from the north converge over the mid- and lower- reaches of the Yangtze River and south China, which results in the increase of the summer rainfall in the mid- and lower- reaches of the Yangtze River and south China. On the contrary, the summer rainfall in the mid- and lower- reaches of the Yangtze River and south China decreases correspondingly in low Kuroshio SSTA years.