Total Electron Content Diurnal and Seasonal Variations and Response to Solar Events at Koudougou Station in Burkina Faso

In this paper, we studied the seasonal behavior of the total electron content (TEC) during a part of solar cycle 24 ascending, maximum and decreasing phases at Koudougou station (Latitude: 12°15'09"N Longitude: 2°21'45"W). Response of TEC to solar recurrent events is presented. The highest values of the TEC in 2014, 2015 and 2016 were recorded on March and October, while in 2013 they were recorded on April and November, corresponding to equinox months. This observation shows that TEC values at the equinoxes are higher than those of solstices. Moreover, the monthly TEC varies in phase with the sunspots number showing a linear dependence of the TEC on solar activity. The ionospheric electron contents are generally very low both before noon and during the night, but quite high at noon and after noon. This pattern of TEC variation is due to the fluctuation of incident solar radiation on the Earth’s equatorial ionosphere. During quiet periods, the number of free electrons generated is lower than that generated during recurrent periods, which shows a positive contribution of recurrent activity to the level of the TEC. Investigations have also highlighted a winter anomaly and equinoctial asymmetry in TEC behavior at Koudougou station.

Seasonal Variation of Hearing Sensitivity in the Red-eared Slider(Trachemys scripta elegans)

Seasonal variation of hearing sensitivity has been observed in many vertebrate groups with obvious vocal behaviors.Circulating hormones,conspecific calling signals,and temperature are potential factors that drive these plasticity patterns.Turtles have a hearing range that appears to be limited to under 1.5 kHz and are often thought to be non-vocal;thus,they are commonly neglected in vocal communication research.In this study,we aimed to determine whether the auditory phenotype exhibits seasonal variation in sensitivity and to analyze the potential factors driving such variation patterns in turtles.We measured hearing sensitivity and sex hormone levels in female(estradiol)and male(testosterone and dihydrotestosterone)Red-eared sliders(Trachemys scripta elegans)during spring and winter.The results showed that auditory brainstem response(ABR)thresholds were significantly lower in spring than in winter at a frequency range of 0.5-0.9 kHz.The hearing-sensitivity bandwidth was wider,and the ABR latency was significantly shorter in spring than in winter.No significant differences were found in estradiol,testosterone,and dihydrotestosterone levels in T.scripta elegans between spring and winter.This study is the first to reveal the seasonal variation of peripheral hearing sensitivity in turtles,a special animal group with limited hearing range and less vocalization.Temperature variations may be used to explain these seasonal effects,but further research is required to confirm our findings.

Seasonal variation of mesoscale eddy intensity in the global ocean

Mesoscale eddies are a prominent oceanic phenomenon that plays an important role in oceanic mass transport and energy conversion.Characterizing by rotational speed,the eddy intensity is one of the most fundamental properties of an eddy.However,the seasonal spatiotemporal variation in eddy intensity has not been examined from a global ocean perspective.In this study,we unveil the seasonal spatiotemporal characteristics of eddy intensity in the global ocean by using the latest satellite-altimetry-derived eddy trajectory data set.The results suggest that the eddy intensity has a distinct seasonal variation,reaching a peak in spring while attaining a minimum in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere.The seasonal variation of eddy intensity is more intense in the tropical-subtropical transition zones within latitudinal bands between 15°and 30°in the western Pacific Ocean,the northwestern Atlantic Ocean,and the eastern Indian Ocean because baroclinic instability in these areas changes sharply.Further analysis found that the seasonal variation of baroclinic instability precedes the eddy intensity by a phase of 2–3 months due to the initial perturbations needing time to grow into mesoscale eddies.

Seasonal Variation of the Sea Surface Temperature Growth Rate of ENSO

El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation(ENSO) exhibits a distinctive phase-locking characteristic, first expressed during its onset in boreal spring, developing during summer and autumn, reaching its peak towards winter, and decaying over the next spring. Several studies have demonstrated that this feature arises as a result of seasonal variation in the growth rate of ENSO as expressed by the sea surface temperature(SST). The bias towards simulating the phase locking of ENSO by many state-of-the-art climate models is also attributed to the unrealistic depiction of the growth rate. In this study, the seasonal variation of SST growth rate in the Ni?o-3.4 region(5°S–5°N, 120°–170°W) is estimated in detail based on the mixed layer heat budget equation and recharge oscillator model during 1981–2020. It is suggested that the consideration of a variable mixed layer depth is essential to its diagnostic process. The estimated growth rate has a remarkable seasonal cycle with minimum rates occurring in spring and maximum rates evident in autumn. More specifically, the growth rate derived from the meridional advection(surface heat flux) is positive(negative) throughout the year. Vertical diffusion generally makes a negative contribution to the evolution of growth rate and the magnitude of vertical entrainment represents the smallest contributor. Analysis indicates that the zonal advective feedback is regulated by the meridional immigration of the intertropical convergence zone, which approaches its southernmost extent in February and progresses to its northernmost location in September, and dominates the seasonal variation of the SST growth rate.

Seasonal variation of melatonin secretion across various segments of the gastrointestinal tract in rats

Objective:To investigate whether melatonin(MT)secretion in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract(GIT)exhibits seasonal variations and its correlation with immune regulation.Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and model groups,and the pineal gland was removed in the model group.Stomach,jejunum,ileum,and colon tissues were obtained during the spring equinox,summer solstice,beginning of autumn,autumn equinox,and winter solstice.The levels of MT,MT receptors(MR),arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase(AANAT),hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase(HIOMT),interleukin-2(IL-2),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in the GIT were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Except for the stomach,the jejunum,ileum,and the colon showed seasonal tendencies in MT secretion.In the control group,MT secretion in the jejunum and ileum was the highest in the long summer,and colonic MT secretion was the highest in winter.In the model group,MT levels in the colon were highest in the summer.The seasonal rhythms of the MR,AANAT,HIOMT,IL-2,and IL-10 in the colon were roughly similar to those of MT,and changed accordingly after pinealectomy.Conclusions: Gastrointestinal MT secretion is related to seasonal changes,and MT secretion in each intestinal segment is influenced by different seasons.The biological effects of MT in the gut are inextricably linked to the mediation of MR,and a hormone-receptor linkage exists between MT and MR.The effect of seasonal changes on the gastrointestinal immune system may be mediated through the regulation of seasonal secretion of MT.

Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of CO2Fluxes and Their Climate Controlling Factors for a Subtropical Forest in Ningxiang

In this study, the diurnal and seasonal variations of CO2 fluxes in a subtropical mixed evergreen forest in Ningxiang of Hunan Province, part of the East Asian monsoon region, were quantified for the first time. The fluxes were based on eddy covariance measurements from a newly initiated flux tower. The relationship between the CO2 fluxes and climate factors was also analyzed. The results showed that the target ecosystem appeared to be a clear carbon sink in 2013, with integrated net ecosystem CO2exchange（NEE）, ecosystem respiration（RE）, and gross ecosystem productivity（GEP） of-428.8, 1534.8 and1963.6 g C m^-2yr^-1, respectively. The net carbon uptake（i.e. the-NEE）, RE and GEP showed obvious seasonal variability,and were lower in winter and under drought conditions and higher in the growing season. The minimum NEE occurred on12 June（-7.4 g C m^-2d^-1）, due mainly to strong radiation, adequate moisture, and moderate temperature; while a very low net CO2 uptake occurred in August（9 g C m^-2month^-1）, attributable to extreme summer drought. In addition, the NEE and GEP showed obvious diurnal variability that changed with the seasons. In winter, solar radiation and temperature were the main controlling factors for GEP, while the soil water content and vapor pressure deficit were the controlling factors in summer. Furthermore, the daytime NEE was mainly limited by the water-stress effect under dry and warm atmospheric conditions, rather than by the direct temperature-stress effect.

Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of Rain Rate and Rain Attenuation on Ku-Band Satellite Systems in a Tropical Region: A Synthetic Storm Techniques Approach

In this paper, a time-varying rain characterization and diurnal variation in the Ku-band satellite systems simulated with synthetic storm techniques (SST) over a tropical location in Nigeria have been presented. Three years’ rain rate time-series data measured by a raingauge located inside the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria were utilized for the purpose of this work. The analysis is based on the CDF of one-minute rain rate;time-series simulated annual/seasonal and diurnal rain rate, rain attenuation statistics and fade margins observed over four time intervals: 00:00-06:00, 06:00-12:00, 12:00-18:00 and 18:00-24:00. In addition, comparison was also made between the synthesized values and rain attenuation statistics, at 12.245 GHz for a hypothetical downlink from EUTELSAT W4/W7 satellite in the area. It could be observed that at 99.99% link availability, the fade margin as high as ~20 dB may be required at Ku band uplink frequency bands in this area. We also observed that the communication downlinks working in the early morning and early to late in the evening hours must be compensated with an appropriate Down-Link Power Control (DLPC) for optimum performances during severe atmospheric influences in the region.

Comparison of Diurnal,Seasonal and Solar Cycle Variations of High-latitude,Mid-latitude and Low-latitude Ionosphere

Comparison of regular(diurnal,seasonal and solar cycle)variations of high-latitude,mid-latitude and low-latitude ionospheric characteristics has been provided on basis of local empirical models of the peak electron density and the peak height.The local empirical models were derived from the hand-scaled ionogram data recorded by DPS-4 digisondes located at Norilsk(69°N,88°E),Irkutsk(52°N,104°E)and Hainan(19°N,109°E)for a 6-year period from December,2002 to December,2008.The technique used to build the local empirical model is described.The primary focus is diurnal-seasonal behavior under low solar activity and its change with increasing solar activity.Both common and specific features of the high-latitude(Norilsk),mid-latitude(Irkutsk)and low-latitude(Hainan)regular variations were revealed using their local empirical models.

Seasonal and Diurnal Variations of Cloud Systems over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau and East China:A Cloud-resolving Model Study

The seasonal and diurnal variations of cloud systems are profoundly affected by the large-scale and local environments.In this study,a one-year-long simulation was conducted using a two-dimensional cloud-resolving model over the Eastern Tibetan Plateau(ETP)and two subregions of Eastern China:Southern East China and Central East China.Deep convective clouds(DCCs)rarely occur in the cold season over ETP,whereas DCCs appear in Eastern China throughout the year,and the ETP DCCs are approximately 20%−30%shallower than those over Eastern China.Most strong rainfall events(precipitation intensity,PI>2.5 mm h−1)in Eastern China are related to warm-season DCCs with ice cloud processes.Because of the high elevation of the ETP,the warm-season freezing level is lower than in Eastern China,providing favorable conditions for ice cloud processes.DCCs are responsible for the diurnal variations of warm-season rainfall in all three regions.Warm-season DCCs over the ETP have the greatest total cloud water content and frequency in the afternoon,resulting in an afternoon rainfall peak.In addition,rainfall events in the ETP also exhibit a nocturnal peak in spring,summer,and autumn due to DCCs.Strong surface heat fluxes around noon can trigger or promote DCCs in spring,summer,and autumn over the ETP but produce only cumulus clouds in winter due to the cold and dry environment.

Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of Surface Ozone and Its Precursors in the Atmosphere of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

Surface ozone (O3) and its precursor’s gases (nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were measured in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia from January 2004-December 2004. The annual average concentrations of O3, NO, NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, CH4, TNMHCs and THC were 22.51 ppb, 15.58 ppb, 17.25 ppb, 23.84 ppb, 6.66 ppb, 165.13 ppb, 3.44 ppm, 0.56 ppm and 3.88 ppm, respectively. The SO2/NOx and SO2/NO2 concentration ratios during the period of study indicate that the mobile emissions are the predominant sources in yanbu. The diurnal cycles of O3 concentrations revealed highest levels in the daytime and lowest levels in night time. The diurnal variations of NO, NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, NMHCs concentrations were similar and showed peaks concentrations linked to traffic density, boundary layer mixing processes and chemical processes in the atmosphere. The mean concentrations of O3 in different seasons follow the order of summer > spring > autumn > winter. In contrary to O3, NO has higher concentrations in autumn and winter than those in summer and spring seasons. The highest concentrations of NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, and TNMHCs were found in autumn and spring, whereas the lowest concentrations were found in summer and winter. THC and CH4 have no significant change over winter, autumn and summer seasons, while their concentrations decrease sharply in spring. Although the studied area does not suffer from NO2, O3, SO2 and CO pollution and no health risk, comprehensive and long-term air quality management programmes are needed in order to keep air quality in a good condition.

Dissolved Inorganic Arsenic in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea—Distributions and Seasonal Variations

The distributions and seasonal variations of total dissolved inorganic arsenic （TDIAs, [TDIAs] = [As^5＋]＋[As^3＋]） and arsenite （As3.） in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea are presented hero based on the observations of 9 cruises carried out in 2000 - 2003. The study area covers a broad range of hydrographic and chemical properties. The emphasis is put on a southeast transect from Changjiang Estuary to the Ryukyu Islands （i.e. PN section） in the East China Sea to discuss the impact of terrestdal input on the marginal seas of China. Arsenic species （TDlAs and arsenite） are determined by selective hydride generation - atomic fluorescence spectrometry （HG-AFS）. TDIAs concentrations were high in the coastal area of Changjiang Estuary and decreased slightly towards the shelf region. High concentratiOns of TDIAs were also existed in the near bottom layer of shelf edge of the East China Sea which indicated another source of arsenic from the incursion of Kuroshio Waters. The seasonal variations of TDIAs in the study area depend on the hydrographic stages of Changjiang and the incursion intensity of Kuroshio Waters. Arsenite showed opposite distributions with TDIAs, with higher concentrations appeared at the surface layer of shelf region, which was positive correlated with the chlorophyll a. Biological conversion of arsenate into arsenite was hypothesized for the observed distribution pattern and its seasonal variations. The stoichoimetric ratios of As to P were estimated to be about 2×10^3 at PN Section in summer. The concentrations of dissolved arsenic in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were comparable with other areas in the world.

Degree of shade tolerance shapes seasonality of chlorophyll, nitrogen and phosphorus levels of trees and herbs in a temperate deciduous forest

Forest productivity is closely linked to seasonal variations and vertical differentiation in leaf traits.However,leaf structural and chemical traits variation among co-existing species,and plant functional types within the canopy are poorly quantified.In this study,the seasonality of leaf chlorophyll,nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)were quantified vertically along the canopy of four major tree species and two types of herbs in a temperate deciduous forest.The role of shade tolerance in shaping the seasonal variation and vertical differentiation was examined.During the entire season,chlorophyll content showed a distinct asymmetric unimodal pattern for all species,with greater chlorophyll levels in autumn than in spring,and the timing of peak chlorophyll per leaf area gradually decreased as shade tolerance increased.Chlorophyll a:b ratios gradually decreased with increasing shade tolerance.Leaf N and P contents sharply declined during leaf expansion,remained steady in the mature stage and decreased again during leaf senescence.Over the seasons,the lower canopy layer had significantly higher chlorophyll per leaf mass but not chlorophyll per leaf area than the upper canopy layer regardless of degree of shade tolerance.However,N and P per leaf area of intermediate shade-tolerant and fully shade-tolerant tree species were significantly higher in the upper canopy than in the lower.Seasonal variations in N:P ratios suggest changes in N or P limitation.These findings indicate that shade tolerance is a key feature shaping inter-specific differences in leaf chlorophyll,N,and P contents as well as their seasonality in temperate deciduous forests,which have significant implications for modeling leaf photosynthesis and ecosystem production.

Seasonal Performance of Solar Power Plants in the Sahel Region: A Study in Senegal, West Africa

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the seasonal performance of 20 MW solar power plants in Senegal. The analysis revealed notable seasonal variations in the performance of all stations. The most significant yields are recorded in spring, autumn and winter, with values ranging from 5 to 7.51 kWh/kWp/day for the reference yield and 4.02 to 7.58 kWh/kWp/day for the final yield. These fluctuations are associated with intense solar activity during the dry season and clear skies, indicating peak production. Conversely, minimum values are recorded during the rainy season from June to September, with a final yield of 3.86 kWh/kW/day due to dust, clouds and high temperatures. The performance ratio analysis shows seasonal dynamics throughout the year with rates ranging from 77.40% to 95.79%, reinforcing reliability and optimal utilization of installed capacity. The results of the capacity factor vary significantly, with March, April, May, and sometimes October standing out as periods of optimal performance, with 16% for Kahone, 16% for Bokhol, 18% for Malicounda and 23% for Sakal. Total losses from solar power plants show similar seasonal trends standing out for high loss levels from June to July, reaching up to 3.35 kWh/kWp/day in June. However, using solar trackers at Sakal has increased production by up to 25%, demonstrating the operational stability of this innovative technology compared with the plants fixed panel. Finally, comparing these results with international studies confirms the outstanding efficiency of Senegalese solar power plants, other installations around the world.

Spatial Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Hypoxic Zone in the Eastern Equatorial Indian Ocean

The spatial distribution and seasonal variations of the hypoxic zone in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean were investigated using survey data collected from four cruises from 2013 to 2018.Results showed that hypoxic zone occurred all year round in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean,and it spread southward in the shape of a double tongue at two depths with one at subsurface centered at a depth of 150 m and the other in intermediate water centered at a depth of 800 m.The southward expansion and maximum thickness of the hypoxic zone were greatest in the spring inter-monsoon and least in the summer monsoon.The hypoxic zone originated from the southward expansion of the hypoxic water in the Bay of Bengal and its spatial distribution was driven by southward output flux of mid-deep(100–1000 m)hypoxic water from the Bay of Bengal.The hypoxia southward expansion was blocked near the equator in the subsurface layer,because of mixing with multiple zonal circulations(e.g.,Wyrtki Jets and the equatorial undercurrent),which meant that the hypoxic zone extended over a smaller area than in the intermediate water.These new findings will contribute to an improved understanding of the hypoxic zone and will contribute to circulation research,particularly about intermediate circulation in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean.

Seasonal variation of the shape and location of the Luzon cold eddy

Using observational data from multiple satellites,we studied seasonal variations of the shape and location of the Luzon cold eddy(LCE)northwest of Luzon Island.The shape and location of the LCE have obvious seasonal variations.The LCE occurs,develops,and disappears from December to April of the next year.During this period,the shape of the LCE changed from a flat ellipse to a circular ellipse,and the change in shape can be reflected by the increase of the ellipticity of the LCE from 0.16 to 0.82.The latitude of center location of the LCE changes from 17.4°N to 19°N,and the change in latitude can reach 1.6°.Further study showed that seasonal variation of the northeast monsoon intensity leads to the change in the shape and location of the LCE.The seasonal variation of the LCE shape can significantly alter the spatial distribution of the thermal front and chlorophyll a northwest of the Luzon Island by geostrophic advection.

Characteristics and Seasonal Variations of PM2.5, PM10, and TSP Aerosol in Beijing

Objective To investigate the seasonal characteristics and the sources of elements and ions with different sizes in the aerosols in Beijing. Methods Samples of particulate matters （PM2,5）, PM10, and total suspended particle （TSP） aerosols were collected simultaneously in Beijing from July 2001 to April 2003. The aerosol was chemically characterized by measuring 23 elements and 18 water-soluble ions by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy （ICP-AES） and ion chromatography （IC）, respectively. Results The samples were divided into four categories： spring non-dust, spring dust, summer dust, and winter dust. TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 were most abundant in the spring dust, and the least in summer dust. The average mass ratios of PM〉10, PM2,5-10, and PM2.5 to TSP confirmed that in the spring dust both the large coarse （PM〉10） and fine particles （PM2.5） contributed significantly in summer PM2.5, PM2,5-10, and PM〉10 contributed similar fractions to TSP, and in winter much PM2.5. The seasonal variation characteristics of the elements and ions were used to divide them into four groups： crustal, pollutant, mixed, and secondary. The highest levels of crustal elements, such as AI, Fe, and Ca, were found in the dust season, the highest levels of pollutant elements and ions, such as As, F, and Cl^-, were observed in winter, and the highest levels of secondary ions （SO4^2-, NO3^-, and NH4^＋） were seen both in summer and in winter. The mixed group （Eu, Ni, and Cu） showed the characteristics of both crustal and pollutant elements. The mineral aerosol from outside Beijiug contributed more than that from the local part in all the reasons but summer, estimated using a newly developed element tracer technique.

Seasonal Variations of Observed Raindrop Size Distribution in East China

Seasonal variations of rainfall microphysics in East China are investigated using data from the observations of a twodimensional video disdrometer and a vertically pointing micro rain radar. The precipitation and rain drop size distribution(DSD) characteristics are revealed for different rain types and seasons. Summer rainfall is dominated by convective rain,while during the other seasons the contribution of stratiform rain to rainfall amount is equal to or even larger than that of convective rain. The mean mass-weighted diameter versus the generalized intercept parameter pairs of convective rain are plotted roughly around the "maritime" cluster, indicating a maritime nature of convective precipitation throughout the year in East China. The localized rainfall estimators, i.e., rainfall kinetic energy–rain rate, shape–slope, and radar reflectivity–rain rate relations are further derived. DSD variability is believed to be a major source of diversity of the aforementioned derived estimators. These newly derived relations would certainly improve the accuracy of rainfall kinetic energy estimation, DSD retrieval, and quantitative precipitation estimation in this specific region.

Simulation of Asian Monsoon Seasonal Variations with Climate Model R42L9/LASG

The seasonal variations of the Asian monsoon were explored by applying the atmospheric general circulation model R42L9 that was developed recently at the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (LASG/IAP/CAS). The 20-yr (1979–1998) simulation was done using the prescribed 20-yr monthly SST and sea-ice data as required by Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) II in the model. The monthly precipitation and monsoon circulations were analyzed and compared with the observations to validate the model’s performance in simulating the climatological mean and seasonal variations of the Asian monsoon. The results show that the model can capture the main features of the spatial distribution and the temporal evolution of precipitation in the Indian and East Asian monsoon areas. The model also reproduced the basic patterns of monsoon circulation. However, some biases exist in this model. The simulation of the heating over the Tibetan Plateau in summer was too strong. The overestimated heating caused a stronger East Asian monsoon and a weaker Indian monsoon than the observations. In the circulation ?elds, the South Asia high was stronger and located over the Tibetan Plateau. The western Paci?c subtropical high was extended westward, which is in accordance with the observational results when the heating over the Tibetan Plateau is stronger. Consequently, the simulated rainfall around this area and in northwest China was heavier than in observations, but in the Indian monsoon area and west Paci?c the rainfall was somewhat de?cient.

Warm-Season Diurnal Variations of Total, Stratiform, Convective, and Extreme Hourly Precipitation over Central and Eastern China

Diurnal variations in amount, frequency and intensity of warm-season hourly precipitation(HP) at seven levels, which are defined as HP 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mm, are revealed based on no less than 30 years of hourly rain-gauge observations at national stations over central and eastern China(CEC). This study investigates the variations, relationships, differences and similarities of total, stratiform, convective and extreme HP over the entire CEC and various subregions. Results indicate that the variations in the amount and frequency of HP at the seven levels over the entire CEC all display a bimodal feature. For various regions, the variations of total HP mostly feature two peaks, while convective HP mainly occurs in the late afternoon and determines the diurnal variation of total HP intensity. On the basis of the primary peak time periods of HP frequency at all levels over different subregions, the variations can be classified into three main categories: late-afternoon primary peak, nocturnal primary peak, and time-shifting primary peak. However, the variations over some coastal regions like the Liaodong Peninsula, the Shandong Peninsula, and the coastal regions of Guangdong, distinctly differ from those over their corresponding larger regions. Overall, the normalized diurnal variation amplitude of amount and frequency increases with the increasing HP intensity; convective precipitation can be represented by HP 10 mm; and the intensity of HP 50 mm is slightly larger during the nighttime than during the daytime over the entire CEC. In northern China, diurnal variation in HP 5 mm can represent well that in convective precipitation.

Seasonal variations in the onset of ulcerative colitis in Japan

AIM:To investigate seasonal variations in the onset and relapse of ulcerative colitis(UC)in Japanese patients.METHODS:Between 1994 and 2006,198 Japanese patients diagnosed with UC according to conventional criteria in an academic hospital were enrolled for onset evaluation.Among 265 Japanese patients with UC who were observed for more than 12 mo,165 patients relapsed(239 times)and were enrolled for relapse evaluation.The patients’symptoms were recorded each month for 12 consecutive years.RESULTS:There was monthly seasonality in symptom onset during October and March for UC.The onset of symptoms in UC patients frequently occurred during the winter.Variation in UC onset was observed according to both month(P=0.015)and season(P=0.048).Relapse commonly occurred in October,and variations in relapse were not significant either in month(P=0.52)or season(P=0.12).Upper respiratory inflammation was the main factor responsible for relapse.CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that environmental factors associated with winter and spring seasonality may be responsible for triggering the clinical onset of UC in Japan.