Evolution of Surface Sensible Heat over the Tibetan Plateau Under the Recent Global Warming Hiatus

Based on regular surface meteorological observations and NCEP/DOE reanalysis data, this study investigates the evolution of surface sensible heat（SH） over the central and eastern Tibetan Plateau（CE-TP） under the recent global warming hiatus. The results reveal that the SH over the CE-TP presents a recovery since the slowdown of the global warming. The restored surface wind speed together with increased difference in ground-air temperature contribute to the recovery in SH.During the global warming hiatus, the persistent weakening wind speed is alleviated due to the variation of the meridional temperature gradient. Meanwhile, the ground surface temperature and the difference in ground-air temperature show a significant increasing trend in that period caused by the increased total cloud amount, especially at night. At nighttime, the increased total cloud cover reduces the surface effective radiation via a strengthening of atmospheric counter radiation and subsequently brings about a clear upward trend in ground surface temperature and the difference in ground-air temperature.Cloud–radiation feedback plays a significant role in the evolution of the surface temperature and even SH during the global warming hiatus. Consequently, besides the surface wind speed, the difference in ground-air temperature becomes another significant factor for the variation in SH since the slowdown of global warming, particularly at night.

Air temperature field distribution estimations over a Chinese mega-city using MODIS land surface temperature data： the case of Shanghai

The capability of obtaining spatially distrib- uted air temperature data from remote sensing measure- ments is an improvement for many environmental applications focused on urban heat island, carbon emis-sions, climate change, etc. This paper is based on the MODIS/Terra and Aqua data utilized to study the effect of the urban atmospheric heat island in Shanghai, China. The correlation between retrieved MODIS land surface tem- perature （LST） and air temperature measured at local weather stations was initially studied at different temporal and spatial scales. Secondly, the air temperature data with spatial resolutions of 250 m and 1 km were estimated from MODIS LST data and in-situ measured air temperature. The results showed that there is a slightly higher correlation between air temperature and MODIS LST at a 250 m resolution in spring and autumn on an annual scale than observed at a I km resolution. Although the distribution pattern of the air temperature thermal field varies in different seasons, the urban heat island （UHI） in Shanghai is characterized by a distribution pattern of multiple centers, with the central urban area as the primary center and the built-up regions in each district as the sub- centers. This study demonstrates the potential not only for estimating the distribution of the air temperature thermal field from MODIS LST with 250 m resolution in spring and autumn in Shanghai, but also for providing scientific and effective methods for monitoring and studying UHI effect in a Chinese mega-city such as Shanghai.

Comparative Study on Methods for Computing Soil Heat Storage and Energy Balance in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

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 the5-20-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.