Validation of the Relationship between Precipitable Water and Surface Vapor Pressure by Means of Reanalysis Data

By means of ERA-40, JRA-25, NCEP/NCAR and NCEP/DOE reanalysis data, empirical relations between precipitable water and surface vapor pressure in spatial and temporal scale were calculated. The reliabilities of precipitable water from reanalysis data were validated based on comparing different W-e empirical relations of various reanalysis data, in order to provide basis and reference for reasonable application. The results showed that W-e empirical relation of ERA-40 was closest to that of sounding data in China, and precipitable water from ERA-40 was the most credible. The worldwide comparison among W-e empirical relations of four reanalysis data showed that there was little difference in annual mean W-e empirical relations in the middle latitudes and great differences in low and high latitudes. Seasonal mean W-e empirical relations in the middle latitudes of the northern Hemisphere had little difference in spring, autumn and winter, but great difference in summer. Therefore, the reliabilities of precipitable water from reanalysis data in spring, autumn and winter in the middle latitudes of the northern hemisphere were higher than other areas and seasons. W-e empirical relations of NCEP/NCAR and NCEP/DOE had good stability in different years, while there was poor stability in ERA-40 and JRA-25.

Trends and abrupt changes in surface vapor content over Tarim Basin during the last 50 years

The surface vapor content has a close correlation with the generation of precipitation. Based on the atmospheric circulation data and surface vapor content data from 37 weather stations across the Tarim Basin dur- ing 1961-2010, the paper analyzed the vapor variation trend, period, abrupt changes and their causes. The results show that the increase trend of surface vapor content over the Tarim Basin mostly conforms with the average trend coefficient of 0.48. There were 3 centers displaying a trend of high vapor increase and 3 centers displaying a low vapor increase. These centers were distributed in strips and blocks across the basin from northeast to southwest. Notable inter-decadal variations in annual and seasonal vapor contents occurred in the Tarim Basin during the 50 years of the study period, with more vapor after the mid-1980s and less vapor in the 1960s and the 1970s. The significant increase in vapor content in the 50 year period occurred mostly in the 1980s and the 1990s. The in- creasing trend across the four seasons was strongest in summer, reaching 0.43, and weakest in spring. Great variations existed between the spring trend and the annual, summer, autumn and winter trends. During the 50-year study period, there are distinguishable periods of 4-6 years and 8-10 years in which the annual and seasonal vapor contents varied alternately between low and high concentrations. The annual vapor content and that of the four individual seasons all changed abruptly in about the mid-1980s （a〈0.05）. The west wind circulation, Tibetan Plateau circulation and the annual mean temperatures of the Tarim Basin are the main factors that influenced the surface vapor content over the study area, of which the Tibetan Plateau circulation may be the most important one.

The Aging Study on Polyethylene Terephthalate with Surface Modification by Water Vapor Plasma

The aging effects of the contact angle and surface energy on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have been investigated with surface modification by water vapor plasma. The experimental results show that the contact angle of water and PET decreases obviously and surface energy increases. However, with the increase of the aging time, the contact angle and surface energy change back gradually to original state.

Interaction of straight chain alcohol vapors with self-assembled MOF film by surface plasmon resonance sensing and imaging

Interaction of straight chain alcohol vapors with MOF-199-functionalized films was studied by SPR. The signals had linear relationships with the concentration of alcohols over a wide range from 0 to 70% （v/v） and were reversible in proportional to the chain length, with R2 all above 0.99.

Altitudinal effect of soil n-alkane δD values on the eastern Tibetan Plateau and their increasing isotopic fractionation with altitude

Stable isotope paleoaltimetry has provided unprecedented insights into the topographic histories of many of the world's highest mountain ranges. However, on the Tibetan Plateau(TP), stable isotopes from paleosols generally yield much higher paleoaltitudes than those based on fossils. It is therefore essential when attempting to interpret accurately this region's paleoaltitudes that the empirical calibrations of local stable isotopes and the relations between them are established. Additionally,it is vital that careful estimations be made when estimate how different isotopes sourced from different areas may have been influenced by different controls. We present here 29 hydrogen isotopic values for leaf wax-derived n-alkanes(i.e., δD_(wax) values,and abundance-weighted average δD values of C_(29) and C_(31)) in surface soils, as well as the δD values of soil water(δD_(sw)) samples(totaling 22) from Mount Longmen(LM), on the eastern TP(altitude ~0.8–4.0 km above sea level(asl), a region climatically affected by the East Asian Monsoon(EAM). We compared our results with published data from Mount Gongga(GG). In addition,47 river water samples, 55 spring water samples, and the daily and monthly summer precipitation records(from May to October,2015) from two precipitation observation stations were collected along the GG transect for δD analysis. LM soil δD_(wax) values showed regional differences and responded strongly to altitude, varying from.160‰ to.219‰, with an altitudinal lapse rate(ALR) of.18‰ km^(-1)(R^2=0.83; p<0.0001; n=29). These δD_(wax) values appeared more enriched than those from the GG transect by ~40‰. We found that both the climate and moisture sources led to the differences observed in soil δD_(wax) values between the LM and GG transects. We found that, as a general rule, ε_(wax/rw), ε_(wax/p) and εwax/sw values(i.e., the isotopic fractionation of δD_(wax) corresponding to δD_(rw), δD_p and δD_(sw)) increased with increasing altitude along both the LM and GG transects(up to 34‰ and 50‰, respectively). Basing its research on a comparative study of δD_(wax), δD_p, δD_(rw)(δD_(springw)) and δD_(sw), this paper discusses the effects of moisture recycling, glacier-fed meltwater, relative humidity(RH), evapotranspiration(ET), vegetation cover, latitude,topography and/or other factors on ε_(wax/p) values. Clearly, if ε_(wax-p) values at higher altitudes are calculated using smaller ε_(wax-p) values from lower altitudes, the calculated paleowaterδD_p values are going to be more depleted than the actual δD values, and any paleoaltitude would therefore be overestimated.

Regional applicability of seven meteorological drought indices in China

The definition of a drought index is the foundation of drought research.However,because of the complexity of drought,there is no a unified drought index appropriate for different drought types and objects at the same time.Therefore,it is crucial to determine the regional applicability of various drought indices.Using terrestrial water storage obtained from the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment,and the observed soil moisture and streamflow in China,we evaluated the regional applicability of seven meteorological drought indices:the Palmer Drought Severity Index(PDSI),modified PDSI(PDSI_CN) based on observations in China,self-calibrating PDSI(scPDSI),Surface Wetness Index(SWI),Standardized Precipitation Index(SPI),Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index(SPEI),and soil moisture simulations conducted using the community land model driven by observed atmospheric forcing(CLM3.5/ObsFC).The results showed that the scPDSI is most appropriate for China.However,it should be noted that the scPDSI reduces the value range slightly compared with the PDSI and PDSI_CN;thus,the classification of dry and wet conditions should be adjusted accordingly.Some problems might exist when using the PDSI and PDSI_CN in humid and arid areas because of the unsuitability of empiricalparameters.The SPI and SPEI are more appropriate for humid areas than arid and semiarid areas.This is because contributions of temperature variation to drought are neglected in the SPI,but overestimated in the SPEI,when potential evapotranspiration is estimated by the Thornthwaite method in these areas.Consequently,the SPI and SPEI tend to induce wetter and drier results,respectively.The CLM3.5/ObsFC is suitable for China before 2000,but not for arid and semiarid areas after 2000.Consistent with other drought indices,the SWI shows similar interannual and decadal change characteristics in detecting annual dry/wet variations.Although the long-term trends of drought areas in China detected by these seven drought indices during 1961-2013 are consistent,obvious differences exist among the values of drought areas,which might be attributable to the definitions of the drought indices in addition to climatic change.