Increases in the frequency of extreme weather and climate events and the severity of their impacts on the natural environment and society have been observed across the globe in recent decades. In addition to natural c...Increases in the frequency of extreme weather and climate events and the severity of their impacts on the natural environment and society have been observed across the globe in recent decades. In addition to natural climate variability and greenhouse-induced climate change, extreme weather and climate events produce the most pronounced impacts. In this paper, the climate of three island countries in the Western Pacific: Fiji, Samoa and Tuvalu, has been analysed. Warming trends in annual average maximum and minimum temperatures since the 1950s have been identified, in line with the global warming trend. We present recent examples of extreme weather and climate events and their impacts on the island countries in the Western Pacific: the 2011 drought in Tuvalu, the 2012 floods in Fiji and a tropical cyclone, Evan, which devastated Samoa and Fiji in December 2012. We also relate occurrences of the extreme weather and climate events to phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. The impacts of such natural disasters on the countries are severe and the costs of damage are astronomical. In some cases, climate extremes affect countries to such an extent that governments declare a national state of emergency, as occurred in Tuvalu in 2011 due to the severe drought’s impact on water resources. The projected increase in the frequency of weather and climate extremes is one of the expected consequences of the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentration and will likely have even stronger negative impacts on the natural environment and society in the future. This should be taken into consideration by authorities of Pacific Island Countries and aid donors when developing strategies to adapt to the increasing risk of climate extremes. Here we demonstrate that the modern science of seasonal climate prediction is well developed, with current dynamical climate models being able to provide skilful predictions of regional rainfall two-three months in advance. The dynamic climate model-based forecast products are now disseminated to the National Meteorological Services of 15 island countries in the Western Pacific through a range of web-based information tools. We conclude with confidence that seasonal climate prediction is an effective solution at the regional level to provide governments and local communities of island nations in the Western Pacific with valuable assistance for informed decision making for adaptation to climate variability and change.展开更多
[Objective] The research aimed to analyze the disastrous weather of serious drought in Northwest Hunan in summer and autumn of 2009.[Method] According to the meteorological data in Zhangjiajie of Northwest Hunan durin...[Objective] The research aimed to analyze the disastrous weather of serious drought in Northwest Hunan in summer and autumn of 2009.[Method] According to the meteorological data in Zhangjiajie of Northwest Hunan during the drought period from June to September,2009,the disaster characteristics of continuous drought in summer and autumn were analyzed.Based on NCEP/NCAR 2.5°×2.5° reanalysis data,by using the climatic diagnostic method,the formation reason of serious drought was initially analyzed from the circulation characteristics in the middle and high latitudes,Western Pacific subtropical high,the abnormal characteristics of sea surface temperature in the equatorial Middle Eastern Pacific Ocean and the tropical system activity.[Result] The characteristics of serious drought in Northwest Hunan in summer and autumn of 2009 were the quick developed speed,wide influence range,long duration,big disaster loss and long high temperature time.The influence range,duration and harm degree were rare to see in the history.During the arid period(June-September),the atmospheric circulation was abnormal.The polar vortex in the northern hemisphere was weak,and the center was by north.It was two-trough-one-ridge type in the middle and high latitudes of Eurasia.The long-wave trough existed respectively near Balkhash Lake and from Sea of Okhotsk to the east coast in China.The long-wave ridge maintained from Lake Baikal to Central Asia and stabilized in 90°-110° E of Central Asia.From the middle dekad of June to the middle dekad of September,the westerly index increased.The zonal circulation was the main one in the middle and high latitudes of Eurasia.The cold air in the high-latitude frontal zone spread eastward with the small-amplitude fluctuation form along the latitude circle direction,and was difficult to pass the westerly barrier near 45° N to reach the low latitude.Meanwhile,Western Pacific subtropical high jumped northward to control Jiangnan and South China for a long time.The down airflow was prevalent.It was hot and rainless.The drought developed quickly.The sea surface temperature in the equatorial Middle Eastern Pacific Ocean started to rise in June,and it entered into El Nino state.When El Nino event of obvious temperature increasing started to appear in spring and summer,the plum rain amount was less in the middle and low reaches of Yangtze River in the year or next year.The probability was 80%.In El Nino year,the typhoon was less.In addition,for the influence of strong Western Pacific subtropical high,the landing pathway of typhoon was by east or south.The kind of typhoon had the small role for easing the drought in Northwest Hunan.[Conclusion] The research provided the theory basis for improving the prediction level of short-term climate and the understanding of extreme climate event.展开更多
[Objective] The research aimed to analyze the formation reason of a dusty weather in the midwest of Hulun Buir City. [Method] By combining the synoptic method with the ecological environment variation, the occurrence ...[Objective] The research aimed to analyze the formation reason of a dusty weather in the midwest of Hulun Buir City. [Method] By combining the synoptic method with the ecological environment variation, the occurrence and influence of a typical dusty weather which happened in the midwest of Hulun Buir City on May 30, 2006 were analyzed. The occurrence mechanism of dusty weather in the city was elaborated deeply, and the source of dusty weather was put forward from the ecological environment variation angle. [Result] Under the big environment background that Hulun Buir Prairie desertification increased day by day, the unusually arid climate condition in spring was the main factor that caused the dust. The serious drought and the persistent warming in the prior period of dust formation caused the loosened and dry mantle soil, the delayed turning green of pasture grass, the thickening of dry soil layer. These objective natural environments and climatic factors were the decisive elements which induced the dusty weather. The abnormal warming from the ground to the high altitude provided the thermal condition for the formation of dusty weather, and promoted the increase of atmospheric stratification instability. In addition, the existence of jet stream in the high and low altitudes played the role of momentum download on the formation of ground gale. The formation and development of ground Mongolia cyclone provided the power condition for the formation of dusty weather, and the gale was the direct element of dusty weather formation. [Conclusion] The research provided the reference comments for the prevention and control of dusty weather in the city.展开更多
文摘Increases in the frequency of extreme weather and climate events and the severity of their impacts on the natural environment and society have been observed across the globe in recent decades. In addition to natural climate variability and greenhouse-induced climate change, extreme weather and climate events produce the most pronounced impacts. In this paper, the climate of three island countries in the Western Pacific: Fiji, Samoa and Tuvalu, has been analysed. Warming trends in annual average maximum and minimum temperatures since the 1950s have been identified, in line with the global warming trend. We present recent examples of extreme weather and climate events and their impacts on the island countries in the Western Pacific: the 2011 drought in Tuvalu, the 2012 floods in Fiji and a tropical cyclone, Evan, which devastated Samoa and Fiji in December 2012. We also relate occurrences of the extreme weather and climate events to phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. The impacts of such natural disasters on the countries are severe and the costs of damage are astronomical. In some cases, climate extremes affect countries to such an extent that governments declare a national state of emergency, as occurred in Tuvalu in 2011 due to the severe drought’s impact on water resources. The projected increase in the frequency of weather and climate extremes is one of the expected consequences of the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentration and will likely have even stronger negative impacts on the natural environment and society in the future. This should be taken into consideration by authorities of Pacific Island Countries and aid donors when developing strategies to adapt to the increasing risk of climate extremes. Here we demonstrate that the modern science of seasonal climate prediction is well developed, with current dynamical climate models being able to provide skilful predictions of regional rainfall two-three months in advance. The dynamic climate model-based forecast products are now disseminated to the National Meteorological Services of 15 island countries in the Western Pacific through a range of web-based information tools. We conclude with confidence that seasonal climate prediction is an effective solution at the regional level to provide governments and local communities of island nations in the Western Pacific with valuable assistance for informed decision making for adaptation to climate variability and change.
文摘[Objective] The research aimed to analyze the disastrous weather of serious drought in Northwest Hunan in summer and autumn of 2009.[Method] According to the meteorological data in Zhangjiajie of Northwest Hunan during the drought period from June to September,2009,the disaster characteristics of continuous drought in summer and autumn were analyzed.Based on NCEP/NCAR 2.5°×2.5° reanalysis data,by using the climatic diagnostic method,the formation reason of serious drought was initially analyzed from the circulation characteristics in the middle and high latitudes,Western Pacific subtropical high,the abnormal characteristics of sea surface temperature in the equatorial Middle Eastern Pacific Ocean and the tropical system activity.[Result] The characteristics of serious drought in Northwest Hunan in summer and autumn of 2009 were the quick developed speed,wide influence range,long duration,big disaster loss and long high temperature time.The influence range,duration and harm degree were rare to see in the history.During the arid period(June-September),the atmospheric circulation was abnormal.The polar vortex in the northern hemisphere was weak,and the center was by north.It was two-trough-one-ridge type in the middle and high latitudes of Eurasia.The long-wave trough existed respectively near Balkhash Lake and from Sea of Okhotsk to the east coast in China.The long-wave ridge maintained from Lake Baikal to Central Asia and stabilized in 90°-110° E of Central Asia.From the middle dekad of June to the middle dekad of September,the westerly index increased.The zonal circulation was the main one in the middle and high latitudes of Eurasia.The cold air in the high-latitude frontal zone spread eastward with the small-amplitude fluctuation form along the latitude circle direction,and was difficult to pass the westerly barrier near 45° N to reach the low latitude.Meanwhile,Western Pacific subtropical high jumped northward to control Jiangnan and South China for a long time.The down airflow was prevalent.It was hot and rainless.The drought developed quickly.The sea surface temperature in the equatorial Middle Eastern Pacific Ocean started to rise in June,and it entered into El Nino state.When El Nino event of obvious temperature increasing started to appear in spring and summer,the plum rain amount was less in the middle and low reaches of Yangtze River in the year or next year.The probability was 80%.In El Nino year,the typhoon was less.In addition,for the influence of strong Western Pacific subtropical high,the landing pathway of typhoon was by east or south.The kind of typhoon had the small role for easing the drought in Northwest Hunan.[Conclusion] The research provided the theory basis for improving the prediction level of short-term climate and the understanding of extreme climate event.
文摘[Objective] The research aimed to analyze the formation reason of a dusty weather in the midwest of Hulun Buir City. [Method] By combining the synoptic method with the ecological environment variation, the occurrence and influence of a typical dusty weather which happened in the midwest of Hulun Buir City on May 30, 2006 were analyzed. The occurrence mechanism of dusty weather in the city was elaborated deeply, and the source of dusty weather was put forward from the ecological environment variation angle. [Result] Under the big environment background that Hulun Buir Prairie desertification increased day by day, the unusually arid climate condition in spring was the main factor that caused the dust. The serious drought and the persistent warming in the prior period of dust formation caused the loosened and dry mantle soil, the delayed turning green of pasture grass, the thickening of dry soil layer. These objective natural environments and climatic factors were the decisive elements which induced the dusty weather. The abnormal warming from the ground to the high altitude provided the thermal condition for the formation of dusty weather, and promoted the increase of atmospheric stratification instability. In addition, the existence of jet stream in the high and low altitudes played the role of momentum download on the formation of ground gale. The formation and development of ground Mongolia cyclone provided the power condition for the formation of dusty weather, and the gale was the direct element of dusty weather formation. [Conclusion] The research provided the reference comments for the prevention and control of dusty weather in the city.
