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- Author or Editor: Qiong He x
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Abstract
The effect of Eurasian spring snowmelt on surface air temperature (SAT) in late spring (April–May) and early summer (June–July) and the relevant physical mechanisms during 1981–2016 are investigated. Results show that the first mode of the interannual Eurasian spring snowmelt represents an east–west dipole anomaly pattern, with an intense center over Siberia and another moderate center around eastern Europe. The European spring snowmelt shows an insignificant relation to the local SAT, whereas the Siberian spring snowmelt has a significant impact on the SAT in late spring and early summer. More Siberian spring snowmelt contributes to higher SAT in late spring and lower SAT in early summer via different mechanisms. In late spring, increased Siberian spring snowmelt corresponds to less local surface albedo and cloud cover, leading to the surface absorbing more shortwave radiation and thereby higher SAT. The subsurface and deep soil moisture anomalies generated from Siberian spring snowmelt can persist into early summer. Excessive Siberian spring snowmelt corresponds to positive soil moisture anomalies, contributing to decreased sensible heat and increased cloud cover in early summer. Increased cloud cover leads to the surface receiving less shortwave radiation. Thus, lower SAT appears over Siberia in early summer due to reduced sensible heat and shortwave radiation. However, the simulation of Eurasian spring snowmelt variability and its influences on SAT via the snow hydrological effect is still a challenge for the climate models that participated in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project.
Abstract
The effect of Eurasian spring snowmelt on surface air temperature (SAT) in late spring (April–May) and early summer (June–July) and the relevant physical mechanisms during 1981–2016 are investigated. Results show that the first mode of the interannual Eurasian spring snowmelt represents an east–west dipole anomaly pattern, with an intense center over Siberia and another moderate center around eastern Europe. The European spring snowmelt shows an insignificant relation to the local SAT, whereas the Siberian spring snowmelt has a significant impact on the SAT in late spring and early summer. More Siberian spring snowmelt contributes to higher SAT in late spring and lower SAT in early summer via different mechanisms. In late spring, increased Siberian spring snowmelt corresponds to less local surface albedo and cloud cover, leading to the surface absorbing more shortwave radiation and thereby higher SAT. The subsurface and deep soil moisture anomalies generated from Siberian spring snowmelt can persist into early summer. Excessive Siberian spring snowmelt corresponds to positive soil moisture anomalies, contributing to decreased sensible heat and increased cloud cover in early summer. Increased cloud cover leads to the surface receiving less shortwave radiation. Thus, lower SAT appears over Siberia in early summer due to reduced sensible heat and shortwave radiation. However, the simulation of Eurasian spring snowmelt variability and its influences on SAT via the snow hydrological effect is still a challenge for the climate models that participated in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project.
Abstract
By using a Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD)-based vortex detection scheme, rotationally coherent Lagrangian vortices in the South Atlantic Ocean are detected. These vortices act as agents for water transport and can stay coherent in a limited time scale. Our study starts from the life cycle of several long-lived Agulhas rings detected with the LAVD-based vortex detection method. The life cycle of those long-lived Agulhas rings can be separated into two distinct stages: the growing stage and the decaying stage. It is found that at the growing stage, the ambient water spins in and provides effective shielding for the coherent core. The rate of change of material belt width with respect to the detection time scale at the end of the growing stage can represent the decay rate of coherence. We further find a linear relationship between the mean strain rate and the mean square root of kinetic energy (KE1/2). Mean finite-time Lyapunov exponents (FTLE) increase monotonically with the mean strain rate or mean KE1/2. The long existence of the Agulhas rings can be partly attributed to the energetic boundaries around the rings. The ratio of the boundary kinetic energy to the spatial mean kinetic energy (KE/MKE) is also found to be a contributing factor that can influence the lifetime of Agulhas rings. In the retroflection area, the short-lived Agulhas rings might be attributed to the low KE/MKE in this area.
Abstract
By using a Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD)-based vortex detection scheme, rotationally coherent Lagrangian vortices in the South Atlantic Ocean are detected. These vortices act as agents for water transport and can stay coherent in a limited time scale. Our study starts from the life cycle of several long-lived Agulhas rings detected with the LAVD-based vortex detection method. The life cycle of those long-lived Agulhas rings can be separated into two distinct stages: the growing stage and the decaying stage. It is found that at the growing stage, the ambient water spins in and provides effective shielding for the coherent core. The rate of change of material belt width with respect to the detection time scale at the end of the growing stage can represent the decay rate of coherence. We further find a linear relationship between the mean strain rate and the mean square root of kinetic energy (KE1/2). Mean finite-time Lyapunov exponents (FTLE) increase monotonically with the mean strain rate or mean KE1/2. The long existence of the Agulhas rings can be partly attributed to the energetic boundaries around the rings. The ratio of the boundary kinetic energy to the spatial mean kinetic energy (KE/MKE) is also found to be a contributing factor that can influence the lifetime of Agulhas rings. In the retroflection area, the short-lived Agulhas rings might be attributed to the low KE/MKE in this area.
