Parameterization for narrow band optical properties of water clouds

The equivalent radius of cloud droplets is an important microphysical parameter in determining the optical properties of clouds. But for the present schemes of parameterization with merely the equivalent radius, the role of small droplets in clouds has not been considered properly. In this paper, several parameterization schemes are pre sented, and their performances have been analyzed through comparison with Mie scattering calculations and accurate ra diative transfer computations. The results show that for the parameterization scheme, in addition to the equivalent ra dius, including also the mean radius of cloud droplets, the role of small cloud droplets might be considered more proper ly and better accuracy could be achieved.     

Parameterization for narrow band shortwave optical properties of water clouds

Based on the drop size distribution models built from the observational data of microphysical properties of water clouds, the relationships between the optical properties and microphysical characteristics of water clouds have been investigated, and some different parameterization schemes of cloud optical properties have been analyzed. It is found that with the parameterization scheme, in addition to the equivalent radius, also including the mean radius of cloud droplet size distribution, the role of small cloud drops might be able to be considered more properly and better accuracies of parameterization calculation of cloud optical properties can be obtained, compared with that of using only the equivalent radius as parameter.     

Deep convective clouds with sustained supercooled liquid water down to -37.5 degrees C

In cirrus and orographic wave clouds, highly supercooled water has been observed in small quantities (less than 0.15 g m(-3)). This high degree of supercooling was attributed to the small droplet size and the lack of ice nuclei at the heights of these clouds. For deep convective clouds, which have much larger droplets near their tops and which take in aerosols from near the ground, no such measurements have hitherto been reported. However, satellite data suggest that highly supercooled water (down to -38 degrees C) frequently occurs in vigorous continental convective storms. Here we report in situ measurements in deep convective clouds from an aircraft, showing that most of the condensed water remains liquid down to -37.5 degrees C. The droplets reach a median volume diameter of 17 microm and amount to 1.8 gm(-3), one order of magnitude more than previously reported. At slightly colder temperatures only ice was found, suggesting homogeneous freezing. Because of the poor knowledge of mixed-phase cloud processes, the simulation of clouds using numerical models is difficult at present. Our observations will help to understand these cloud processes, such as rainfall, hail, and cloud electrification, together with their implications for the climate system.     

Entrainment-mixing parameterization in shallow cumuli and effects of secondary mixing events

Parameterization of entrainment-mixing pro- cesses in cumulus clouds is critical to improve cloud parameterization in models, but is still at its infancy. For this purpose, we have lately developed a formulation to represent a microphysical measure defined as homoge- neous mixing degree in terms of a dynamical measure defined as transition scale numbers, and demonstrated the formulation with measurements from stratocumulus clouds. Here, we extend the previous work by examining data from observed cumulus clouds and find positive cor- relations between the homogeneous mixing degree and transition scale numbers. These results are similar to those in the stratocumulus clouds, but proved valid for the first time in observed cumulus clouds. The empiricalrelationships can be used to parameterize entrainment- mixing processes in two-moment microphysical schemes. Further examined are the effects of secondary mixing events on the relationships between homogeneous mixing degree and transition scale numbers with the explicit mixing parcel model. The secondary mixing events are found to be at least partially responsible for the larger scatter in the above positive correlations based on obser- vations than that in the previous results based on numerical simulations without considering secondary mixing events.     

The impact of humidity above stratiform clouds on indirect aerosol climate forcing

Some of the global warming from anthropogenic greenhouse gases is offset by increased reflection of solar radiation by clouds with smaller droplets that form in air polluted with aerosol particles that serve as cloud condensation nuclei. The resulting cooling tendency, termed the indirect aerosol forcing, is thought to be comparable in magnitude to the forcing by anthropogenic CO2, but it is difficult to estimate because the physical processes that determine global aerosol and cloud populations are poorly understood. Smaller cloud droplets not only reflect sunlight more effectively, but also inhibit precipitation, which is expected to result in increased cloud water. Such an increase in cloud water would result in even more reflective clouds, further increasing the indirect forcing. Marine boundary-layer clouds polluted by aerosol particles, however, are not generally observed to hold more water. Here we simulate stratocumulus clouds with a fluid dynamics model that includes detailed treatments of cloud microphysics and radiative transfer. Our simulations show that the response of cloud water to suppression of precipitation from increased droplet concentrations is determined by a competition between moistening from decreased surface precipitation and drying from increased entrainment of overlying air. Only when the overlying air is humid or droplet concentrations are very low does sufficient precipitation reach the surface to allow cloud water to increase with droplet concentrations. Otherwise, the response of cloud water to aerosol-induced suppression of precipitation is dominated by enhanced entrainment of overlying dry air. In this scenario, cloud water is reduced as droplet concentrations increase, which diminishes the indirect climate forcing.     

A method for distinguishing and linking turbulent entrainment mixing and collision-coalescence in stratocumulus clouds

This paper presents a method to distinguish and link inhomogeneous mixing with subsequent ascent and collision-coalescence. Three stratocumulus clouds analyzed were collected over the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains site during the March 2000 cloud Intensive Observation Period. The criteria are presented to distinguish the two processes. Inhomogeneous mixing with subsequent ascent is identified if cloud along an aircraft horizontal leg is non-drizzling and the relationship between cloud volume-mean radius and liquid water content is negative; in contrast, drizzling and positive relationship between the above two properties are the criteria for collision-coalescence. To link the two processes, threshold function, the possibility of occurrence of collision-coalescence, is employed; the big droplets generated during the inhomogeneous mixing with subsequent ascent increase the threshold function, initiates collision-coalescence and produces drizzle drops. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on distinguishing and linking inhomogeneous mixing with subsequent ascent and collision-coalescence based on observational data.     

引力不稳定性在巨分子云聚合形成中的作用

　Two models of molecular cloud in disk galaxies are proposed to investigate the formation of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) under the gravitational instability and random collision using PP(Particle-Particle) simulation. Some conclusions can be drawn: 1) The gravitational instability can make small clouds form large clouds faster than random collision. 2) The differential rotation in the gravitational instability model plays a positive role in the agglomeration of molecular clouds.     

Contribution of cloud condensate to surface rainfall process

Contribution of cloud condensate to surface rainfall processes is investigated in a life span of tropical convection based on hourly data from a two-dimensional cloud resolving simulation. The model is forced by the large-scale vertical velocity, zonal wind and horizontal advections obtained from tropical ocean global atmosphere coupled ocean-atmosphere response experiment (TOGA COARE). The results show that during the genesis, development, and decay of tropical convection, calculations with water vapor overestimate surface rain rate, and cloud condensate plays an important role in correcting overestimation in surface rain rates. The analysis is carried out in deep convective clouds and anvil clouds during the development of tropical convection. The surface rain rates calculated with water vapor in deep convective clouds and anvil clouds have similar magnitudes, the large surface rain rate appears in deep convective clouds due to the consumption of water hydrometeors whereas the small surface rain rate occurs in anvil clouds because of the gain of ice hydrometeors. Further analysis of the grid data shows that the surface rain rates calculated with water vapor and with cloud condensate are negatively correlated with the correlation coefficient of -0.85, and the surface rain rate calculated with cloud condensate is mainly contributed to the water hydrometeors in the tropical deep convective regime.     

圆柱形弹丸高速撞击薄板的碎片云特性数值模拟

为研究不同形状空间碎片超高速撞击薄板产生的碎片云特性,采用非线性动力学分析软件AUTODYN-2D,利用光滑质点动力学方法（SPH）对圆柱形弹丸超高速正撞击单层薄铝板防护结构形成的碎片云进行数值模拟,分析相同质量和速度条件下,不同长径比的圆柱形弹丸超高速撞击所产生碎片云的形态、轴向长度、径向直径、轴向速度等参量随弹丸长径比的变化规律。结果表明,弹丸破碎程度和碎片云分散程度随弹丸长径比的改变而改变。随着弹丸长径比的增加,碎片云对航天器舱壁的损伤能力增强,弹丸对薄板的损伤程度减弱。该结果为航天器超高速撞击风险评估和防护工程设计提供了参考。     

非球形弹丸超高速撞击充气压力容器碎片云特性数值模拟

为解决非球形弹丸正撞击充气压力容器问题,应用非线性动力学分析软件AUTODYN,在相同质量和速度的条件下,采用光滑质点流体动力学方法 SPH,对具有不同长径比的圆锥形弹丸、圆柱形弹丸撞击压力容器产生的碎片云特性进行数值模拟,分别分析圆锥形弹丸、圆柱形弹丸长径比对碎片云形态、尖端速度及径向扩展直径的影响。结果表明:弹丸形状及弹丸长径比对碎片云在高压气体中的运动特性影响较大。随着弹丸长径比的增加,圆柱形弹丸碎片云径向扩展直径减小;随着弹丸长径比的增加,相同质量和相同撞击速度的圆锥形弹丸及圆柱形弹丸碎片云的损伤力增强。     

一次特大暴雨天气的数值模拟试验研究

目的检验各非绝热物理过程参数化方案对模式输出结果的影响,进一步了解和认识MM5模式中不同积云对流参数化方案的性能、特点和适用范围,为合理选择使用模式中的物理过程参数化方案提供依据,提高模式对类似暴雨天气过程的预报能力。方法运用相互比较和试验分析的方法在不同模式分辨率下,对MM5V3模式中的不同物理过程参数化方案设计18种组合方案,进行比较试验和分析。结果主要雨带位置对参数化方案并不是十分敏感,但模拟的暴雨中心强度、范围、雨带走向随参数化方案的不同有较大变化,甚至出现虚假的强降水中心。各组合方案模拟的天气尺度系统水平环流结构差别较小,模拟的中尺度系统结构存在着较大差别,这种差别对定点、定量降水的准确预报产生影响。结论在实际预报中可根据初始气象场的分型特点选择较合适的组合方案启动数值预报模式,从而达到提高模式对类似暴雨天气过程的预报能力。     

利用CloudSat和MODIS数据研究气溶胶对层积云的影响

利用CloudSat的云雷达数据研究了太平洋东部副热带地区的层积云微物理特性。结果显示, CloudSat反演的云滴数浓度在垂直方向变化很小。结合CloudSat的云雷达数据和MODIS的气溶胶数据, 研究了气溶胶对层积云的微物理特性和液态水路径的影响。结果表明: 对于相同的液态水路径, 气溶胶增加可以使得云滴的尺度减小, 但总体上对云滴尺度的影响并不显著; 由于云中液态水路径本身变化极大, 导致气溶胶对液态水路径的影响很难和云中液态水路径本身的变化分离开。此外还发现: CloudSat反演的层积云液态水路径比MODIS反演的液态水路径偏高; 层积云内液态水路径的不均一性比环境气溶胶光学厚度的不均一性大。     

基于中点偏移算法的云的模型设计

自然景观的模拟在许多方面得到了应用，云是自然界中的一项重要景观，对云进行模型设计显得十分重要。针对目前大多数的云的模型设计方法难以在普通PC机上快速实现真实感较强的云的模型设计的问题，提出了一种自然景观中云的模型设计方法。该方法以分形理论为基础，设计并实现了一种云的纹理生成算法，并采用纹理映射技术，绘制云的图像模型，得到了较为逼真的模拟结果。     

The formation of cubic ice under conditions relevant to Earth's atmosphere

An important mechanism for ice cloud formation in the Earth's atmosphere is homogeneous nucleation of ice in aqueous droplets, and this process is generally assumed to produce hexagonal ice. However, there are some reports that the metastable crystalline phase of ice, cubic ice, may form in the Earth's atmosphere. Here we present laboratory experiments demonstrating that cubic ice forms when micrometre-sized droplets of pure water and aqueous solutions freeze homogeneously at cooling rates approaching those found in the atmosphere. We find that the formation of cubic ice is dominant when droplets freeze at temperatures below 190 K, which is in the temperature range relevant for polar stratospheric clouds and clouds in the tropical tropopause region. These results, together with heat transfer calculations, suggest that cubic ice will form in the Earth's atmosphere. If there were a significant fraction of cubic ice in some cold clouds this could increase their water vapour pressure, and modify their microphysics and ice particle size distributions. Under specific conditions this may lead to enhanced dehydration of the tropopause region.     

基于地面激光点云数据的单木三维重建方法

目的 使用地面三维点云数据,提出一种单株树木三维网格模型重建方法,为精准获取测树因子提供技术支撑。 方法 对获取的点云进行预处理,使用k-d树构建近邻关系图,用Dijkstra算法求算出子图的根。检测出有效路径后,使用探测半径计算关键路径。计算树枝骨架,然后对初始骨架进行Bezier曲线半径平滑,得到平滑的骨架,再将骨架连接,使用半径平滑和圆柱拟合减少点云密度小造成的拟合不足的情况,能够最大限度保留树枝的细节。结果 使用3株落叶松点云数据构建了树枝树干表面网格模型,重建了树木三维结构。将树干、树枝的三维网格模型与点云匹配后,效果较好;所构建的模型能够进行细小枝条的重建,而不是模拟细枝,通过观察重建结果,一级枝的重建效果非常好,大的二级枝也能得到很好的展示;整套算法计算快速,计算时间与枝条的复杂程度、连接关系有关。结论 基于关键路径探测的方法能够很好地构建树木的三维网格模型,可以用于单株树木测树因子的精确提取。     

浅积云中微物理特性的垂直分布对短波辐射的影响

使用大涡模拟模式获得浅积云的液态水含量和云滴有效半径的垂直廓线, 结果显示云的液态水含量和云滴有效半径均随高度的增加而增加( 垂直非均一) 。使用辐射传输模式 SBDART 研究了浅积云中微物理特性的垂直廓线对短波辐射的影响, 以及液态水路径相同时, 垂直非均一云和垂直均一云的短波辐射强迫的差异, 结果表明微物理特性的垂直廓线对云的辐射特性有很大影响。当垂直均一云的云滴有效半径约为垂直非均一云在云顶处的云滴有效半径的76% ～90% 时, 两种类型云的短波辐射强迫相当。结果说明在气候模式中对云的辐射传输特性进行参数化时, 如果假定云是垂直均一的, 则采用的云滴有效半径应该大致为实际观测的云顶云滴有效半径的76% ～90% 。对于浅积云的研究结果与以往对于层状云的研究结果一致。     

用Kinect定位平面上单一圆柱型物体

通过Kinect设备获取物体所在场景的3D点云图像,再用积分图像计算场景中点云的法向量,根据法向量Y方向分量与XOZ平面所成角度的正切阚值滤除放置物体的平面,同时利用坐标输出阏值的设定滤除其它背景点和噪点。随机采取物体点云图中任意法向量不同的两点,根据它们的法向量和坐标,用异面直线公垂线的计算方法得到圆柱体的中心轴。再用点到空间直线的距离公式计算圆柱型物体的半径。最后通过计算物体点云X,Y,Z方向坐标的取值范围,实现对物体的定位。使用采集的场景点云图对算法结构进行测试,结果表明,算法结构可以可靠提取放置物体的平面和平面上的圆柱形物体,可以为机器人抓取提供准确数据信息。     

基于Perlin噪声的动态云仿真

用Perlin噪声建模、指数函数对其锐化、HLS颜色模型转换等生成静态云彩图像;然后用静态云彩方法来实现不重复运动云彩的生成算法,该算法可得到任意长度的云图;云彩平滑变形算法能连续平稳改变云彩结构,最后运用VC++和OpenGL开发工具及纹理映射方法将云彩置入虚拟环境中,能在PC机上产生了实时和逼真的动态云效果.     

South-polar features on Venus similar to those near the north pole

Venus has no seasons, slow rotation and a very massive atmosphere, which is mainly carbon dioxide with clouds primarily of sulphuric acid droplets. Infrared observations by previous missions to Venus revealed a bright 'dipole' feature surrounded by a cold 'collar' at its north pole. The polar dipole is a 'double-eye' feature at the centre of a vast vortex that rotates around the pole, and is possibly associated with rapid downwelling. The polar cold collar is a wide, shallow river of cold air that circulates around the polar vortex. One outstanding question has been whether the global circulation was symmetric, such that a dipole feature existed at the south pole. Here we report observations of Venus' south-polar region, where we have seen clouds with morphology much like those around the north pole, but rotating somewhat faster than the northern dipole. The vortex may extend down to the lower cloud layers that lie at about 50 km height and perhaps deeper. The spectroscopic properties of the clouds around the south pole are compatible with a sulphuric acid composition.     

MCloudSim： modeling and simulating distributed clouds

Many distributed clouds which try to integrate the advantages of centralized clouds and distributed systems have been studied in recent years. Traditional cloud simulators focus on large scale data centers with virtualized servers, and cannot meet the needs of distributed cloud simulations. This paper introduces a generalized and extensible simulation framework, named MCloudSim, which is used for modeling and simulating distributed clouds. MCloudSim has the following characteristics： （ 1 ） the overlay protocol in MCloudSim can be freely replaced without affecting the function of other modules; （2） a Petri net workflow theory based task model is proposed to simulate distributed tasks; （3） a distributed cloud can be easily built by assembling and expanding the basic resource entities provided by MCloudSim. Finally, simulation results of scenarios with a 3-tier central-controlled distributed cloud and a P2P based cloud prove that MCloudSim has high efficiency and satisfies performance in supporting large scale experiments and different distributed clouds.