Seasonal and inter-annual variations of length of day and polar motion observed by SLR in 1993―2006

A time series of length of the day (LOD) and polar motion (PM) were estimated from the range data measured by the satellite laser ranging technique (SLR) to LAGEOS 1/2 through 1993 to 2006. Compared with EOPC04 released by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), the root mean squares errors for LOD, X and Y of PM are 0.0067 milliseconds (ms), 0.18 milli-arc-sec- onds (mas) and 0.20 mas, respectively. Then the time series are analyzed with the wavelet transformation and least squares method. Wavelet analysis shows that there are the obvious seasonal and inter- annual variations of LOD and PM, but the annual variation cannot be distinguished from the Chandler variation because these two frequencies are very close. The trends and periodic variations of LOD and PM are given in the least squares sense. LOD changes with the annual and semiannual periods. The annual and Chandler variations for PM are also detected, but the semiannual motion for PM is not found. The trend rate of the LOD change in 1993―2006 is ?0.18 ms per year, and the difference from the well- known 1.7 ms per century showed that the trend rate is diverse in different periods possibly. The trend rates of PM in the X and Y directions are 2.25 and 1.67 mas per year respectively, and the North Pole moves to 36.5°E relative to the crust, which is different from the direction of Greenland.     

Low-frequency sea level variation and its correlation with climate events in the Pacific

Global mean sea level(GMSL) has not only significant secular trend and seasonal variations,but also inter-annual and decadal variations.This paper reconstructs the time series of GMSL variations between 1948 and 2007 by combining satellite altimeter measurements and tide gauge observations.Based on the time series,the acceleration of GMSL rise in the second half of 20th century is estimated to be 0.010±0.009 mm/a 2,and multi-scale low frequency sea level oscillations including decadal variations are detected,and the high-rate of GMSL rise during 1993-2003 is locate in the ascending phase of low frequency oscillation.Then,using the reconstructed GMSL time series after removing the secular trend from satellite altimetry and tide gauges measurements,it shows that low frequency signal of sea level variation has strong correlations with the index of El Ni o/Southern Oscillation(ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO).But in several time periods,they have large difference due to effects of both high frequency occurrence of El Ni o and La Ni a phenomenon and short term switch of PDO events.     

The seasonal variations of δ~(18)O , Cl~- , Na~+ , NO_3~- and Ca~(2+) in the snow and firn recovered from Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica

Snow and firn samples recovered from two snow pits (2.5 and 4.5m deep) and one 50-m firn core along the route of the 1996/1997 Chinese First Antarctic Inland Traverse Expedition in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica, have been measured for chemical composition and oxygen isotope ratio. In the two snow pits, the variations of NO3- are partly in phase with that of δ18O, while the variations of Cl~ and Na+ are in inverse phase with that of δ18O. The variations of CI- , Na+ , NO3- and δ18O show obvious seasonal variations and annual stratag-raphy. However, with the depth increasing, the seasonal variations of δ18O are gradually smoothed below 3 m (corresponding to about 10-year mass accumulation) in depth while the seasonal variations of Cl- , Na+ and NO3- are kept fairly well in the whole profile of the 50-m firn core (corresponding to about 250-year mass accumulation). The results provide a useful tool for dating the snow stratum in this region. On the contrary, no obvious seasonal variations of Ca2 + are found in the profiles.     

Variability of surface circulation in the South China Sea from satellite altimeter data

11-year satellite altimeter sea surface height （SSH） anomaly data from January 1993 to December 2003 are used to present the dominant spatial patterns and temporal variations of the South China Sea （SCS） surface circulation through Empirical Orthogonal Function （EOF） analysis. The first three EOF modes show the obvious seasonal variations of SSH in the SCS. EOF mode one is generally characterized by a basin-wide circulation. Mode two describes the double-cell basin scale circulation structure. The two cells were located off west of the Luzon Island and southeast of Vietnam, respectively. EOF mode three presents the mesoscale eddy structure in the western SCS, which develops into a strong cyclonic eddy rapidly from July to September. EOF mode one and mode three are also embedded with interannual signals, indicating that the SCS surface circulation variation is influenced by El Nino events prominently. The strong El Nino of 1997/98 obviously changed the SCS circulation structure. This study also shows that there existed a series of mesoscale eddies in the western SCS, and their temporal variation indicates intra-seasonal and interannual signals.     

Three-year changes of surface albedo of degraded grassland and cropland surfaces in a semiarid area

Diurnal, seasonal and interannual variations of surface albedo of degraded grassland and cropland surfaces at a semiarid area of Tognyu have been investigated based on the continuous three years observational data from 2003 to 2005. The changes of surface albedo with solar elevation angle and soil moisture have been discussed also. It has been found that surface albedo has almost the same diurnal and seasonal variations on degraded grassland and cropland surfaces in the semiarid area, while surface albedo is large in winter and small in summer. The diurnal variation of the surface albedo has relationship with the weather condition. The diurnal cycle of the surface albedo likes the ＂U＂ shape curve in sunny day, while it is low-high after the rain, and high-low after the snow. The surface albedo has large variation in cloudy day, while it has no any variation in overcast day. The large difference of the surface albedo can be 0.04 in winter between two land surfaces, because the snow has large effects on the surface albedo in winter. The rainfall is an important factor in summer on the surface albedo, while the difference of the surface albedo is 0.01 only between two land surfaces. The differences of the surface albedo can also be 0.04 in autumn due to vegetation growing. The seasonal-average surface albeo from 2003-2005 is 0.25, 0.22, 0.24, 0.32 respectively in spring, summer, autumn and winter on the degraded grassland surface, while it is 0.25, 0.21,0.22, 0.33 respectively in spring, summer, autumn and winter on the cropland surface. The surface albedo becomes smaller with the increase of solar elevation angle. When the solar elevation angle is greater than 40°, the surface albedo changes very little and tends to be a constant. The surface albedo has negative exponent functions with soil moisture in the growing season.     

Effect of guide vane outlet angle on pump performance and impeller radial force in an axial-flow heart pump

To study the effect of guide vane outlet angle on pump performance and impeller radial force in an axial-flow heart pump,guide vane outlet angle β4 is considered to be 20°,15°,10°,5° and 3°respectively. Based on ANSYS Fluent,numerical results of pump head and efficiency are validated by experiment results,in which Xanthan gum solutions are used with concentration of 0.06 wt. % as working fluid. Then,the effects of β4 on pump performance and impeller radial force are discussed,the errors of head and efficiency between test and simulation are within 5%. The results also indicate that the pump performance and efficiency are much better than those of other angles when guide vane outlet angle β4 is 10°,and the maximum variations in head and efficiency are 1. 9% and2. 2%,respectively. With β4 increasing,the pulsation of radial force decreases firstly and then increases,when β4 is 10°,the minimum pulsation is 0.0392 N,which is about 80% of the maximum pulsation amplitude.     

Classification of vegetation in North Tibet Plateau based on MODIS time-series data

Based on the 16d-composite MODIS （moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer）-NDVI（normalized difference vegetation index） time-series data in 2004, vegetation in North Tibet Plateau was classified and seasonal variations on the pixels selected from different vegetation type were analyzed. The Savitzky-Golay filtering algorithm was applied to perform a filtration processing for MODIS-NDVI time-series data. The processed time-series curves can reflect a real variation trend of vegetation growth. The NDVI time-series curves of coniferous forest, high-cold meadow, high-cold meadow steppe and high-cold steppe all appear a mono-peak model during vegetation growth with the maximum peak occurring in August. A decision-tree classification model was established according to either NDVI time-series data or land surface temperature data. And then, both classifying and processing for vegetations were carried out through the model based on NDVI time-series curves. An accuracy test illustrates that classification results are of high accuracy and credibility and the model is conducive for studying a climate variation and estimating a vegetation production at regional even global scale.     

Relationship between calcium and atmospheric dust recorded in Guliya ice core

By the analyses of Guliya ice core on the Tibetan Plateau, it was found that the calcium (Ca^2 ) originated from the terrestrial source is the main cation of soluble aerosol and a good proxy of the atmospheric component and environment in the mountain ice core located in the mid-low latitude arid regions. Evident variation of Ca^2 concentration has been found in the Guliya ice core since the Last lnterglaciation with two relatively strong increase periods and two weak increase periods. These variations are generally related to climatic changes: high Ca^2 concentration periods coincide with cold periods and low Ca^2 concentration periods coincide with warm periods. However, Ca^2 concentration does not always decrease (increase) with climate warming (cooling). The magnitude and phase of Ca^2 concentration does not always match temperature either. The changes of atmospheric circulation, land surface condition and atmospheric humidity might be important factors which influence Ca^2 concentration besides temperature.     

Preliminary results of a new global ocean reanalysis

Using a new global ocean reanalysis of the second generation Global Ocean Data Assimilation System of the Beijing Climate Center(BCC_GODAS2.0) spanning the period 1990-2009,we firstly quantify the accuracy of BCC_GODAS2.0 in representing the temperature and salinity by comparing with OISST and SODA data.The results show that the assimilation system may effectively improve the estimations of temperature and salinity by assimilating all kinds of observations,especially in the equatorial eastern Pacific.Moreover,the root mean square errors of monthly temperature and salinity are respectively reduced by 0.53℃ and 0.28 psu,compared with the model control simulation results.Then,the applicability of this ocean reanalysis for sea surface temperature(SST) anomaly variability in the tropical Pacific is evaluated with the observational HadISST data.The NINO3 index of the new reanalysis shows a good agreement with that of HadISST,with a correlation of 93.6%.Variations in SST from BCC_GODAS2.0 are similar to those obtained from HadISST data along the equator,showing the major large zonal-scale features such as the strong magnitude of seasonal cycle.The amplitude of SST anomaly standard deviation in the equatorial eastern Pacific is also closer to observations(HadISST) than NCEP GODAS does.Besides,the first two leading empirical orthogonal function(EOF) modes of the monthly SST anomalies over the tropical Pacific region are explored.The EOF1 pattern of BCC_GODAS2.0 captures a traditional El Ni o pattern,which improves magnitudes of the positive SST anomaly in the cold tongue of the eastern Pacific.The EOF2 pattern exhibits a El Ni o Modoki pattern.Comparatively,the EOF2 pattern of BCC_GODAS2.0 extends more strongly toward the subtropics.It also overcomes the problem that negative loadings are confined in the narrow equatorial eastern Pacific.Consequently,the magnitude and spatial distribution of the leading EOF patterns of BCC_GODAS2.0 are well consistent with those of HadISST.     

Photometric modeling of the Moon using Lommel-Seeliger function and Chang’E-1 IIM data

The imaging intefferometer （IIM） aboard the Chang＇E-1 lunar orbiter is the first multispectral imaging spectrometer for Chinese lunar missions. Before science applications （e.g., FeO and TiO= mapping） of the IIM raw data, the radiance variation due to changes in illumination and viewing geometry has to be removed from the radiometrically calibrated IIM Level 2A images. To achieve this, we fit the IIM Level 2A radiance data with a Lornmel-Seeliger photometric model consisting of an exponential term and a fourth order polynomial in the phase function, without distinguishing between lunar maria and highlands. The exponential and the fourth order polynomial parameters are derived separately by fitting to two datasets divided at a solar phase angle threshold, avoiding a decrease in the phase function close to zero phase angle. Different phase angle thresholds result in coincident fitting curves between 20° and 75°, while large discrepancies occur at other phase angles. Then the derived photometric model is used to normalize the IIM Level 2A data to radiance values at an incidence and phase angle of 30° and emission angle of 0°. Our photometric model is validated by comparing two photometrically normalized IIM radiance spectra covering the same areas, showing a relative deviation consistent with the IIM preflight calibration.     

Solar forced transient evolution of Pacific upper water thermal structure during the Holocene in an earth system model of intermediate complexity

Forced by transient solar activities since 7 ka,the thermal structures of the Pacific upper water at boreal winter are featured by an enhanced response of 3-dimensional Western Pacific Warm Pool(WPWP) in an Earth system model of Intermediate Complexity at centennial scales.During solar maximum periods,the magnitude of surface ocean temperature variations is 30% larger in the western tropical Pacific than in the Ni o3 region,while at subsurface,it is 40% larger in the subtropical North Pacific than in the western Equatorial Pacific.They compromise stronger zonal and meridional thermal gradients in surface and subsurface Pacific respectively which are both linearly responded to solar forcing at centennial periods.The surface gradient is most sensitive at 208-year period while the subsurface gradient shows more significance at periods longer than 208-year.Also noteworthy are two differences:(1) the phase lags at these periods of surface gradient are slightly smaller than that of subsurface;(2) the 148-year and 102-year periods in surface gradient are lost in subsurface gradient.These modeled features preliminary confirm the centennial fluctuations of WPWP in paleo-proxies and a potential solar forcing during the Holocene.     

Seasonal variations in the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of suspended particulate matter in the lower Changjiang River: Provenance and erosion constraints

Suspended particulate matter samples were collected monthly for more than 2 years in Nanjing,China to examine seasonal changes in the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the lower Changjiang River(CR).The results indicate that the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the samples ranges from 0.725352 to 0.738128,and the values ofεNd(0)ranges from-10.55 to-12.29.The Sr-Nd isotopic compositions show distinct seasonal variations.The samples had lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios and higherε Nd(0)values during the flood season than the dry seasons.The seasonal variations primarily reflect the controls of provenance rocks and erosion in different sub-catchments.The relative decrease in 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the increase inε Nd(0)values during the flood season may reflect an increasing in the mechanical erosion rate in the upper basin and the contribution of more sediment from the upper reaches.The end member values of 87Sr/86Sr andε Nd(0)of the samples were 0.728254 and?11.26,respectively.     

Long-term variations of solar activity

Using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram we analyzed two sunspot series: the one over the past 11000 years at the 10-year interval based upon the survey data of 14C concentration in tree-rings, recon- structed by Solanki et al.; and the sunspot number over the past 7000 years, derived from geomagnetic variations by Usoskin et al. We found the periods and quasi-periods in solar activity, such as about 225, 352, 441, 522 and 561 a, and near 1000 and 2000 a. An approach of wavelet transform was applied to check the two sunspot time series, with emphasis on investigating time-varying characteristics in the long-term fluctuations of solar activity. The results show that the lengths and amplitudes of the periods have changed with time, and large variations have taken place during some periods.     

Sea surface temperature east of Australia： A predictor of tropical cyclone frequency over the western North Pacific？

The relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) east of Australia and tropical cyclone frequency over the western North Pacific (WNPTCF) is analyzed by use of observation data.The WNPTCF from June to October is correlated negatively to spring SST east of Australia.When the spring SST is in the positive phase,a cyclonic circulation anomaly in the upper troposphere and an anticyclonic circulation anomaly in the lower troposphere prevail over the western North Pacific from June to October,concurrent with an anomalous atmospheric subsidence and an enlarged vertical zonal wind shear.These conditions are unfavorable for tropical cyclone genesis,and thus WNPTCF decreases.The negative phase of the spring SST east of Australia leads to more tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific.The spring SST east of Australia may give rise to simultaneous change in tropical atmospheric circulation via the teleconnection wave train,and then subsequently affect atmospheric circulation variation over the western North Pacific.     

Lons-term variations of solar activity

Using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram we analyzed two sunspot series： the one over the past 11000 years at the 10-year interval based upon the survey data of ^14C concentration in tree-rings, reconstructed by Solanki et al.; and the sunspot number over the past 7000 years, derived from geomagnetic variations by Usoskin et al. We found the periods and quasi-periods in solar activity, such as about 225, 352, 441,522 and 561 a, and near 1000 and 2000 a. An approach of wavelet transform was applied to check the two sunspot time series, with emphasis on investigating time-varying characteristics in the long-term fluctuations of solar activity. The results show that the lengths and amplitudes of the periods have changed with time, and large variations have taken place during some periods.     

Occurrence of two types of El Niño events and the subsurface ocean temperature anomalies in the equatorial Pacific

The relationships between the evolution of two types of E1 Nifio events and the subsurface ocean temperature anomaly （SOTA） in the equatorial Pacific are compared in this study. The results show that both types of E1 Nifio are negatively correlated to the SOTA in the equatorial western Pacific, but relationships are different in different phases of E1 Nifio. Furthermore, the occurrence of different types of E1 Nifio is related to different features of the equatorial thermocline, e.g. its zonal gradient, significant variation area, amplitude and duration of thermocline oscillation. The propagation of SOTA in the equator plays an important role during the evolution of both types of E1 Nifio, but shows dramatic differences in intensity, duration and phase reverse of warm SOTA. Moreover, the pathways of SOTA signal are different between these two types of E1 Nifio. The dominant pathway in the life cycle of Eastern Pacific （EP）-E1 Nifio lies on the equator and to its north, but there is no loop to the south of the equator. In contrast, the dominant pathway in Central Pacific （CP）-E1 Nifio is located on the equator and to its south, and the propagation signal of SOTA to the north of the equator is very weak. The relationships between the zonal wind anomalies and the two types of E1 Nifio are also preliminarily discussed. It is shown that EP-E1 Nifio is more likely to respond to the westerly anomalies over the equatorial central and western Pacific, while CP-E1 Nifio is more likely to respond to the westerly anomalies over the equatorial western Pacific and need the cooperation of easterly anomalies over the equa- torial eastern Pacific to certain extent.     

Hardness variations during aging process of deformed W-Ni-Fe ternary alloys with high nickel-to-iron ratios

The aging precipitation behavior of β phase in two kinds of alloys with 7/3 and 9/1 nickel-to-iron ratios during aging at 800℃ after deformation was studied. The results show that there are two different kinds of aging hardness variation mechanisms (the softening mechanism and the hardening mechanism) deciding the hardness variations of the alloys. When Ni/Fe is smaller than 8/2, there is only the softening mechanism which results from the decreasing of dislocation density and recovery or re-crystallization.And when Ni/Fe is greater than 8/2 besides the softening mechanism there is still the hardening mechanism that is induced by the precipitation of β phase.     

Remote sensing model and dynamic mechanism for seasonal changes of the euphotic depth in the East China Sea

Based on remote sensing data and models, spatial distribution of the monthly euphotic depth in the East China Sea in 1998 has been obtained. The character of the seasonal changes of the euphotic depth is summarized, and the dynamic mechanism of the key influencing factors is analyzed. The results indicate that the controlling factors of the seasonal changes of euphotic depth in the East China Sea are the seasonal changes of temperature, diluted water from the Yangtze River, the ocean currents and the front process of different water masses.     

Estimation of soil respiration in a paddy ecosystem in the subtropical resion of China

Water vapor, energy exchange, and CO2 flux were measured continuously from 2003 to 2005 using the eddy covariance technique in a paddy ecosystem in the subtropical region of China. The CO2 fluxes at nighttime during fallow periods （from middle October to late April） were used to analyze the dynamics of soil respiration and its relationship with soil temperature, and to simulate the annual dynamics of soil respiration in paddy ecosystems. The variation of soil respiration showed a clear seasonal pattern. The soil respiration rates at night during the fallow periods were 52--398 mg· m^-2· h^-1, and exponentially correlated （P〈0.001） with soil temperatures at different depths of soil （5, 10, and 20 cm）, particularly the temperature measured at a depth of 5 cm. Based on the simulated exponential equations developed, annual average soil respiration rates and total soil respiration of paddy soil in the subtropical region of China were estimated to be 178.5--259.9 mg· m^-2· h^-1 and 1.56--2.28 kg· m^-2· a^-1, respectively. The simulation equations can be applied to evaluating soil respiration in paddy ecosystems during the rice-growing season.     

Estimation of soil respiration in a paddy ecosystem in the subtropical region of China

Water vapor, energy exchange, and CO2 flux were measured continuously from 2003 to 2005 using the eddy covariance technique in a paddy ecosystem in the subtropical region of China. The CO2 fluxes at nighttime during fallow periods (from middle October to late April) were used to analyze the dynamics of soil respiration and its relationship with soil temperature, and to simulate the annual dynamics of soil respiration in paddy ecosystems. The variation of soil respiration showed a clear seasonal pattern. The soil respiration rates at night during the fallow periods were 52―398 mg·m-2·h-1, and exponen- tially correlated (P<0.001) with soil temperatures at different depths of soil (5, 10, and 20 cm), particularly the temperature measured at a depth of 5 cm. Based on the simulated exponential equations developed, annual average soil respiration rates and total soil respiration of paddy soil in the subtropical region of China were estimated to be 178.5―259.9 mg·m-2·h-1 and 1.56―2.28 kg·m-2·a-1, respectively. The simulation equations can be applied to evaluating soil respiration in paddy ecosystems during the rice-growing season.