Analysis of Aerosol Optical Depth from Sun Photometer at Shouxian, China

We use two cloud screening methods—the clustering method and the multiplet method—to process the measurements of a sun photometer from March 2020 to April 2021 in Shouxian. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Angström parameters α and β are retrieved; variation characteristics and single scattering albedo are studied. The results show that: (1) The fitting coefficient of AOD retrieved by the two methods is 0.921, and the changing trend is consistent. The clustering method has fewer effective data points and days, reducing the overall average of AOD by 0.0542 (500 nm). (2) Diurnal variation of AOD can be divided into flat type, convex type, and concave type. Concave type and convex type occurred the most frequently, whereas flat type the least. (3) During observation, the overall average of AOD is 0.48, which is relatively high. Among them, AOD had a winter maximum (0.70), autumn and spring next (0.54 and 0.40), and a summer minimum (0.26). The variation trend of AOD and β is highly consistent, and the monthly mean of α is between 0.69 and 1.61, concerning mainly continental and urban aerosols. (4) Compared with others, the single scattering albedo in Shouxian is higher, reflecting strong scattering and weak aerosol absorption.

FTIR Measurements of Greenhouse Gases over Thessaloniki, Greece in the Framework of COCCON and Comparison with S5P/TROPOMI Observations

In this work, column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of carbon dioxide (XCO2), methane (XCH4) and carbon monoxide (XCO) are presented for the first time at a mid-latitude urban station, Thessaloniki, Greece, using the Bruker EM27/SUN ground-based low-resolution Fourier Transform spectrometer operated according to the requirements of the Collaborative Carbon Column Observing Network (COCCON). Two years of measurements are presented and examined for seasonal variability. The observed XCO2 levels show the expected seasonal cycle (spring maximum, late summer minimum) with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 12 ppm, with maximum values reported for winter 2021 exceeding 416 ppm. The XCH4 values are shown to increase in the second half of the year, with autumn showing the highest mean value of 1.878 ± 0.01 ppm. The XCO levels, following anthropogenic sources, show high winter and low summer values, exhibiting a rise again in August and September with a maximum value of 114 ± 3 ppb and a minimum in summer 2020 of 76 ± 3 ppb. Additionally, methane and carbon monoxide products obtained from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), Sentinel-5P space borne sensor, are compared with the ground-based measurements. We report a good agreement between products. The relative mean bias for methane and carbon monoxide are −0.073 ± 0.647% and 3.064 ± 5.566%, respectively. Furthermore, a 15-day running average is subtracted from the original daily mean values to provide ΔXCO2, ΔXCO and ΔXCH4 residuals, so as to identify local sources at a synoptic scale. ΔXCO and ΔXCO2 show the best correlation in the winter (R2 = 0.898, slope = 0.007) season due to anthropogenic emissions in this period of the year (combustion of fossil fuels or industrial activities), while in summer no correlation is found. ΔXCO and ΔXCH4 variations are similar through both years of measurements and have a very good correlation in all seasons including winter (R2 = 0.804, slope = 1.209). The investigation of the X-gases comparison is of primary importance in order to identify local sources and quantify the impact of these trace gases to the deregulation of earth-climate system balance.

Impact of ocean–atmosphere coupling on future projectionof Medicanes in the Mediterranean sea

<p>The Mediterranean basin is one of the main cyclogenetic regions in the world. This is likely due to the orographic conditions, as well as the thermodynamic<br>characteristics found over the Mediterranean. Among the large amount of cyclones that develop in this area, cyclones with tropical characteristics called medicanes (“Mediterranean Hurricanes”) eventually develop in the Mediterranean Sea. They have large harmful potential and a correct simulation of their evolution in climate projections is important for an adequate adaptation to climate change. Different studies suggest that ocean–atmosphere coupled models provide a better representation of medicanes, especially in terms of intensity and frequency. In this work, we use the regionally coupled model ROM and its stand-alone atmospheric component (REMO) that in this work is used as uncoupled model to study how air-sea interactions affect the evolution of medicanes in future climate projections. We find that under the RCP8.5 scenario our climate simulations show an overall frequency decrease which is more pronounced in the coupled than in the uncoupled configuration, whereas the intensity displays a different behaviour depending on the coupling. These changes could be explained due to the decrease in the number of extratropical cyclones and the increase of atmospheric stability conditions. In the coupled run, the relative frequency of higher-intensity medicanes increases, but this is not found in the uncoupled simulation. Also, this study indicates that the coupled model simulates better the summer minimum in the occurrence of medicanes, avoiding the reproduction of unrealistically intense events that can be found in summer in the uncoupled model.</p>

Changing low flow seasonality in Central European headwaters

<p>In the environment of the changing climate in Central Europe, the seasonality and magnitude of low flow events and hydrological droughts are projected to change in the near future. Ongoing increases in the air temperature, rates of evaporation and decreasing snow cover will significantly affect the summer deficit volumes even in the rivers of humid montane and highland areas in mid-latitudes. However, what if the significant changes have already been happening during the last decades? Therefore, this research is focused on analysis of the variability and seasonality of low flow events and hydrological drought events in fifteen near-natural catchments along the Czech–German and Czech–Polish national borders. To quantify the low flow regime changes of the study regions in the last 52 years (1968–2019), we applied tools from the R package lfstat. The 30-year moving averages of seasonality ratio (SR) and the seasonality index (SI) were derived to address the degree of change in each catchment. Moreover, the 7-day and 30-day mean summer minimum discharges were computed, as well as the streamflow deficit volumes for every episode of hydrological drought. The results showed a continual increase in the proportion of summer low flow and drought events during the study period along with a significant shift in the average date of low flow occurrence towards the beginning of the year. The most marked shifts in low flow seasonality were found mainly in catchments with the average altitude 800–1000 m a. s. l. Conversely, the low flow regime in catchments above 1000 m a. s. l. and also in the catchments below 800 m a. s. l. remained nearly stable throughout the 1968–2019 period. Moreover, the analysis of 7- and 30-day mean summer minimum discharges indicated a much-diversified pattern in the behavior of long-term trends than it was expected.</p>

DAY-TO-DAY CHANGES IN AIR TEMPERATURE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Day-to-day changes in air temperature for cities in the southern part of the Russian Far East experience a noticeable annual dynamics with its maximum in winter and minimum values in summer, and a noticeable increase in May as compared to neighboring months. The summer minimum in Vladivostok is slightly smaller than in Khabarovsk, and these values are two times less than maximum values in winter. The cold period maximum is most pronounced in Vladivostok from November to February. In Khabarovsk, the maximum critical temperature changes (more than 5°(C) are observed during the winter period in December and January; the fewest such days are in August. A sharp shift in temperatures is typical for the transition period from September to October, when the number of days with a significant change in the inter-day temperature is tripled. The off-season critical temperature changes dynamics in Vladivostok is the same, but the absolute value of the maxima is twice as high as in Khabarovsk. This is due to the maritime climate of Vladivostok, active cyclonic activity, accompanied by constant temperature changes in winter.

Hydrometeorological Conditions in the Southern Part of the Kerch Strait and the Pre-Strait Zone of the Black Sea as a Potential Area for Industrial Shellfish Cultivation

Considered materials on the hydrometeorological conditions of the Kerch Strait and the Black Sea. The data on the wind regime in the study areas are presented. The materials on currents and water exchange in the southern part of the Kerch Strait and the Black Sea waters are presented. The average monthly, annual, minimum and maximum values of air temperature at the coastal hydrometeorological stations are analyzed. In the seasonal course of salinity, in contrast to the regularities in the sea zone (in the surface and bottom layers), there is no summer minimum in the bottom layer of the strait. This indicates the development of coastal upwellings in the Black Sea in the summer, which facilitates the penetration of the Black Sea waters into the strait in the bottom layer. The oxygen saturation of the waters in the strait (both in the surface and in the bottom layers) is higher than in the sea area. This indicates a more intensive course of production processes. The stable Azov currents are most favorable for the plantations located in the strait near the Crimean coast during the collection of larvae on the collector and for the improvement of trophic conditions in the plantation areas. For the purification of coastal waters from suspended matter, the Black Sea currents are preferred. The frequent change of the Azov and Black Sea currents creates favorable conditions for the effective operation of mariculture farms. On the basis of the studies carried out, conclusions were drawn about the possibility of industrial cultivation of mollusks in the water area of the Kerch Strait and the Black Sea.

Changing Low Flow and Streamflow Drought Seasonality in Central European Headwaters

In the context of the ongoing climate warming in Europe, the seasonality and magnitudes of low flows and streamflow droughts are expected to change in the future. Increasing temperature and evaporation rates, stagnating precipitation amounts and decreasing snow cover will probably further intensify the summer streamflow deficits. This study analyzed the long-term variability and seasonality of low flows and streamflow droughts in fifteen headwater catchments of three regions within Central Europe. To quantify the changes in the low flow regime of selected catchments during the 1968–2019 period, we applied the R package lfstat for computing the seasonality ratio (SR), the seasonality index (SI), mean annual minima, as well as for the detection of streamflow drought events along with deficit volumes. Trend analysis of summer minimum discharges was performed using the Mann–Kendall test. Our results showed a substantial increase in the proportion of summer low flows during the analyzed period, accompanied with an apparent shift in the average date of low flow occurrence towards the start of the year. The most pronounced seasonality shifts were found predominantly in catchments with the mean altitude 800–1000 m.a.s.l. in all study regions. In contrast, the regime of low flows in catchments with terrain above 1000 m.a.s.l. remained nearly stable throughout the 1968–2019 period. Moreover, the analysis of mean summer minimum discharges indicated a much-diversified pattern in behavior of long-term trends than it might have been expected. The findings of this study may help identify the potentially most vulnerable near-natural headwater catchments facing worsening summer water scarcity.

The fingerprint of the summer 2018 drought in Europe on ground-based atmospheric CO 2 measurements

During the summer of 2018, a widespread drought developed over Northern and Central Europe. The increase in temperature and the reduction of soil moisture have influenced carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems in various ways, such as a reduction of photosynthesis, changes in ecosystem respiration, or allowing more frequent fires. In this study, we characterize the resulting perturbation of the atmospheric CO 2 seasonal cycles. 2018 has a good coverage of European regions affected by drought, allowing the investigation of how ecosystem flux anomalies impacted spatial CO 2 gradients between stations. This density of stations is unprecedented compared to previous drought events in 2003 and 2015, particularly thanks to the deployment of the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) network of atmospheric greenhouse gas monitoring stations in recent years. Seasonal CO 2 cycles from 48 European stations were available for 2017 and 2018. Earlier data were retrieved for comparison from international databases or national networks. Here, we show that the usual summer minimum in CO 2 due to the surface carbon uptake was reduced by 1.4 ppm in 2018 for the 10 stations located in the area most affected by the temperature anomaly, mostly in Northern Europe. Notwithstanding, the CO 2 transition phases before and after July were slower in 2018 compared to 2017, suggesting an extension of the growing season, with either continued CO 2 uptake by photosynthesis and/or a reduction in respiration driven by the depletion of substrate for respiration inherited from the previous months due to the drought. For stations with sufficiently long time series, the CO 2 anomaly observed in 2018 was compared to previous European droughts in 2003 and 2015. Considering the areas most affected by the temperature anomalies, we found a higher CO 2 anomaly in 2003 (+3 ppm averaged over 4 sites), and a smaller anomaly in 2015 (+1 ppm averaged over 11 sites) compared to 2018. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Impacts of the 2018 severe drought and heatwave in Europe: from site to continental scale'.

Role of Meteorological Parameters in the Diurnal and Seasonal Variation of NO2 in a Romanian Urban Environment

The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, direct radiation) play an important role in modifying the NO2 concentration in an urban environment. The diurnal and seasonal variation recorded at a NO2 traffic station was analyzed, based on data collected in situ in a Romanian city, Braila (45.26° N, 27.95° E), during 2009–2014. The NO2 atmospheric content close to the ground had, in general, a summer minimum and a late autumn/winter maximum for most years. Two diurnal peaks were observed, regardless of the season, which were more evident during cold months. Traffic is an important contributor to the NO2 atmospheric pollution during daytime hours. The variability of in situ measurements of NO2 concentration compared relatively well with space-based observations of the NO2 vertical column by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite for most of the period under scrutiny. Data for daytime and nighttime (when the traffic is reduced) were analyzed separately, in the attempt to isolate meteorological effects. Meteorological parameters are not fully independent and we used partial correlation analysis to check whether the relationships with one parameter may be induced by another. The correlation between NO2 and temperature was not coherent. Relative humidity and solar radiation seemed to play a role in shaping the NO2 concentration, regardless of the time of day, and these relationships were only partially interconnected.

Very high stratospheric influence observed in the free troposphere over the northern Alps – just a local phenomenon?

The atmospheric composition is strongly influenced by a change in atmospheric dynamics, which is potentially related to climate change. A prominent example is the doubling of the stratospheric ozone component at the Zugspitze summit station (2962 m a.s.l., Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany) between the mid-seventies and 2005, roughly from 11 to 23 ppb (43 %). Systematic efforts for identifying and quantifying this influence have been made since the late 1990s. Meanwhile, routine lidar measurements of ozone and water vapour carried out at Garmisch-Partenkirchen (German Alps) since 2007, combined with in situ and radiosonde data and trajectory calculations, have revealed that stratospheric intrusion layers are present on 84 % of the yearly measurement days. At Alpine summit stations the frequency of intrusions exhibits a seasonal cycle with a pronounced summer minimum that is reproduced by the lidar measurements. The summer minimum disappears if one looks at the free troposphere as a whole. The mid- and upper-tropospheric intrusion layers seem to be dominated by very long descent on up to hemispheric scale in an altitude range starting at about 4.5 km a.s.l. Without interfering air flows, these layers remain very dry, typically with RH ≤5 % at the centre of the intrusion. Pronounced ozone maxima observed above Garmisch-Partenkirchen have been mostly related to a stratospheric origin rather than to long-range transport from remote boundary layers. Our findings and results for other latitudes seem to support the idea of a rather high contribution of ozone import from the stratosphere to tropospheric ozone.