Use of meteosat ISCCP B2 data for the study of interannual variations of climatic elements in Africa

Composite monthly images corresponding to West African rainy seasons of 1983, 1984, and 1985, have been constructed from ISCCP B2 Meteosat data. Average and standard deviation images from thermal infrared and water vapor channels are studied. In the thermal infrared, differences between the three years appear principally in the mean structure of the ITCZ, North-South extend, northward boundary, longitudinal variations of the convection. In the water vapor channel, well defined “dry” areas appear, showing the location and extent of subsidence regions on a large scale. These locations and extents also vary from year to year.     

The longwave radiation estimated from NOAA polar orbiting satellites: An update and comparison with Nimbus-7 ERB results

The planetary outgoing longwave radiation has been estimated since 1974 from two different series of NOAA operational polar spacecraft. The first series provided data from June 1974 through February 1978 and was designated “SR” for the scaning radiometers used at that time. This data set has been used in a variety of radiation budget and climate studies, such as that by Ohring and Gruber, 1983. The second satellite system is the currently operational TIROS-N series of satellites. Data from this series began in January 1979 and are continuing. In both systems, estimates of the outgoing longwave radiation are obtained from narrow spectral interval (10–12 μm) window radiances. A comparison is made of the estimates from the two different series of satellites in order to arrive at an assessment of their compatibility. This is important since the SR observations were taken at approximately 0900 and 2100 local times, while the TIROS-N data alternate between 0730-1930 and 0300-1500 local times. In addition, there is a period of overlap between the TIROS-N data and the broad band (5–50 μm) Nimbus 7 EArth radiation budget data. A comparison of those two data sets indiciate excellent agreement generally within about 1–2 Wm^?2 on the monthly means on global and hemispherical scales. Comparisons of zonal averages indicate maximum differences as large as 9 Wm^?2.Evidence is presented to suggest that observations taken at different local observing times may be biased by the diurnal variation of emitted flux, even on global scales.     

Diurnal variations of convective cloudiness in tropical Africa observed with Meteosat ISCCP B2 data

Monthly composite images have been constructed from 8 times of the day from the ISCCP B2 Meteosat data set. Average and standard deviation images in IR and WV channels have been constructed at first. These images allow to describe the mean diurnal cycle of convection over Africa, and show that this cycle is strongly influenced by the orography. Comparisons between two very different rainy seasons in West Africa, 1983 and 1985, show some differences in the diurnal cycles.     

半个太阳活动周期内我国中纬地区上空电离层等效板厚的变化特征

本文用新乡(电离层400km对下点是:32.4°N,115.6°E)、重庆(电离层400km对下点是:27.2°N,108.7°E)接收日本同步卫星ETS-Ⅱ的信标资料,研究了我国中纬地区上空半个太阳活动周期内(1981—1985)电离层等效板厚的变化特征,得到了等效板厚日变化、季变化的二维和三维等值图。由付里叶分析和回归方法得出等效板厚日变化各谐波分量与太阳黑子数12个月滑动平均值之间存在弱的线性关系。同时指出在等效板厚日变化中,于当地时0400—0700LT存在一明显的黎明峰。并对出现这种峰的原因作了讨论。      

Complex principal component analysis of the outgoing longwave radiation observed by meteosat during summer from 1983 to 1985

We have applied Complex Principal Component (CPC) analysis to METEOSAT ISCCP B2 data (3 hours resolution) for the IR atmospheric window channel and the Water Vapor (WV) band at 6.5 microns. CPC analysis of such a data set not only reveals the principal features of fluctuation of cloud cover for the region as a whole, but it also is useful for identifying traveling and standing waves over the African Tropical band. Applied to the whole METEOSAT field, CPC analysis describes both diurnal and seasonal fluctuations for the two channels with good stability from year to year. In the African Tropical band, CPC analysis applied in restricted spectral bands (3–4 days and 4–5 days) reveals the existence of traveling waves at particular areas of West Africa with substantial differences between the years 1983 and 84–85. Results of 84–85 are in very good agreement with those of previous studies using conventional meteorological data in 1979. This analysis reveals also the existence of a standing oscillation over Central Africa with a period around 3.5 days and good stability over the three years.     

Climatic variations in the outgoing longwave radiation of the past decade as observed from NOAA polar orbiting satellites

Components of the earth radiation budget have been calculated on a regular basis since June 1974 (except for a 10 month gap in data in 1978) based on measurements by the scanning radiometers and the advanced very high resolution radiometers on the operational NOAA polar orbiting satellites. A new base set of monthly and seasonal averages of outgoing longwave radiation has been prepared by NOAA's Climate Analysis Center (CAC) for the entire period of record through November 1983. Anomalies relative to these new normals have now been constructed for each month and season in the entire record.In this presentation, some of the more prominent anomalies of outgoing longwave radiation over the past decade are discussed. A major concentration is on the tropics and subtropics where there have been very substantial radiation variations associated with major shifts in convective cloudiness accompanying El Niño/Southern Oscillation events.     

Cloud statistics using VAS

Statistics of cloud characteristics over North America during winter of 1985–86 have been calculated. The frequency of cloud cover with associated heights and infrared attenuation were charted using the CO₂ channel radiometric data from the geostationary VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS). Cloud top pressures were determined from the ratio of VAS CO₂ channel radiances in a radiative transfer equation formulation. Cloud emissivities were then calculated from infrared window channel observations. CO₂ technique derived height and emissivity assignments have been found to be reliable in all cloud types, including thin cirrus clouds where other techniques have been inconsistent. Observations during November 1985 revealed that 25% of the United States was covered with thin clouds (radiative attenuation was less than 80%), 50% was covered with thick opaque clouds, and 25% had clear sky conditions. Geographical distribution of cloud cover over the United States for the winter of 1985–86 shows a strong latitudinal dependence. Cirrus reports in frequencies of 15% in the south increase to 30% in the northwest.     

Cloudiness over the Eastern Equatorial Pacific for summer 1983 from geostationary satellite data

The extraordinary El-Nino event of 1982–83 started to fade out in the late spring of 1983. However the sea surface temperature of the Eastern Equatorial Pacific still remained warmer than normal in the following summer. To investigate the characteristics of this late transition phase of the 1982–83 El-Nino, the GOES-West satellite data of July and August of 1983 are analyzed. The outgoing longwave radiation field and the distribution of cloudiness, which was derived by using a new threshold technique, are obtained. The longwave radiation field is compared to monthly average climatic indices commonly used at the Climatic Analysis Center. The results of cloud analysis showed some interesting features during the decaying phase of the 1982–83 El-Nino. The diurnal variation of cloudiness indicates that total cloud amounts decrease from 8 GMT to 20 GMT over most of the area. This overall study demonstrates preliminary results of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project of the World Climate Research Program.     

Comparison of NMC model calculated longwave flux with satellite (ERBE and AVHRR) observation

The U.S. Air Force Real Time Nephanalysis (RT NEPH) is incorporated into the NMC Medium Range Forecast Model (MRF) to explore the impact of cloudiness on the model's radiation parameterization. After transfering to MRF model coordinate, RT NEPH is in qualitative agreement with ERBE Scene ID. The zero-hour “forecast” of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) of 00GMT Nov. 9, 1984 is compared with that derived from NOAA AVHRR observation and the preliminary ERBE result. The comparison shows that the greater difference in OLR are from cloudy sky regions, in spite of qualitative agreement on the structures. The result suggests that for proper simulation of OLR, a refinement of the model cloud parameterization or nephanalysis on the prescribed data would be more effective than on radiative transfer scheme.     

Validation of SAGE II data inversions by the European correlative experiments

An European program of correlative experiments has been organized in order to validate SAGE II data during three periods of observation over Europe (November 1984, April 1985, October 1985). About ten groups from France, Belgium, Germany and Italy were participating. The correlative data are lidar aerosol profiles, soundings of ozone profiles, and balloon observations, including limb photographies, polarimetric measurements of the aerosol scattered light and nitrogen dioxide extinction measurements. Results of the comparisons between SAGE II inverted data and correlative data are presented. The analysis of the aerosol correlative observations with the SAGE II four aerosol channel data, in term of profile and size distribution is perfectly consistent and provide a good indirect validatioin. The NO₂ comparison shows a good agreement between SAGE II and correlative data.     

Empirical models of the thermosphere and requirements for improvements

The different types of variation in the thermosphere are briefly examined and the solar-activity effect is singled out for special attention. To this day, empirical models have made use of the decimetric solar flux F_10.7 as an index of the variable XUV radiation from the sun. To account for the change in the relative intensity of the different types of emissions in the course of the solar cycle, F_10.7 is made to perform double duty: The daily values are used to represent the day-to-day and “27-day” variations, while its averages over several solar rotations are used to represent the variations with the 11-year cycle. The availability of direct solar XUV data should eventually eliminate the need for such a make-shift procedure. Accuracy and continuity requirements of XUV intensity measurements are discussed and a strategy is outlined for sorting out the relevant features from the observational material and putting them to practical use in thermospheric modeling. It is suggested that future models of the diurnal and the geomagnetic variation use as a guide theoretical models which have achieved considerable success in qualitatively representing the observed phenomena.     

The winter anomaly of 1983/84 as observed in the A3-absorption and 5 kHz atmospherics in Central Europe

The MAP/WINE winter 1983/84 is studied using the LF-MF-HF A3 absorption and 5 kHz atmospherics observed in Czechoslovakia and some other data. The “normal” winter anomaly in Central Europe is developed well in this winter (maximum in mid-January) and appears to be “free of geomagnetic contamination”. The stratospheric warming activity and related changes of prevailing zonal wind in the lower thermosphere in February and March 1984 are followed by decreases of absorption of radio waves. It agrees with our results from preceding winters /1/.     

平流层臭氧和辐射场的季节分布特征

利用美国NCAR化学气候耦合模式WACCM3对平流层温度场、风场、臭氧及辐射场进行了模拟.结果表明,在适宜飞艇长期驻留的准零风层高度20～22km(对应大气压强范围为50～30hPa,以下均采用气压值表征对应大气高度),7-8月风速小于5m·s-1的风带可长期稳定在40°N以北.臭氧空间分布显示,在30hPa气压高度处中国地区臭氧浓度出现了带状分布,30hPa高度以下低纬度地区臭氧浓度低于中纬度地区.平流层太阳加热率的时空变化表明,在平流层上层,太阳加热率可达100×10-6K·s-1,而在平流层下层,只有10×10-6K·s-1.6-8月中国区域的太阳加热率大于9月;在100～30hPa高度内,中纬度地区太阳加热率高于低纬度地区,在30hPa高度以上,低纬度地区太阳加热率高于中纬度地区;8-9月30～40hPa高度处,太阳加热率的空间变化较小.在30hPa高度上,太阳加热率在40°N昼夜变化最大;50hPa高度处,太阳加热率的昼夜变化小于30hPa高度处,而且白天太阳加热率出现极大值的纬度明显靠北.平流层低纬度地区的长波加热率小于中纬度地区.青藏高原由于地形特殊,其6-7月的臭氧浓度、太阳加热率和长波加热率均小于同纬度其他地区.      

Recent results on the Venus atmosphere from pioneer Venus radio occultations

Radio occultation measurements of the temperature structure of the Venus atmosphere have been obtained during seven occultation “seasons” extending from December 1978 to December 1983. Approximately 123 vertical profiles of temperature from about 40 km to about 85 km altitudes have been derived. Since these measurements cover latitudes from both poles to the equator, they have shown the latitudinal dependence of thermal structure. There is a smooth transition from the troposphere to the mesosphere at latitudes below about 45°, with the tropopause at about 56 km. The troposphere then rises to about 62 km in the “collar cloud” region between about 60° and 80° latitude, where a strong temperature inversion (up to 30 K) is present. In the polar areas, 80°–90°, the mesosphere becomes isothermal and there is no inversion. This latitudinal behavior is related to the persistent circulation pattern, in which a predominantly zonal retrograde motion at latitudes below 45° gradually changes to a circumpolar vortex at the “collar cloud” latitudes. Indeed, the radio occultation data have been used in a cyclostrophic balance model to derive zonal winds in the Venus atmosphere, which showed a mid-latitude (50°–55°) jet with a speed of about 120–140 ms^?1 at about 70 km altitude /1,2/. The observations obtained in 1983 and 1984 have shown that above the tropopause there is considerable temporal variability in the detailed thermal structure, suggesting that the persistent circulation pattern is subject to weather-like variability.     

Thermospheric winds over Abuja during solar minimum period

Monthly variations of averaged nighttime thermospheric winds have been investigated over Abuja, Nigeria (Geographic: 9.06°N, 7.5°E; Geomagnetic: 1.60°S). The reports are based on Fabry-Perot interferometer measurements of Doppler shifts and Doppler broadening of the 630.0 nm spectral emission. The results were obtained during a period of weak solar activity with the solar flux (F10.7) typically below 70 solar flux units. Inspection of the average monthly thermospheric winds from October 2017 to December 2017 found December meridional winds to be more equatorward than the October and November winds. Zonal winds are eastward with pre-midnight maximum speeds going above 100 m/s. Compared to Jicamarca zonal winds in the Peruvian sector for the same month of October, the magnitude of maximum Abuja zonal wind speed is weaker. We compare the observed diurnal variation with the recently updated Horizontal wind model (HWM 14). Most of the observational features of thermospheric wind diurnal variation are captured in the model variation. The HWM14 generally showed good agreement with the Abuja October and November zonal wind observations but overestimates the December meridional winds. Expected longer period analysis of the results from Abuja will stimulate a better understanding of wind climatology over the West African sector.     

高层大气臭氧对于太阳紫外辐射27天波动的响应

本文利用Ｓｏｌａｒ Ｍｅｓｏｓｐｈｅｒｅ Ｅｘｐｌｏｒｅｒ（ＳＭＥ）卫星１９８２年和１９８３年太阳紫外辐射和赤道地区５０－９０ｋｍ臭氧分布的红外观测资料，对臭氧地太阳紫外辐射２７天振荡的响应进行了研究，并且利用大气光化波动模式对其进行了理论计算，计算结果与实测结果基本一致。     

Diurnal and seasonal variations of F2 layer characteristics over Irkutsk during the decrease in solar activity in 2003–2006: Observations and IRI-2001 model predictions

The diurnal and seasonal variations of F2 layer characteristics (critical frequency, peak height and bottomside thickness) over Irkutsk, Russia (52.3 N and 104.3 E) are studied by the method of running medians. The comparison with the IRI-2001 model during the decrease in solar activity in 2003–2006 revealed cases of both close agreement and systematic differences between predictions and observations. The systematic difference is not the only reason for disagreement between IRI and observations; there are also intrayear variations which are not associated with seasonal behavior. The period of observation was too short to make conclusions about solar activity dependence of the noon bottomside thickness and the modification of its diurnal behavior with decreasing solar activity.     

NO2 field observations in the stratosphere during Map/Globus campaign in 1983 and 1985

NO₂ has been measured from balloons, plane and ground during Map/Globus Campaign in Europe in 1983. The results have shown an agreement between in situ and remote sensing techniques in the lower stratosphere, but some divergence at higher altitude. Part of the differences might be due to unknown experimental systematic errors and part to real atmospheric variations as the observations were not performed on the same day. In order to improve the knowledge of the instruments performances and to evaluate the NO_x stratospheric budget a new field campaign has been set up in Europe in 1985. Simultaneous in situ and balloons, ground and satellites remote sensing observations of NO and NO₂ were obtained, covering a 24 H period.     

Thermospheric tides during thermosphere mapping study periods

Neutral exospheric temperatures at 53°, 43° and 33° latitude from Millstone Hill steerable-antenna Thomson scatter measurements, and at 19° latitude from the Arecibo Observatory, obtained during three Thermosphere Mapping Study (TMS) coordinated campaign intervals during 1984 and 1985, are analyzed for diurnal and semidiurnal tidal components. The resulting amplitude and phase latitudinal structures are compared with numerical simulations. The observed semidiurnal tidal components are thought to be significantly affected by tidal waves propagating upwards from below the thermosphere during these solar minimum periods. We speculate that current inadequacies in specifying F-region plasma densities and mean zonal winds at lower altitudes within the simulation model may account for certain discrepancies between observations and theory.     

Initial results from the repaired solar maximum mission and future prospects

Goals of the recently repaired Solar Maximum Mission Observatory are outlined, including continued emphasis on diagnosing impulsive phase of flares, studies of prominence and coronal plasmas, solar cycle variations of flares, the corona and solar irradiance, and comets. Some preliminary observations taken after the repair are shown, particularly of the X13 flare of April 1984.