Category Archives: News

SPARC Science update: 27 August –2 September

A selection of new science articles from the past week of interest to the SPARC community (a SPARC Office choice).

 

Six New Satellites Watch the Atmosphere over Earth’s Equator. News report by by R. Anthes and W. Schreiner in Earth & Space Science News (EOS).

Atmospheric observations made at Oliktok Point, Alaska, as part of the Profiling at Oliktok Point to Enhance YOPP Experiments (POPEYE) campaign. By G. de Boer et al. in Earth System Science Data.

On the Cooling-to-Space Approximation. By N. Jeevanjee and S. Fueglistaler in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.

POLSTRACC: Airborne experiment for studying the Polar Stratosphere in a Changing Climate with the high-altitude long-range research aircraft HALO. By H. Oelhaf et al. in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

A Systematic Approach to Assessing the Sources and Global Impacts of Errors in Climate Models. By S.D. Schubert et al. in the Journal of the Climate.

Changes in winter stationary wave activity during weak mid‐latitude and Arctic thermal contrast period. S. Wang et al. in the International Journal of Climatology.

Large Amplitude Quasi‐10‐day Waves in the Middle Atmosphere during Final Warmings. By Y. Yamazaki and V. Matthias in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

 

Discussion papers – open for comments:

Modeling Trans-Pacific Transport and Stratospheric Intrusion of Tropospheric Ozone using Hemispheric CMAQ during April 2010: Part 2. Examination of Emission Impacts based on the Higher-order Decoupled Direct Method. By S. Itahashi et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

SPARC Science update: 20 August –26 August

A selection of new science articles from the past week of interest to the SPARC community (a SPARC Office choice).

 

Predictability of Northern Hemisphere final stratospheric warmings and their surface impacts. By A. Butler et al. in the Geophysical Research Letters.

Observational Evidence for Two Modes of Coupling Between Sea Surface Temperatures, Tropospheric Temperature Profile, and Shortwave Cloud Radiative Effect in the Tropics. By S. Fueglistaler in the Geophysical Research Letters.

Impact of vertical wind shear on gravity wave propagation in the land-sea breeze circulation at the equator. By Y. Du, R. Rotunno, and F. Zhang in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.

Modelled and observed volcanic aerosol control on stratospheric NOy and Cly. By B. Zambri et al. in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

 

Discussion papers – open for comments:

The Global Methane Budget 2000–2017. By M. Saunois et al. in Earth System Science Data.

SPARC Science update: 13 August –19 August

A selection of new science articles from the past week of interest to the SPARC community (a SPARC Office choice).

 

Tropospheric and stratospheric causal pathways between the MJO and NAO. By E.A. Barnes et al. in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

The response of the ozone layer to quadrupled CO2 concentrations: implications for climate. By G. Chiodo and L.M. Polvani in the Journal of the Climate.

Uncertainty in the Representation of Orography in Weather and Climate Models and Implications for Parameterized Drag. By A.D. Elvidge et al. in the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems.

A diagnostic equation for tendency of lapse-rate-tropopause heights and its application. By M. Kohma and K. Sato in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.

Revisiting the Agung 1963 volcanic forcing – impact of one or two eruptions. By U. Niemeier, C. Timmreck, and K. Krueger in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

Large Uncertainties in Estimation of Tropical Tropopause Temperature Variabilities due to Model Vertical Resolution. By W. Wang et al. in the Geophysicl Research Letters.

Parameterization of Directional Absorption of Orographic Gravity Waves and Its Impact on the Atmospheric General Circulation Simulated by the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. By X. Xu et al. in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.

 

Discussion papers – open for comment:

Very high stratospheric influence observed in the free troposphere over the Northern Alps – just a local phenomenon? By T. Trickl et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

Livestream available: An SI-Traceable Space-based Climate Observing System

A CEOS, WMO-GSICS Workshop

Hosted by UKSA at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington 
September 9-11 2019.

This international workshop will discuss the needs, state of the art and vision for a space based climate observing system spanning the electromagnetic spectrum with a workshop report to establish a roadmap for its implementation. In particular it will highlight climate benchmark missions such as UK led TRUTHS mission adopted into the ESA Earth Watch mission for subscription as part of ‘Space19+’ in November, NASA CLARREO and similar mission from China.

More information relating to this workshop including the draft agenda and details of how to register can be found here.

SPARC Science update: 6 August –12 August

A selection of new science articles from the past week of interest to the SPARC community (a SPARC Office choice).

 

Detection, variability, and predictability of monsoon onset and withdrawal dates: a review. By R.J. Bombardi, V. Moron, and J.S. Goodnight in the International Journal of Climatology.

Satellite Limb Observations of Unprecedented Forest Fire Aerosol in the Stratosphere. By A.E. Bourassa et al. in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

Are sudden stratospheric warmings preceded by anomalous tropospheric wave activity? By A. de la Cámara, T. birner, and J.R. Albers in the Journal of the Climate.

The impact of recent changes in Asian anthropogenic emissions of SO2 on sulfate loading in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and the associated radiative changes. By S. Fadnavis et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

Changes in hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) emissions in China during 2011‐2017. By X. Fang et al. in the Geophysical Research Letters.

Comparison of equatorial wave activity in the tropical tropopause layer and stratosphere represented in reanalyses. By Y.-H. Kim et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

Tropical deep convection impact on southern winter stationary waves and its modulation by the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation. By C. Peña-Ortiz, E. Manzini, and M.A. Giorgetta in the Journal of the Climate.

Quantifying the local effect of Northern Hemisphere atmospheric blocks on the persistence of summer hot and dry spells. By M. Röthlisberger and O. Martius in the Geophysical Research Letters.

Emissions of halocarbons from India inferred through atmospheric measurements. By D. Say et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

Interannual variations of water vapor in the tropical upper troposphere and the lower and middle stratosphere and their connections to ENSO and QBO. By E.W. Tian et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

 

Discusion papers – open for comments:

Tropical and mid-latitude teleconnections interacting with the Indian summer monsoon rainfall: A Theory-Guided Causal Effect Network approach. By G. Di Capua et al. in Earth System Dynamics.

SPARC Science update: 30 July –5 August

A selection of new science articles from the past week of interest to the SPARC community (a SPARC Office choice).

 

Variations in the vertical profile of ozone at four high-latitude Arctic sites from 2005 to 2017. By S. Bahramvash Shams et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

Global ozone depletion and increase of UV radiation caused by pre-industrial tropical volcanic eruptions. By H. Brenna, S. Kutterolf and K. Krüger in Scientific Reports.

How Is Recent Arctic Warming Impacting East Asian Weather? By S.-J. Kim, B.-M. Kim, and J. Ukita in Earth and Space Science news (EOS).

Tropopause altitude determination from temperature profile measurements of reduced vertical resolution. By N. König, P. Braesicke, and T. von Clarmann in Atmospheric measurement Techniques.

Abrupt stratospheric vortex weakening associated with North Atlantic anticyclonic wave breaking. By S.H. Lee et al. in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

Impacts of the ENSO Lifecycle on Stratospheric Ozone and Temperature. By J. Lin and T. Qian in the Geophysical Research Letters.

The polar stratosphere as an arbiter of the projected tropical versus polar tug‐of‐war. By Y. Peings, J. Cattiaux, and G. Magnusdottir in the Geophyical Research Letters.

Evaluation of wake influence on high-resolution balloon-sonde measurements. By J. Söder et al. in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques.

A geostatistical framework for quantifying the imprint of mesoscale atmospheric transport on satellite trace gas retrievals. By A.D. Tores et al. in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

Radiative Feedbacks Associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation. By B. Zhang et al. in the Journal of the Climate.

 

Discussion papers – open for comments:

Improved Water Vapour retrieval from AMSU-B/MHS in polar regions. By A.M. Triana-Gómez et al. in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques.

Determining the Daytime Earth Radiative Flux from National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR) Measurements. By W. Su et al. in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques.

The efficiency of transport into the stratosphere via the Asian and North American summer monsoon circulations. By X. Yan et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

Fuqing Zhang, 1970 – 2019

We sadly note the loss of our colleague and friend Dr. Fuqing Zhang, who died Friday July 19, 2019 following a recent diagnosis of cancer. This enormous loss to his family, friends and students and colleagues at Penn State is also felt by his many colleagues around the world. Fuqing had many accomplishments, awards, activities, and interests, and an obituary from colleagues at Pennsylvania State University can be found >>here

Among his many scientific interests, Fuqing was active in the field of atmospheric gravity waves, and he had been serving as co-chair of the SPARC Gravity Wave Activity since 2016.

A memorial service was held on July 24th at Koch Funeral Home in State College. At this time, one may read and add their own condolences and memories at >>this website

Many of us not only remember Fuqing’s tireless enthusiasm and passion for science, but also his kindness and helpfulness to so many scientists young and old around the world. We will miss him and we mourn his loss, which came much too soon.

Joan Alexander & Kaoru Sato, Gravity Wave activity co-leads

SPARC Science update: 23 July –29 July

A selection of new science articles from the past week of interest to the SPARC community (a SPARC Office choice).

 

On the representation of major stratospheric warmings in reanalyses. By B. Ayarzagüena et al. in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

The biggest unknowns related to decadal prediction: what 50 experts think are the 5 major knowledge gaps. By D. Bojovic et al. in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Stratospheric Gravity-Wave Products from Satellite Infrared Nadir Radiances in the Planning, Execution and Validation of Aircraft Measurements during DEEPWAVE. By S.D. Eckermann et al. in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.

What drives the lifecycle of tropical anvil clouds? By B. Gasparini et al. in the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems.

Decadal global temperature variability increases strongly with climate sensitivity. By F.J.M.M. Niijsse et al. in Nature: Climate Change.

A study on harmonizing total ozone assimilation with multiple sensors. By Y.J. Rochon, M. Sitwell, and Y.-M. Cho in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

The Signal‐to‐Noise Paradox for Interannual Surface Atmospheric Temperature Predictions. By F. Sévellec and S.S. Drijfhout in the Geophysical Research Letters.

Why do Antarctic Ozone recovery trends vary? By S.E. Strahan, A.R. Douglass, and M.R. Damon in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

Comparison of ground-based and satellite measurements of water vapour vertical profiles over Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. By D. Weaver et al. in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques.