| 1. |
- Aryal, D., et al.
(författare)
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A Model-Based Flood Hazard Mapping on the Southern Slope of Himalaya
- 2020
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Ingår i: Water. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4441. ; 12:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Originating from the southern slope of Himalaya, the Karnali River poses a high flood risk at downstream regions during the monsoon season (June to September). This paper presents comprehensive hazard mapping and risk assessments in the downstream region of the Karnali River basin for different return-period floods, with the aid of the HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System). The assessment was conducted on a 38 km segment of the Karnali River from Chisapani to the Nepal India border. To perform hydrodynamic simulations, a long-term time series of instantaneous peak discharge records from the Chisapani gauging station was collected. Flooding conditions representing 2-, 5-, 10-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 1000-year return periods (YRPs) were determined using Gumbel's distribution. With an estimated peak discharge of up to 29,910 m(3)/s and the flood depths up to 23 m in the 1000-YRP, the area vulnerable to flooding in the study domain extends into regions on both the east and west banks of the Karnali River. Such flooding in agricultural land poses a high risk to food security, which directly impacts on residents' livelihoods. Furthermore, the simulated flood in 2014 (equivalent to a 100-YRP) showed a high level of impact on physical infrastructure, affecting 51 schools, 14 health facilities, 2 bus-stops, and an airport. A total of 132 km of rural urban roads and 22 km of highways were inundated during the flood. In summary, this study can support in future planning and decision-making for improved water resources management and development of flood control plans on the southern slope of Himalaya.
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| 2. |
- Axelsson, J., et al.
(författare)
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A Precipitation Isotopic Response in 2014-2015 to Moisture Transport Changes in the Central Himalayas
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. - 2169-897X. ; 128:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The impact of moisture transport and sources on precipitation stable isotopes (d(18)O and d-excess) in the central Himalayas are crucial to understanding the climatic archives. However, this is still unclear due to the lack of in-situ observations. Here we present measurements of stable isotopes in precipitation at two stations (Yadong and Pali) in the central Himalayas during 2014-2015. Combined with simulations from the dispersion model FLEXPART, we investigate effects on precipitation stable isotopes related to changes in moisture sources and convections in the region, and possible influence by El Nino. Our results suggest that the moisture supplies related to evaporation over northeastern India and moisture losses related to convective activities over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and Bangladesh region play important roles in changes in d(18)O and d-excess in precipitation in the Yadong Valley. Outgoing longwave radiation and moisture flux divergence analysis further confirm that the contribution from continental evaporation dominates the moisture supply in the central Himalayas with a lesser contribution from convection over the BoB during the 2015 monsoon season compared with 2014. A change in the altitude effect is observed in 2015, which is more significant than the temperature and precipitation amount effect during the observation period. These findings provide valuable insights into climatic interpretations of paleo-isotopic archives with an isotopic response to changes in moisture transport to the central Himalayas.
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| 3. |
- Azorin-Molina, C., et al.
(författare)
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A Decline of Observed Daily Peak Wind Gusts with Distinct Seasonality in Australia, 1941-2016
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Climate. - : American Meteorological Society. - 0894-8755 .- 1520-0442. ; 34:8, s. 3103-3127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wind gusts represent one of the main natural hazards due to their increasing socioeconomic and environmental impacts on, for example, human safety, maritime-terrestrial-aviation activities, engineering and insurance applications, and energy production. However, the existing scientific studies focused on observed wind gusts are relatively few compared to those on mean wind speed. In Australia, previous studies found a slowdown of near-surface mean wind speed, termed "stilling," but a lack of knowledge on the multidecadal variability and trends in the magnitude (wind speed maxima) and frequency (exceeding the 90th percentile) of wind gusts exists. A new homogenized daily peak wind gusts (DPWG) dataset containing 548 time series across Australia for 1941-2016 is analyzed to determine long-term trends in wind gusts. Here we show that both the magnitude and frequency of DPWG declined across much of the continent, with a distinct seasonality: negative trends in summer-spring-autumn and weak negative or nontrending (even positive) trends in winter. We demonstrate that ocean-atmosphere oscillations such as the Indian Ocean dipole and the southern annular mode partly modulate decadal-scale variations of DPWG. The long-term declining trend of DPWG is consistent with the "stilling" phenomenon, suggesting that global warming may have reduced Australian wind gusts.
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| 4. |
- Azorin-Molina, Cesar, et al.
(författare)
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Biases in wind speed measurements due to anemometer changes
- 2023
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Research. - 0169-8095. ; 289
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research presents a case study of the biases and discontinuities that were introduced in observed long-term mean wind-speed and gust data-series due to anemometer changes in a meteorological station in northern Spain, operated by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency: San Sebastian-Igueldo. Field and wind-tunnel experiments with predefined conditions have been presented in the literature, however this research uses a real case study to assess the impact of anemometer changes on wind speed measurements due to three factors being: (i) the 3-cup anemometer model (SEAC vs. THIES companies); (ii) sensor height (∼19.95 m vs. ∼20.45 m) and (iii) sensor age (20-years old vs. new). Our results show (a) substantial biases in the measured wind speed and daily peak wind gusts, with the new THIES anemometer reporting stronger surface winds than the old SEAC anemometer; (b) opposing biases under weak (negative) and moderate-strong (positive) winds; and (c) significant breakpoints in the long-term wind data-series, which highlight the importance of data homogenization. National Weather Services and climate assessment groups will benefit from these findings since errors in wind speed and gust measurements can be minimized by implementing systematic observation protocols. Robust anemometer observations provide a basis for accurate quantification of the magnitude of changes and the variability of surface winds.
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| 5. |
- Barthel, Roland, 1967, et al.
(författare)
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Current understanding of groundwater recharge and groundwater drought in Sweden compared to countries with similar geology and climate
- 2021
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 103:4, s. 323-345
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently, groundwater in Sweden has attracted media attention due to supply shortages caused by dry periods and low groundwater levels. About half of Swedish drinking water stems from groundwater. The small Swedish aquifers are highly dependent on frequent and sufficient recharge. Groundwater recharge forms the link between meteorological and groundwater drought and thus the main link between climate change and sustainable water supply. This study evaluated whether the current knowledge on groundwater recharge and groundwater drought is sufficient to mitigate the impacts of climate change. A review of international literature on groundwater recharge in regions with conditions similar to Sweden was performed. National literature was compared and links to international studies evaluated. A survey among Swedish groundwater experts complemented the study. Findings are that research on groundwater recharge has been scarce in Sweden over the last decades and Swedish experts seem to not have taken much notice of international literature. It is concluded that Sweden is not well prepared to predict the impact of climate change on groundwater resources, as the most crucial process linking climate to groundwater is not well understood. The study has a strong focus on Sweden, however, the results are also relevant for countries with similar geology and climate. One main conclusion is that groundwater recharge studies often remain unique, and thus hardly transferable and comparable. Two or more independent studies are rarely applied in parallel, verification based on direct groundwater observations is not common. This raises concerns about the reliability of climate change impact predictions on groundwater.
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| 6. |
- Bu, Lulei, 1997, et al.
(författare)
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Upstream Evaporation is the Key to Extreme Summertime Heat Stress in North China
- 2024
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Ingår i: EARTH SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT. - 2509-9426 .- 2509-9434.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Humidity plays a critical role in amplifying temperature impact, leading to reduced heat dissipation efficiency and severe heat stress in humans. In the specific context of North China, this study explored different sensitivities of extreme heat stress (measured by wet-bulb temperature, TW) to humidity and temperature, and analyzed the influence of upstream variables on extreme heat stress. It is found that in the past four decades, extreme heat stress in North China increased rapidly at a maximum rate of over 0.4 celcius/decade, accompanied by the influence of humidity on extreme heat stress surpasses that of temperature. Even slight fluctuations in humidity can result in substantial variations in heat stress levels, unlike equivalent changes in temperature. This study is the first to find that for extreme heat stress, changes in temperature can only increase TW by up to 0.5 celcius, while increase in humidity can increase TW by 3 celcius. Notably, both humidity and temperature begin to rise approximately three days prior to extreme days, coinciding with intensified humidity transport and temperature advection from the upstream region. This study is also the first to find that intensified humidity transport is primarily driven by remarkably high evaporation originating from the western extension of the Northwest Pacific Subtropical High, while the strengthened temperature advection stems from a north-south temperature gradient during extreme days. This mechanism, wherein upstream variables impact downstream conditions, holds significant value for accurate prediction and timely response strategies.
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| 7. |
- Cai, Z., et al.
(författare)
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Amplified wintertime Barents Sea warming linked to intensified Barents oscillation
- 2022
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Ingår i: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-9318 .- 1748-9326. ; 17:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent decades, the Barents Sea has warmed more than twice as fast as the rest of the Arctic in winter, but the exact causes behind this amplified warming remain unclear. In this study, we quantify the wintertime Barents Sea warming (BSW, for near-surface air temperature) with an average linear trend of 1.74 °C decade-1 and an interdecadal change around 2003 based on a surface energy budget analysis using the ERA5 reanalysis dataset from 1979-2019. Our analysis suggests that the interdecadal change in the wintertime near-surface air temperature is dominated by enhanced clear-sky downward longwave radiation (CDLW) associated with increased total column water vapor. Furthermore, it is found that a mode of atmospheric variability over the North Atlantic region known as the Barents oscillation (BO) strongly contributed to the BSW with a stepwise jump in 2003. Since 2003, the BO turned into a strengthened and positive phase, characteristic of anomalous high pressure over the North Atlantic and South of the Barents Sea, which promoted two branches of heat and moisture transport from southern Greenland along the Norwegian Sea and from the Eurasian continent to the Barents Sea. This enhanced the water vapor convergence over the Barents Sea, resulting in BSW through enhanced CDLW. Our results highlight the atmospheric circulation related to the BO as an emerging driver of the wintertime BSW through enhanced meridional atmospheric heat and moisture transport over the North Atlantic Ocean.
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| 8. |
- Cai, Ziyi, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing Arctic wetting: Performances of CMIP6 models and projections of precipitation changes
- 2024
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Research. - 0169-8095. ; 297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Arctic region is experiencing a notable increase in precipitation, known as Arctic wetting, amidst the backdrop of Arctic warming. This phenomenon has implications for the Arctic hydrological cycle and numerous socio-ecological systems. However, the ability of climate models to accurately simulate changes in Arctic wetting has not been thoroughly assessed. In this study, we analyze total precipitation in the Arctic using station data, multiple reanalyses, and 35 models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). By employing the moisture budget equation and an evaluation method for model performance with ERA5 reanalysis as a reference, we evaluated the models' capability to reproduce past Arctic wetting patterns. Our findings indicate that most reanalyses and models are able to replicate Arctic wetting. However, the CMIP6 models generally exhibit an overestimation of Arctic wetting during the warm season and an underestimation during the cold season from 1979 to 2014 when compared to the ERA5 reanalysis. Further investigation reveals that the overestimation of wetting during the warm season is largest over the Arctic Ocean's northern part, specifically the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and is associated with an overestimation of atmospheric moisture transport. Conversely, the models significantly underestimate wetting over the Barents-Kara Sea during the cold season, which can be attributed to an underestimation of evaporation resulting from the models' inadequate representation of sea ice reduction in that region. The models with the best performance in simulating historical Arctic wetting indicate a projected intensification of Arctic wetting, and optimal models significantly reduce uncertainties in future projections compared to the original models, particularly in the cold season and oceanic regions. Our study highlights significant biases in the CMIP6 models' simulation of Arctic precipitation, and improving the model's ability to simulate historical Arctic precipitation could reduce uncertainties in future projections.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Cai, Z. Y., et al.
(författare)
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Arctic Warming Revealed by Multiple CMIP6 Models: Evaluation of Historical Simulations and Quantification of Future Projection Uncertainties
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Climate. - : American Meteorological Society. - 0894-8755 .- 1520-0442. ; 34:12, s. 4871-4892
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Arctic has experienced a warming rate higher than the global mean in the past decades, but previous studies show that there are large uncertainties associated with future Arctic temperature projections. In this study, near-surface mean temperatures in the Arctic are analyzed from 22 models participating in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Compared with the ERA5 reanalysis, most CMIP6 models underestimate the observed mean temperature in the Arctic during 1979-2014. The largest cold biases are found over the Greenland Sea the Barents Sea, and the Kara Sea. Under the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the multimodel ensemble mean of 22 CMIP6 models exhibits significant Arctic warming in the future and the warming rate is more than twice that of the global/Northern Hemisphere mean. Model spread is the largest contributor to the overall uncertainty in projections, which accounts for 55.4% of the total uncertainty at the start of projections in 2015 and remains at 32.9% at the end of projections in 2095. Internal variability uncertainty accounts for 39.3% of the total uncertainty at the start of projections but decreases to 6.5% at the end of the twenty-first century, while scenario uncertainty rapidly increases from 5.3% to 60.7% over the period from 2015 to 2095. It is found that the largest model uncertainties are consistent cold bias in the oceanic regions in the models, which is connected with excessive sea ice area caused by the weak Atlantic poleward heat transport. These results suggest that large intermodel spread and uncertainties exist in the CMIP6 models' simulation and projection of the Arctic near-surface temperature and that there are different responses over the ocean and land in the Arctic to greenhouse gas forcing. Future research needs to pay more attention to the different characteristics and mechanisms of Arctic Ocean and land warming to reduce the spread.
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