Sediments at the top of Earth's core

Unusual physical properties at the core-mantle boundary have been inferred from seismic and geodetic observations in recent years. We show how both types of observations can be explained by a layer of silicate sediments, which accumulate at the top of the core as Earth cools. Compaction of the sediments expels most of the liquid iron but leaves behind a small amount of core material, which is entrained in mantle convection and may account for the isotopic signatures of core material in some hot spot plumes. Extraction of light elements from the liquid core also enhances the vigor of convection in the core and may increase the power available to the geodynamo.     

Geometrical aspects of sorted patterned ground in recurrently frozen soil

A model for sorted patterned ground shows that some types arise from density-driven Rayleigh free convection that occurs during thawing of water-saturated recurrently frozen soils. The regularly spaced convection cells result in an uneven melting of the underlying ice front. Frost action causes stones to be upthrusted and to form in a pattern on the ground surface that mirrors the corrugation in the underlying ice front. The implications of the water circulation direction in the cells on the sorting process are considered.     

2016年初夏随州一次雷暴大风天气特征分析

利用常规观测资料和随州新一代多普勒雷达(CINRAD/SB)资料,分析了2016年6月5日湖北省随州市境内的雷暴大风天气过程。分析表明,此次大风天气是在高空冷涡低槽东移的环流背景下发生的,强冷平流随西北气流南下,叠加在低层暖湿气流之上,形成对流不稳定,同时地面有冷锋入倒槽形成地面辐合线,触发不稳定能量释放。中等强度的垂直风切变环境有利于强对流发生发展;整层湿度不大,并且中高层有明显干侵入,不利于降水而有利于下沉气流发展;CAPE、DCAPE、K指数和SI指数都表明有较强的不稳定天气产生。雷达回波上观测到明显的弓形回波,且在母体风暴前沿有一条10~15 dBz的窄带回波,同时在径向速度图上观测到低层1 km以下高度有明显的大风核,4~6 km还存在中层径向辐合MARC,这些回波特征对地面大风有很好的指示意义。     

Magnetic field reversals, polar wander, and core-mantle coupling

True polar wander, the shifting of the entire mantle relative to the earth's spin axis, has been reanalyzed. Over the last 200 million years, true polar wander has been fast (approximately 5 centimeters per year) most of the time, except for a remarkable standstill from 170 to 110 million years ago. This standstill correlates with a decrease in the reversal frequency of the geomagnetic field and episodes of continental breakup. Conversely, true polar wander is high when reversal frequency increases. It is proposed that intermittent convection modulates the thickness of a thermal boundary layer at the base of the mantle and consequently the core-to-mantle heat flux. Emission of hot thermals from the boundary layer leads to increases in mantle convection and true polar wander. In conjunction, cold thermals released from a boundary layer at the top of the liquid core eventually lead to reversals. Changes in the locations of subduction zones may also affect true polar wander. Exceptional volcanism and mass extinctions at the Cretaceous-Tertiary and Permo-Triassic boundaries may be related to thermals released after two unusually long periods with no magnetic reversals. These environmental catastrophes may therefore be a consequence of thermal and chemical couplings in the earth's multilayer heat engine rather than have an extraterrestrial cause.     

致灾雷暴大风特征分析

为深入探讨保定雷暴大风的形成机理和提前预防农业气象灾害的发生,本研究利用常规观测资料及NCEP/NCAR逐日6 h再分析资料,对2017年6月21日发生在保定东部及雄安新区的雷暴大风天气进行分析。结果表明：地面中尺度辐合线和冷池是直接触发机制;探空曲线存在上下两个自由对流高度LFC; 雷暴大风出现在最强负变温与正变压前侧锋区;雷暴大风位于高能舌附近的能量锋区;边界层弱冷平流有利于水平锋区的形成与加强。整层MPV2负值的增大、高低空垂直螺旋度的耦合,构成此次雷暴大风天气的典型模式。此次过程是发生在高空槽前的雷暴大风天气,高低空系统的配置和不稳定条件比较有利于强对流的发生。依据地面中尺度系统至少可以提前10—20 min发出预警信号。     

Viscosity near Earth's solid inner core

Anomalous splitting of the two equatorial translational modes of oscillation of Earth's solid inner core is used to estimate the effective viscosity just outside its boundary. Superconducting gravimeter observations give periods of 3.5822 +/- 0.0012 (retrograde) and 4.0150 +/- 0.0010 (prograde) hours. With the use of Ekman layer theory to estimate viscous drag forces, an inferred single viscosity of 1.22 x 10(11) Pascal seconds gives calculated periods of 3.5839 and 4.0167 hours for the two modes, close to the observed values. The large effective viscosity is consistent with a fluid, solid-liquid mixture surrounding the inner core associated with the "compositional convection" that drives Earth's geodynamo.     

Origin of storm footprints on the sea seen by synthetic aperture radar

Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar can detect storm footprints on the sea. Coastal weather radar from Cape Hatteras provides evidence that the echo-free hole at the footprint core is the result of wave damping by rain. The increased radar cross section of the sea surrounding the echo-free hole results from the divergence of the precipitation-forced downdraft impacting the sea. The footprint boundary is the gust front; its oriention is aligned with the direction of the winds aloft, which are transported down with the downdraft, and its length implies downdraft impact 1 hour earlier at a quasi-stationary impact spot. The steady, localized nature of the storm remains a mystery.     

陕西渭河流域一次区域性暴雨天气过程分析

利用陕西省自动站降水资料和NECP/NCAR再分析资料,对2016年8月24—25日渭河流域暴雨天气进行分析。结果表明：本次暴雨天气是在副高异常强大的情况下发生的,对流层中层冷空气的扩散,低层切变线及地面冷锋时本次暴雨的主要天气系统;流域西部暴雨主要受能量锋及高能区系统影响,以雷电、暴雨为主,中东部受能量锋过境影响,以大风及暴雨天气为主;对流层低层的东北急流为本次暴雨天气提供了水汽主要来源,东北急流与偏南风的交馁造成渭河流域辐合加强,使得短时强降水的产生成为可能;暴雨区散度场从低到高呈现明显的辐合-辐散双重结构,有利于中尺度对流系统的形成和维持;暴雨区垂直速度场出现上升—下沉—上升—下沉分布,当最大值高度值依次降低,有利于对流的发展和维持,最大值高度值呈同一高度分布时对流逐渐减弱。     

Enhanced turbulence and energy dissipation at ocean fronts

The ocean surface boundary layer mediates air-sea exchange. In the classical paradigm and in current climate models, its turbulence is driven by atmospheric forcing. Observations at a 1-kilometer-wide front within the Kuroshio Current indicate that the rate of energy dissipation within the boundary layer is enhanced by one to two orders of magnitude, suggesting that the front, rather than the atmospheric forcing, supplied the energy for the turbulence. The data quantitatively support the hypothesis that winds aligned with the frontal velocity catalyzed a release of energy from the front to the turbulence. The resulting boundary layer is stratified in contrast to the classically well-mixed layer. These effects will be strongest at the intense fronts found in the Kuroshio Current, the Gulf Stream, and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, all of which are key players in the climate system.     

1次江淮大暴雨中尺度系统的数值模拟与诊断分析

利用MM5中尺度暴雨模式较成功地模拟了2007年7月7～9日发生在江淮流域的暴雨过程,结合地面加密和常规观测资料对暴雨中尺度天气系统进行了较为详细的分析。结果表明:梅雨带上强烈发展并东移的多个中β尺度对流系统是造成这次江淮暴雨最直接的影响系统;在切变线附近正涡度平流的作用下,对流层中低层降压产生变压风辐合造成上升运动,低层暖湿气流抬升促使对流不稳定能量暴发形成局地对流产生暴雨。     

一次区域性暴雨过程的中尺度雨团特征分析

结合多普勒雷达产品特征对2007年7月18～19日烟台地区出现的一次区域性暴雨过程的中尺度雨团特征进行分析,结果表明：多个强降水雨团自西北向东南移过半岛是产生这次大暴雨的主要原因。冷锋带状回波与冷锋前方块状回波结合后迅速发展,有中气旋出现。700hPa干舌、500hPa弱冷平流和强上升区的存在是出现强对流天气的主要原因。     

甘肃罕见区域性冰雹成因诊断

利用常规天气图、数值预报产品、云图雷达等资料,对2006年8月2日发生在甘肃陇东地区罕见区域性冰雹天气的成因进行综合诊断分析,结果表明,这次冰雹过程是大尺度环流形势异常情况导致影响系统反常规西进引发的,当华北冷涡分裂的横槽经河套北部南下,与300 hPa急流、地面冷锋交汇时触发了强烈对流;降雹区上空有强烈的上升运动和不稳定层结;卫星云图上有3个MCS;雷达回波图上有弓形回波形成的特征。     

谷粒内部水分扩散系数的确定

提出了一种采用谷物薄层干燥数据和具有第３类边界条件的扩散方程确定谷粒内部水分扩散系数的方法，并确定了３个品种玉米粒内部水分扩散系数．结果表明，该方法是可行的，并具有通用性．可供干燥过程模拟和干燥机优化设计中参考．     

安徽省一次强对流天气过程分析

基于合肥新一代天气雷达产品和常规观测资料,从天气形势、不稳定能量、卫星云图、雷达回波等方面对2009年6月5日安徽省一次强对流天气过程进行了分析,揭示此类强对流天气的形成机制。结果表明,高空呈前倾槽形势且高低空具有强的垂直温度梯度,强大东北冷涡后部,贝湖阻高崩溃带来强冷空气南下;850100 h Pa呈一致的西北偏北干冷气流,河套东部上空925 h Pa存在切变线;地面能量积累明显且有2条明显复合线。高低空完美配合造成此次强对流天气过程强度强、范围广、移速快、危害大。山东、江苏境内海风锋导致的地面复合线对强对流可能有触发和加强作用;前期东北冷涡活跃和华东持续高温为强对流发生积累了大量不稳定能量。分析合肥站雷达图发现,0.5°仰角反射率因子图上阵风锋出现时间与经过区域对应地面大风发生时间和发生地区有很好的指示,能提前2030min发布大风预警。     

Earth's Core-Mantle Boundary: Results of Experiments at High Pressures and Temperatures

Laboratory experiments document that liquid iron reacts chemically with silicates at high pressures (>/=2.4 x 10(10) Pascals) and temperatures. In particular, (Mg,Fe)SiO(3) perovskite, the most abundant mineral of Earth's lower mantle, is expected to react with liquid iron to produce metallic alloys (FeO and FeSi) and nonmetallic silicates (SiO(2) stishovite and MgSiO(3) perovskite) at the pressures of the core-mantle boundary, 14 x 10(10) Pascals. The experimental observations, in conjunction with seismological data, suggest that the lowermost 200 to 300 kilometers of Earth's mantle, the D" layer, may be an extremely heterogeneous region as a result of chemical reactions between the silicate mantle and the liquid iron alloy of Earth's core. The combined thermal-chemical-electrical boundary layer resulting from such reactions offers a plausible explanation for the complex behavior of seismic waves near the core-mantle boundary and could influence Earth's magnetic field observed at the surface.     

2019年3月岳阳一次强对流天气过程的成因分析

整理分析岳阳2019年3月20—21日常规天气观测资料、NECP再分析数据,结合多普勒天气雷达资料及产品,应用天气学、雷达气象学方法对此次强对流天气过程的背景及环境场条件进行分析。结果表明,前期不稳定能量积聚,19—20日地面倒槽发展,南风强盛,岳阳市前期地面升温明显,最高气温达到28℃以上;500 hPa中高纬为多波动型,湖南处于槽前西南气流控制下,850 hPa四川、贵州交界处有低涡形成,中低层切变移动影响岳阳,为此次强对流过程提供了动力条件;地面冷空气南下,斜压锋生,触发对流发展;中低空西南急流建立,来自孟加拉湾的强盛的水汽输送与持续的水汽辐合,为此次强对流过程提供了充沛的水汽供应和动量输送,同时也大大加强了低层上升运动的形成,为降水的发生发展提供了动力与热力条件;此外,垂直上升运动的大值区与强对流发生时段对应较好,K指数、沙氏指数及对流不稳定能量CAPE已达到岳阳出现强对流和短时暴雨指标;在强对流预报中,不仅要考虑大尺度环流及特征物理量,也要考虑地形对降水及强对流天气的影响。     

Eclogites, pyroxene geotherm, and layered mantle convection

Temperatures of equilibration for the majority (81 percent) of the eclogite xenoliths of the Roberts Victor kimberlite pipe in South Africa range between 1000 degrees and 1250 degrees C, falling essentially on the gap of the lower limb of the subcontinental inflected geotherm derived from garnet peridotite xenoliths. In view of the Archean age (>2.6 x 10(9) years) of these eclogites and their stratigraphic position on the geotherm, it is proposed that the inflected part of the geotherm represents the convective boundary layer beneath the conductive lid of the lithospheric plate. The gradient of 8 Celsius degrees per kilometer for the inflection is characteristic of a double thermal boundary layer and suggests layered convection rather than whole mantle convection for the earth.     

Variable azimuthal anisotropy in Earth's lowermost mantle

A persistent reversal in the expected polarity of the initiation of vertically polarized shear waves that graze the D' layer (the layer at the boundary between the outer core and the lower mantle of Earth) in some regions starts at the arrival time of horizontally polarized shear waves. Full waveform modeling of the split shear waves for paths beneath the Caribbean requires azimuthal anisotropy at the base of the mantle. Models with laterally coherent patterns of transverse isotropy with the hexagonal symmetry axis of the mineral phases tilted from the vertical by as much as 20 degrees are consistent with the data. Small-scale convection cells within the mantle above the D' layer may cause the observed variations by inducing laterally variable crystallographic or shape-preferred orientation in minerals in the D' layer.     

地表火燃烧参数及其火头前影响区的实验研究

通过两次地表火模拟实验，测量了地表火的主要燃烧参数，包括火蔓延速度、火焰高度、火墙厚度以及地表火火头前方的风速和温度，并计算得出对应的火线火强度．通过相关分析和回归分析，得出了以下结论：在火头前方空气中某点温度主要取决火强度和该点与火头的距离；离火头较近时辐射起决定性作用，在离火头距离小于２５ｍ以后，随着火头的接近，火头前方的风速有增大的趋势；对于９００ｋＷ·ｍ－１左右的中能量地表火，火头卷吸作用的范围大于６．５ｍ．定性地说，蔓延速度快，火墙厚度就增大．     

一次远距离台风暴雨产生机理分析

利用micaps资料和ncep1°×1°网格资料,分析一次远距离台风水汽引发的暴雨的产生机理,主要分析暴雨产生的能量、台风带来充足水汽对发生机理的贡献,用Q矢量湿锋生函数和一些垂直剖面图分析暖锋锋生及暖锋的位置及它们与暴雨产生的关系。同时,分析一些物理量特征。研究表明,水汽潜热释放是重要的对流能量来源,假相当位温剖面图看影响泰州市为暖锋,水汽潜热释放促使暖锋锋生;持续锋生、锋生过程中的非地转运动强迫出次级环流出现上升运动、锋面加强,并且锋面持续存在导致降水持续较长时间,而形成暴雨;前期中层垂直速度明显,构成中层辐合上升,高层辐散,低层下沉,cape为0,低层对流条件弱,在这样的情况下产生深对流是中上层抽吸起到重要作用。该个例地面自动站涡度看有涡度辐合大值区域的产生对雷暴预报有几个小时的提前量。