Parametric covariance dynamics for the nonlinear diffusive Burgers equation Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics DOI 10.5194/npg-25-481-2018 9 July 2018 The forecast of weather prediction uncertainty is a real challenge and is crucial for risk management. However, uncertainty prediction is beyond the capacity of supercomputers, and improvements of the technology may not solve this issue. A new uncertainty prediction method is introduced which takes advantage of fluid equations to predict simple quantities which approximate real uncertainty but at a low numerical cost. A proof of concept is shown by an academic model derived from fluid dynamics. Read more
The diurnal cycle of cloud profiles over land and ocean between 51°S and 51°N, seen by the CATS spaceborne lidar from the International Space Station Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-18-9457-2018 6 July 2018 From 3 years of observations from the CATS lidar on the International Space Station we document the daily cycle of the vertical distribution of clouds. This is the first time this is documented over several continents and oceans using finely resolved measurements on a near-global scale from a single instrument. We show that other instruments observing clouds from space, like CALIPSO, document extremes of the daily cycle over ocean and closer to the average over land. CATS spaceborne lidar from the International Space Station">Read more
Inter-laboratory comparison of cryogenic water extraction systems for stable isotope analysis of soil water Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-3619-2018 6 July 2018 To extract water from soils for isotopic analysis, cryogenic water extraction is the most widely used removal technique. This work presents results from a worldwide laboratory intercomparison test of cryogenic extraction systems. Our results showed large differences in retrieved isotopic signatures among participating laboratories linked to interactions between soil type and properties, system setup, extraction efficiency, extraction system leaks, and each lab’s internal accuracy. Read more
Transboundary ozone pollution across East Asia: daily evolution and photochemical production analysed by IASI + GOME2 multispectral satellite observations and models Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-18-9499-2018 6 July 2018 This paper tackles a major issue for air quality over East Asia: ozone pollution produced over a major source, like the North China Plain, and the contribution of ozone produced while being transported across the continent and the surrounding seas. The main originality of the paper lays in the fact that this photochemical production of ozone is observationally quantified with new multispectral satellite observations offering unique skills to observe the ozone pollution plumes near the surface. IASI + GOME2 multispectral satellite observations and models">Read more
A 1500-year multiproxy record of coastal hypoxia from the northern Baltic Sea indicates unprecedented deoxygenation over the 20th century Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-15-3975-2018 5 July 2018 Oxygen deficiency is a major environmental problem deteriorating seafloor habitats especially in the coastal ocean with large human impact. Here we apply a wide set of chemical and physical analyses to a 1500-year long sediment record and show that, although long-term climate variability has modulated seafloor oxygenation in the coastal northern Baltic Sea, the oxygen loss over the 20th century is unprecedentedly severe, emphasizing the need to reduce anthropogenic nutrient input in the future. Read more
Moisture transport and Antarctic sea ice: austral spring 2016 event Earth System Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esd-9-939-2018 4 July 2018 In austral spring 2016 the Antarctic region experienced anomalous sea ice retreat in all sectors, with sea ice extent in October and November 2016 being the lowest in the Southern Hemisphere over the observational record (1979–present). The extreme sea ice retreat was accompanied by the wettest and warmest spring on record, over large areas covering the Indian ocean, the Ross Sea, and the Weddell Sea. Read more
HESS Opinions: Science in today’s media landscape – challenges and lessons from hydrologists and journalists Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-3589-2018 4 July 2018 Media play a key role in the communication between scientists and the general public. However, the interaction between scientists and journalists is not always straightforward. In this opinion paper, we present insights from hydrologists and journalists into the benefits, aftermath and potential pitfalls of science–media interaction. We aim to encourage scientists to participate in the diverse and evolving media landscape, and we call on the scientific community to support scientists who do so. HESS Opinions: Science in today’s media landscape – challenges and lessons from hydrologists and journalists">Read more
High- and low-temperature pyrolysis profiles describe volatile organic compound emissions from western US wildfire fuels Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-18-9263-2018 3 July 2018 We found that on average 85 % of the VOC emissions from biomass burning across various fuels representative of the western US (including various coniferous and chaparral fuels) can be explained using only two emission profiles: (i) a high-temperature pyrolysis profile and (ii) a low-temperature pyrolysis profile. The high-temperature profile is quantitatively similar between different fuel types (r2 > 0.84), and likewise for the low-temperature profile. Read more
Transfer entropy and cumulant-based cost as measures of nonlinear causal relationships in space plasmas: applications to Dst Annales Geophysicae DOI 10.5194/angeo-36-945-2018 2 July 2018 The magnetospheric response to the solar wind is nonlinear. Information theoretical tools are able to characterize the nonlinearities in the system. We show that nonlinear significance ofDstpeaks at lags of 3–12 hours which can be attributed toVBs, which also exhibits similar behavior. However, the nonlinear significance that peaks at lags of 25, 50, and 90 hours can be attributed to internal dynamics, which may be related to the relaxation of the ring current. Read more
Brief communication: Candidate sites of 1.5 Myr old ice 37 km southwest of the Dome C summit, East Antarctica The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-12-2167-2018 28 June 2018 Locating a suitable drill site is a key step in the Antarctic oldest-ice challenge. Here we have conducted a 3-D ice flow simulation in the region of Dome C using a refined bedrock description. Five selection criteria are computed that together provide an objective overview on the local ice flow conditions. We delineate kilometer-scale favorable areas that overlap with the ones recently proposed by another group. We propose a few drill sites that should be surveyed during the next field seasons. Read more
