Smoothing error pitfalls Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-7-3023-2014 18 September 2014 The difference due to the content of a priori information between a constrained retrieval and the true atmospheric state is usually represented by a diagnostic quantity called smoothing error. In this paper it is shown that the concept of the smoothing error as a component of the retrieval error budget is questionable because it is not compliant with Gaussian error propagation. Read more
Sensitivity of the dynamics of Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, to climate forcing for the next 50 years The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-1699-2014 17 September 2014 The authors employ a 3D, higher-order model to simulate the evolution of Pine Island Glacier over the next 50 yr in response to changes in its surface mass balance, the position of its calving front and ocean-induced ice shelf melting. Read more
Tropospheric ozone increases over the southern Africa region: bellwether for rapid growth in Southern Hemisphere pollution? Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-9855-2014 17 September 2014 Increases in tropospheric ozone based on ozonesonde records (early 1990s to 2008) over subtropical stations in Irene (South Africa) and Réunion have been reported. Over Irene a large increase in the urban-influenced boundary layer (BL) was also observed. This paper shows that the Irene BL trend is at least partly due to a gradual change in the sonde launch times. Read more
Numerical studies on the Impact of the Last Glacial Cycle on recent borehole temperature profiles: implications for terrestrial energy balance Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-10-1693-2014 10 September 2014 In this paper, the authors provide the first estimate of the impact of the development of the Laurentide ice sheet on the estimates of energy and temperature reconstructions from measurements of terrestrial borehole temperatures in North America. Read more
Short ensembles: an efficient method for discerning climate-relevant sensitivities in atmospheric general circulation models Geoscientific Model Development DOI 10.5194/gmd-7-1961-2014 8 September 2014 This paper explores the feasibility of an experimentation strategy for investigating sensitivities in fast components of atmospheric general circulation models. Read more
Release of hydrogen peroxide and antioxidants by the coral Stylophora pistillata to its external milieu Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-11-4587-2014 1 September 2014 This paper presents a laboratory characterisation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and antioxidant activity release kinetics by intact, non-stressed Stylophora pistillata. Experimenting with bleached and non-bleached corals and different stirring speeds, the authors explored the sources and modes of H2O2 and antioxidant release. Read more
Protection against lightning at a geomagnetic observatory Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems DOI 10.5194/gi-3-135-2014 27 August 2014 The Sinji Vrh Geomagnetic Observatory, built on the brow of Gora, the mountain above Ajdovščina in Slovenia, is very often struck by lightning. This manuscript analyses the formation of lightning in the area and ways of protecting the observatory. Read more
Molecular corridors and kinetic regimes in the multiphase chemical evolution of secondary organic aerosol Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-8323-2014 20 August 2014 Based on molecular identification of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) oxidation products, the authors show here that the chemical evolution of SOA from a variety of volatile organic compound precursors adheres to characteristic “molecular corridors” with a tight inverse correlation between volatility and molar mass. Read more
Elevation and elevation change of Greenland and Antarctica derived from CryoSat-2 The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-1539-2014 20 August 2014 This study focuses on the present-day surface elevation of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Based on 3 years of CryoSat-2 data acquisition the authors derived new elevation models (DEMs) as well as elevation change maps and volume change estimates for both ice sheets. Read more
Diverse coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-11-4321-2014 19 August 2014 This paper characterises the first natural, non-reef coral refuge from thermal stress and ocean acidification and identifies resiliency factors for mangrove–coral habitats. Read more
MOMBA 1.1 – a high-resolution Baltic Sea configuration of GFDL’s Modular Ocean Model Geoscientific Model Development DOI 10.5194/gmd-7-1713-2014 18 August 2014 We present a new coupled ocean-circulation–ice model configuration of the Baltic Sea. The model features, contrary to most existing configurations, a high horizontal resolution of 1 nautical mile (1.85 km), which is eddy-resolving over much of the domain. Read more
Projecting Antarctic ice discharge using response functions from SeaRISE ice-sheet models Earth System Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esd-5-271-2014 14 August 2014 In this paper, the authors attempt to estimate the uncertainty range of future ice discharge from Antarctica by combining uncertainty in the climatic forcing, the oceanic response and the ice-sheet model response. Read more
Quantification of ice nuclei active at near 0 °C temperatures in low-altitude clouds at the Puy de Dôme atmospheric station Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-8185-2014 14 August 2014 In this study, cloud water was collected aseptically from the summit of Puy de Dôme (1465 m a.s.l., France) within contrasted meteorological and physico-chemical situations. Total and biological (i.e. heat-sensitive) IN were quantified by droplet-freezing assay between −5 °C and −14 °C. Read more
Weighing the ocean with bottom-pressure sensors: robustness of the ocean mass annual cycle estimate Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-10-701-2014 11 August 2014 We use ocean bottom-pressure measurements from 17 tropical sites to determine the annual cycle of ocean mass. We show that such a calculation is robust, and use three methods to estimate errors in the mass determination. Read more
Ice–ocean interaction and calving front morphology at two west Greenland tidewater outlet glaciers The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-1457-2014 8 August 2014 This paper presents a suite of fjord salinity, temperature, turbidity versus depth casts along with glacial runoff estimation from Rink and Store glaciers, two major marine outlets draining the western sector of the GrIS during 2009 and 2010. Read more
EARLINET: towards an advanced sustainable European aerosol lidar network Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-7-2389-2014 8 August 2014 This paper gives an overview of the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) main developments since 2000 and introduces the dedicated EARLINET special issue, which reports on the technical solutions and scientific results related to the use of advanced lidar remote sensing techniques for the study of aerosol properties. Read more
Integrated assessment of global water scarcity over the 21st century under multiple climate change mitigation policies Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-18-2859-2014 6 August 2014 Water scarcity conditions over the 21st century both globally and regionally are assessed in the context of climate change and climate mitigation policies, by estimating both water availability and water demand within the Global Change Assessment Model, a leading community-integrated assessment model of energy, agriculture, climate, and water. Read more
Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010 Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-10-683-2014 6 August 2014 The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation comprises warm upper waters flowing northward, becoming colder and denser until they form deep water in the Labrador and Nordic Seas that then returns southward through the North and South Atlantic. We have been monitoring the circulation at 25° N since 2004 and report on the results here. Read more
MEDEX: a general overview Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-14-1965-2014 5 August 2014 This paper reviews the motivation and foundation of the international MEDiterranean EXperiment (MEDEX), the gestation, history and organisation of the project, as well as the main products and scientific achievements obtained from it. Read more
Ecosystem function and services provided by the deep sea Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-11-3941-2014 29 July 2014 In this manuscript we aim to provide a foundation for informed conservation and management of the deep sea by summarizing the important role of the deep sea in society. Read more
Physicochemical changes in pyrogenic organic matter (biochar) after 15 months of field aging Solid Earth DOI 10.5194/se-5-693-2014 23 July 2014 Predicting the effects of pyrogenic organic matter (OM) addition (either natural or intentional as in the case of biochar amendment) on soil chemistry and crop yields has been hampered by a lack of understanding of how pyrogenic OM evolves in the environment over time. This work compared the physicochemical characteristics of newly made and 15-month-field-aged biochars and biochar–soil mixtures. Read more
A spurious jump in the satellite record: has Antarctic sea ice expansion been overestimated? The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-1289-2014 22 July 2014 Here, we show that much of the increase in the reported trend for Antarctic sea ice extent occurred due to the previously undocumented effect of a change in the way the satellite sea ice observations are processed for the widely used Bootstrap algorithm data set, rather than a physical increase in the rate of ice advance. Read more
A high-resolution bedrock map for the Antarctic Peninsula The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-1261-2014 18 July 2014 Assessing and projecting the dynamic response of glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula to changed atmospheric and oceanic forcing requires high-resolution ice thickness data as an essential geometric constraint for ice flow models. Here, we derive a complete bedrock data set for the Antarctic Peninsula north of 70° S on a 100 m grid Read more
Modeled Arctic sea ice evolution through 2300 in CMIP5 extended RCPs The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-1195-2014 11 July 2014 Extended representative concentration pathway simulations through 2300 were completed for a subset of models, and here we examine the time evolution of Arctic sea ice in these simulations. Read more
On the future of journal publications in hydrology Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-18-2433-2014 27 June 2014 A group of editors from hydrology journals discusses a number of actions to help strengthen publications and research in hydrology as a whole. Read more
Sources of 21st century regional sea-level rise along the coast of northwest Europe Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-10-473-2014 19 June 2014 There are various contributions to sea level rise, including effects in the solid earth, gravity field, changes in ocean mass due to ice loss from ice sheets and glaciers, thermal expansion, alterations in ocean circulation driven by climate change and changing freshwater fluxes, and the intensity of storm surges. Focusing on the coastline of northwest Europe, we consider these processes and their relative impact on 21st century regional mean sea levels and the 50-year return flood height. Read more
The sub-ice platelet layer and its influence on freeboard to thickness conversion of Antarctic sea ice The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-1031-2014 11 June 2014 This is an investigation to quantify the influence of the sub-ice platelet layer on satellite measurements of total freeboard and their conversion to thickness of Antarctic sea ice. Read more
Crop residue decomposition in Minnesota biochar-amended plots Solid Earth DOI 10.5194/se-5-499-2014 11 June 2014 The aim of this paper is to evaluate biochar effects on field decomposition of crop residue, using plots that were amended with biochars made from different plant-based feedstocks and pyrolysis platforms in the fall of 2008. Read more
Global emission projections for the transportation sector using dynamic technology modeling Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-5709-2014 10 June 2014 In this study, global emissions of gases and particles from the transportation sector are projected from the year 2010 to 2050. Read more
Impact of modellers’ decisions on hydrological a priori predictions Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-18-2065-2014 4 June 2014 Researchers report the discharge predictions of 10 modellers – using the model of their choice – for the man-made Chicken Creek catchment (6 ha, northeast Germany) and analyse how well they improved their prediction in three steps based on adding information prior to each following step. Read more
Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene vegetation history of northeastern Russian Arctic inferred from the Lake El’gygytgyn pollen record Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-10-1017-2014 22 May 2014 The 318 m thick lacustrine sediment record from Lake El’gygytgyn, northeastern Russian Arctic cored by the international El’gygytgyn Drilling Project provides unique opportunities for the time-continuous reconstruction of the regional paleoenvironmental history for the past 3.6 Myr. This is analysed here. Read more
Past changes in the vertical distribution of ozone – Part 1: Measurement techniques, uncertainties and availability Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-7-1395-2014 21 May 2014 This summary presents an overview of stratospheric ozone profile measurement data sets (ground and satellite based) available for ozone recovery studies. Here we document measurement techniques, spatial and temporal coverage, vertical resolution, native units and measurement uncertainties. Read more
Nighttime observation and chemistry of HOx in the Pearl River Delta and Beijing in summer 2006 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-4979-2014 21 May 2014 Nighttime HOx chemistry was investigated in two ground-based field campaigns (PRIDE-PRD2006 and CAREBEIJING2006) in summer 2006 in China by comparison of measured and modeled concentration data of OH and HO2. Read more
Magnetic signature of large exhumed mantle domains of the Southwest Indian Ridge – results from a deep-tow geophysical survey over 0 to 11 Ma old seafloor Solid Earth DOI 10.5194/se-5-339-2014 19 May 2014 We investigate the magnetic signature of ultramafic seafloor in the eastern part of the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). There, detachment faulting, continuous over 11 Myr, exhumed large areas of mantle-derived rocks. Read more
A tropical West Pacific OH minimum and implications for stratospheric composition Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-4827-2014 15 May 2014 Most of the short-lived biogenic and anthropogenic chemical species that are emitted into the atmosphere break down efficiently by reaction with OH and do not reach the stratosphere. Here we show the existence of a pronounced minimum in the tropospheric column of ozone over the West Pacific, the main source region for stratospheric air, and suggest a corresponding minimum of the tropospheric column of OH. Read more
Adapting to life: ocean biogeochemical modelling and adaptive remeshing Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-10-323-2014 9 May 2014 We present a novel method of simulating ocean biogeochemical behaviour on a vertically adaptive computational mesh, where the mesh changes in response to the biogeochemical and physical state of the system throughout the simulation. Read more
A general framework for understanding the response of the water cycle to global warming over land and ocean Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-18-1575-2014 6 May 2014 In an attempt to develop a simple framework for local-scale analysis we found that the climate model output shows a remarkably close relation to the long-standing Budyko framework of catchment hydrology. Read more
Modelling environmental influences on calving at Helheim Glacier in eastern Greenland The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-827-2014 6 May 2014 Calving is an important mass-loss process for many glaciers worldwide, and has been assumed to respond to a variety of environmental influences. We present a grounded, flowline tidewater glacier model using a physically-based calving mechanism, applied to Helheim Glacier, eastern Greenland. Read more
Effects of stratospheric ozone recovery on photochemistry and ozone air quality in the troposphere Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-4079-2014 23 April 2014 In this study, the authors examine the implications of stratospheric ozone recovery for the tropospheric chemistry and ozone air quality with a global chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem). Read more
Little Ice Age climate reconstruction from ensemble reanalysis of Alpine glacier fluctuations The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-639-2014 14 April 2014 Here the author analyses terminus position histories from an ensemble of seven glaciers in the Alps with a macroscopic model of glacier dynamics to derive a history of glacier equilibrium line altitude for the time span 400–2010 C.E. Read more
Earthquake-induced ground failures in Italy from a reviewed database Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-14-799-2014 10 April 2014 A database of earthquake-induced ground failures in Italy is presented, and the related content is analysed. The catalogue collects data regarding landslides, liquefaction, ground cracks, surface faulting and ground changes triggered by earthquakes of Mercalli epicentral intensity 8 or greater that occurred in the last millennium in Italy. Read more
Fracture-induced softening for large-scale ice dynamics The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-8-587-2014 8 April 2014 To account for the macroscopic effect of fracture processes on large-scale viscous ice dynamics (i.e., ice-shelf scale), the authors apply a continuum representation of fractures and related fracture growth into the prognostic Parallel Ice Sheet Model and compare the results to observations. Read more
Regional and inter-regional effects in evolving climate networks Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics DOI 10.5194/npg-21-451-2014 1 April 2014 In this study we identify the sources of the evolving network characteristics by considering a reduced-dimensionality description of the climate system using network nodes given by rotated principal component analysis. The time evolution of structures in local intra-component networks is studied and compared to evolving inter-component connectivity. Read more
Modelling global-scale climate impacts of the late Miocene Messinian Salinity Crisis Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-10-607-2014 25 March 2014 By running extreme, sensitivity-type experiments with a fully coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation model, this paper investigates the potential of various Messinian Salinity Crisis Mediterranean Outflow Water scenarios to impact global-scale climate. Read more
Further evidence of important environmental information content in red-to-green ratios as depicted in paintings by great masters Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-2987-2014 25 March 2014 In this paper, the authors examine sunsets painted by famous artists as proxy information for the aerosol optical depth after major volcanic eruptions. Read more
Characterization of submicron aerosols during a month of serious pollution in Beijing, 2013 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-2887-2014 20 March 2014 In January 2013, Beijing experienced several serious haze events. To achieve a better understanding of the characteristics, sources and processes of aerosols during this month, an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer was deployed at an urban site between 1 January and 1 February 2013 to obtain the size-resolved chemical composition of non-refractory submicron particles. Read more
Uncertainty analysis of projections of ozone-depleting substances: mixing ratios, EESC, ODPs, and GWPs Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-14-2757-2014 17 March 2014 Here the authors present a comprehensive uncertainty analysis of future mixing ratios of ozone-depleting substances (ODPs), levels of equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine (EESC), ozone depletion potentials, and global warming potentials (GWPs). Read more
The challenge of simulating the warmth of the mid-Miocene climatic optimum in CESM1 Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-10-523-2014 13 March 2014 In this paper, the authors use the recently released Community Earth System Model (CESM1.0) with a slab ocean to simulate the mid-Miocene climatic optimum, incorporating recent Miocene CO2 reconstructions of 400 ppm (parts per million). Read more
Subsurface pH and carbonate saturation state of aragonite on the Chinese side of the North Yellow Sea: seasonal variations and controls Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-11-1103-2014 26 February 2014 Based upon eight field surveys conducted between May 2011 and May 2012, we investigated seasonal variations in pH, carbonate saturation state of aragonite, and ancillary data on the Chinese side of the North Yellow Sea. Read more
Exploring local adaptation and the ocean acidification seascape – studies in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-11-1053-2014 24 February 2014 Here we present the OMEGAS strategy of co-locating sensors and oceanographic observations with biological studies on benthic marine invertebrates, specifically measurements of functional traits such as calcification-related processes and genetic variation in populations that are locally adapted to conditions in a particular region of the coast. Read more