Should we apply bias correction to global and regional climate model data? Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-16-3391-2012 21 September 2012 With this article, we advocate communicating the entire uncertainty range associated with climate change predictions openly and hope to stimulate a lively discussion on bias correction among the atmospheric and hydrological community and end users of climate change impact studies. Read more
Diurnal variations of organic molecular tracers and stable carbon isotopic composition in atmospheric aerosols over Mt. Tai in the North China Plain: an influence of biomass burning Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-12-8359-2012 18 September 2012 This study demonstrates that crop-residue burning activities can significantly enhance the organic aerosol loading and alter the organic composition and stable carbon isotopic composition of aerosol particles in the troposphere over the North China Plain. Read more
Incorporating student-centered approaches into catchment hydrology teaching: a review and synthesis Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-16-3263-2012 13 September 2012 As hydrologists confront the future of water resources on a globalized, resource-scarce and human-impacted planet, the educational preparation of future generations of water scientists becomes increasingly important. Read more
Occurrence of lower cloud albedo in ship tracks Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-12-8223-2012 12 September 2012 The concept of geoengineering by marine cloud brightening is based on seeding marine stratocumulus clouds with sub-micrometer sea-salt particles to enhance the cloud droplet number concentration and cloud albedo, thereby producing a climate cooling effect. The efficacy of this as a strategy for global cooling rests on the extent to which aerosol-perturbed marine clouds will respond with increased albedo. It is found that the sign (increase or decrease) and magnitude of the albedo response in ship tracks depends on the mesoscale cloud structure, the free tropospheric humidity, and cloud top height. Read more
Improving the active involvement of stakeholders and the public in flood risk management – tools of an involvement strategy and case study results from Austria, Germany and Italy Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-12-2785-2012 11 September 2012 This paper presents basic elements and the application of two innovative approaches as a part of an “involvement strategy” that aims at the active involvement of all interested parties (stakeholders) for assessing, reviewing and updating flood risk management plans, as formulated in the EU Flood Risk Management Directive 2007/60/EC. Read more
The carbon budget of terrestrial ecosystems in East Asia over the last two decades Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-9-3571-2012 7 September 2012 We estimate the current terrestrial carbon balance of East Asia and its driving mechanisms during 1990–2009 using three different approaches: inventories combined with satellite greenness measurements, terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle models and atmospheric inversion models. Read more
The “step feature” of suprathermal ion distributions: a discriminator between acceleration processes? Annales Geophysicae DOI 10.5194/angeo-30-1315-2012 5 September 2012 With this study, we draw the attention to the so-called “step feature” of the velocity distributions of suprathermal particles in the solar wind and offer a criterion that allows one to distinguish between those scenarios that employ velocity diffusion, i.e. second-order Fermi processes, which are prime candidates in the present debate. Read more
Water resources trends in Middle East and North Africa towards 2050 Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-16-3101-2012 3 September 2012 Changes in water resources availability can be expected as consequences of climate change, population growth, economic development and environmental considerations. A two-stage modeling approach is used to explore the impact of these changes in the Middle East and North Africa region. Read more
Tree height integrated into pantropical forest biomass estimates Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-9-3381-2012 27 August 2012 Aboveground tropical tree biomass and carbon storage estimates commonly ignore tree height (H). We estimate the effect of incorporating H on tropics-wide forest biomass estimates in 327 plots across four continents using 42 656 H and diameter measurements and harvested trees from 20 sites to answer various questions. Read more
A synthesis of carbon in international trade Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-9-3247-2012 23 August 2012 In a globalised world, the transfer of carbon between regions, either physically or embodied in production, represents a substantial fraction of global carbon emissions. The resulting emission transfers are important for balancing regional carbon budgets and for understanding the drivers of emissions. Read more