温室效应与21世纪全球气候

通过对二氧化碳的特性、分布及水汽交换等情况分析,表明大气中二氧化碳增加所引起的全球温度上升,仅比气候冷暖周期性变化的变暖期升温幅度稍高,到2030年大约全球气温上升0.6℃～1.0℃,之后全球气候又开始变冷。     

利用MM5模式对河西暴雪的数值模拟分析

利用NCEP资料和MM5模式模拟分析了2005年3月14-15日出现在甘肃河西西部的一次暴雪天气过程.结果表明:这次暴雪天气过程产生在从低空到高空的急流轴附近;由于600～500 hPa的辐合,促使形成近地面上升运动,从而使地面形成低压系统;相对湿度最大值在750～450 hPa之间,与辐合层基本一致,表明600 hPa附近有一条水汽输送通道,它与高空急流、500 hPa正涡度层、上升运动区等相吻合,为暴雪的产生提供了动力、热力和水汽条件.MM5模式很好地模拟出了暴雪的大致区域,显示了对这种中尺度天气系统具有较好的预报效果.     

四川盆地突发性暖区暴雨特征及环境场条件分析

本文统计了2012～2018年四川盆地在弱天气系统影响条件下出现的30次突发性暖区暴雨过程,按850hPa影响系统将其分为了偏东风型、偏南风型和低涡型3类,并利用地面自动站和实况探空观测资料统计了暴雨的时空分布特征和相关物理量阈值,利用ERA-Interim再分析资料对各类暴雨的环流平均场进行了分析。主要结论为:(1)偏东风型和偏南风型暴雨均出现在盆地西部,其中偏东风型雨带更靠近龙门山脉,低涡型暴雨主要出现在盆地南部,3类暴雨过程中的短时强降水具有明显的日变化特征,都是夜间增多,次日上午减少;(2)暖区暴雨临近时,500hPa四川盆地为西太平洋副热带高压外围的偏南或弱波动气流,700 hPa云贵至四川盆地为西南气流,850 hPa贵州至四川盆地为偏东或偏南气流,平均风速增大2～4m·s~(-1),暴雨主要出现在850hPa风速辐合及浅薄的低涡环流区域,在偏东风型暴雨过程中,龙门山地形的强迫抬升也起到了重要作用。(3)暖区暴雨发生在异常高能高湿的条件下,850 hPa平均比湿达16.8 g·kg~(-1)、CAPE平均值达1956 J·kg~(-1)、K指数平均值达40.1℃,显著高于气候平均值和一般暴雨过程。     

青藏高原东北侧突发性暴雨特征综合分析

对1970-2007年发生在青藏高原东北侧陕西的突发性暴雨研究发现,其夜间降水特点明显,对流层中层较强的偏南气流是突发性暴雨水汽输送贡献最大者和低层辐合的主要动力来源。偏南气流北伸的位置决定突发性暴雨落区偏南或偏北,300hPa一致的纬向12～20m·s-1强风速带为突发性暴雨提供高层抽吸作用。上述两点对突发性暴雨落区有一定的预报指示意义。云图分析显示,突发性暴雨多有中尺度云团配合,上升运动最大值的高度层与突发性暴雨落区地域位置有关。     

东北地区中北部的一次区域暴雨天气——中尺度对流复合体特征分析

自Maddox[1]发现中尺度对流复合体(MCC)以来,我国对其发生发展的大尺度天气条件已有了很多研究,但主要集中在长江流域及华北地区,在黑龙江省过去对暴雨天气的探讨很少涉及到MCC特征的分析.2006年8月10日,齐齐哈尔、绥化、大庆与哈尔滨市的西部县(市)及吉林西北部出现了雷暴及区域性暴雨甚至大暴雨,其中泰来1h的降雨量达到了105.3mm.通过对FY-2卫星云图、极轨卫星云图和相关资料的研究发现,此次黑龙江省西南部大范围的大暴雨天气由两个较典‘型的MCC造成,其特征与国内、外的研究结论相符:MCC发生在地面鞍形场中;MCC发生时对流层中低层有强烈的对流不稳定;MCC出现对流层中层500hPa的短波槽前;暴雨和雷暴天气发生区与MCC冷云相对应.     

2008年江苏持续性降雪中的水汽和动力抬升机制分析

2008年1月下旬江苏省出现了历史罕见的持续性暴雪过程,研究发现,降雪量的大小与低空急流的日变化相对应,暴雪过程中700 hPa西南急流对水汽的输送起着重要的作用,作为大尺度天气系统,700 hPa急流的加速发生在降雪量增大之前,其值阈大小与6 h降雪量之间没有对应关系,急流减弱在暴雪结束以后;降雪的发生和发展与南北风的增大和冷暖平流有关,低层偏北风作为冷垫对暖湿气流的抬升和水汽的凝结起到了一定的作用;江苏降雪过程中水汽主要来源于700～500 hPa,低层东风气流对黄海南部的水汽输送非常有限;强降雪的发生与700 hPa水汽通量散度相对应,水汽通量散度辐合增大,降雪量增大;在降雪过程中垂直运动对降雪量的大小有很好的指示意义。     

毛乌素沙漠东部边缘中β尺度暴雨和冰雹综合分析

利用多普勒雷达资料、Micaps系统提供的常规观测资料和物理量场,对2006年9月20日发生在毛乌素沙漠东部边缘的一次强对流天气过程进行了分析。结果表明:冰雹和暴雨是由两块呈块状的中β尺度强对流单体造成的;地面能量比中α尺度"Ω"系统的生成,为能量的积聚和集中释放提供了有利条件;地面能量比中β尺度能量比低值舌的生成,为强对流天气的发生提供了抬升触发机制;冰雹和暴雨发生前,涡度场和散度场的耦合、影响雹暴区次级环流的形成,为雹暴的发生维持提供了动力机制;850 hPa等压面上湿正压场和湿斜压场的配合、以及湿位涡的三维空间结构,对雹暴的发生及落区有指示意义;在多普勒雷达径向速度场上,雹暴运动的前方对流层低层有中气旋生成,雹暴运动的后方对流层低层有中反气旋生成,而对流层中高层有辐散生成,且超级单体特征明显。     

2011年陕西秋季强连阴雨天气的大气环流异常特征分析

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析了陕西2011年秋季强连阴雨期间的欧亚大气环流异常特征。结果表明:这次强连阴雨天气具有雨量大,暴雨范围广,站次多、降水集中等特点。欧亚500 hPa高度距平场"北高南低"的分布是这次强连阴雨天气产生的大气环流背景,500 hPa乌拉尔山到中亚阻塞高压稳定维持,脊前偏北气流引导冷空气从贝加尔湖与巴尔喀什湖之间的蒙新高地南下,在贝加尔湖与巴尔喀什湖之间形成一条冷舌,同时西太平洋副热带高压稳定,强度偏强,冷空气在东移南下过程中,在秦岭山脉附近与西太平洋副热带高压外围暖湿气流持续交汇,对流层低层秦岭山脉及其邻近地区有较常年同期明显偏强的上升气流,700 hPa流场台湾岛以东气旋性环流的异常维持,偏强的华南偏东气流和高原东侧偏南气流为陕西持续性强降水或连阴雨天气中暴雨发生发展输送了充足水汽。这种环流分布有利于陕西持续性强降水天气产生与维持。而西太平洋副热带高压稳定与副热带急流中心入口右前方动力强迫作用激发的垂直运动,也为陕西强连阴雨中强降水天气产生提供了有利动力环境场。     

黑龙江省夏季干旱气候特征及成因分析

利用1954-2009年气候实测资料,分析了黑龙江省干旱发生的气候特征。结果表明,20世纪70年代与21世纪初的近10年为干旱盛行时期,尤其是2000年后至今,平均每2年发生一次干旱。大部分年份的干旱发生在拉尼娜事件或赤道东太平洋为冷水位相,副高较弱及偏东和北界偏北。从500hPa环流特点表明,东亚区盛行-、+、-距平场型式;冷空气偏向乌拉尔北部泰米尔至新地岛,黑龙江处在西风带高脊或高脊与副高结合体控制之下,维持高温少雨造成干旱。选取副高强、厄尔尼诺发生的年份的干旱典型年2004年。恰与过去年份发生的低温多雨形势相反,盛行-、+、-距平场型式,造成干旱。从旱年的水汽输送环境来看,来自欧亚大陆40°～50°N与孟加拉弯和南海的水汽输送通道,明显减弱或消失。     

水汽和风速对雾霾中PM2.5/PM10变化的影响

依据北京2013年PM2.5/PM10、GPS水汽和无线电探空风速资料,发现水汽变化与PM2.5/PM10变化呈正相关,风速变化与PM2.5/PM10变化呈负相关。在风速较小情况下,水汽变化与PM2.5/PM10变化呈显著正相关,水汽上升对应了GPS水汽变化与PM2.5/PM10质量浓度的上升,水汽下降则对应了PM2.5/PM10质量浓度的下降。分析了水汽与PM2.5/PM10变化显著正相关的原因。     

Cholera in Sudan: An account of an epidemic in a refugee camp in eastern Sudan, May-June 1985

In 1985 cholera has been a serious problem in the horn of Africa, particularly affecting the many famine victims and refugees in that region. In this paper the history of cholera in Africa is briefly summarized, as is the background to the current refugee situation in eastern Sudan. A cholera epidemic involving 1,175 cases in two adjacent refugee camps in eastern Sudan is described. In this epidemic there were thirteen inpatient deaths and thirty-eight known home deaths from cholera. The management of the epidemic is described in detail. Overall an average of 8 1. of intravenous fluid was used per case, a higher figure than was anticipated, probably because of the unexpected degree of vomiting and the shortage of trained nursing staff.
The relationship between cholera and malnutrition is explored and hypochlorhydria is suggested as the main reason for the increased susceptibility to cholera among malnourished populations. It was observed that severely malnourished adults and children appeared to nave less severe diarrhoea with their cholera, presumably because of reduced mucosal surface area and poor enterocyte function. Finally possible means of aborting cholera epidemics are discussed.     

A retrospective statistical review of deaths owing to migration through the southeasternmost land borders of the European Union,Greece 2000–14

The land borders of Evros, Greece, have been a common entry point for undocumented migrants on their way to Europe through Turkey. Adverse conditions, however, have resulted in many human casualties over the years. On the Greek side, 334 cadavers were retrieved between 2000 and 2014. This study provides a detailed forensic account of the humanitarian disaster in Evros to create an official scientific record of the situation. It showcases the gravity of the global issue of migration relating to health and mortality, and encourages communication and continual improvement of the approach and patterns of practices surrounding the subject. A retrospective statistical research review was conducted of border‐related fatalities between 2000 and 2014, assessing the age and gender of victims, the cause of death, the location of bodies, identification rates, and country of origin. Age ranged generally from 24 to 29 years, but infants and children were among the deceased.     

Complexity,continuity and change: livelihood resilience in the Darfur region of Sudan

Darfur farming and pastoralist livelihoods are both adaptations to the environmental variability that characterises the region. This article describes this adaptation and the longer‐term transformation of these specialised livelihoods from the perspective of local communities. Over several decades farmers and herders have experienced a continuous stream of climate, conflict and other shocks, which, combined with wider processes of change, have transformed livelihoods and undermined livelihood institutions. Their well‐rehearsed specialist strategies are now combined with new strategies to cope. These responses help people get by in the short term but risk antagonising not only their specialist strategies but also those of others. A combination of factors has undermined the former integration between farming and pastoralism and their livelihood institutions. Efforts to build resilience in similar contexts must take a long‐term view of livelihood adaptation as a specialisation, and consider the implications of new strategies for the continuity and integration of livelihood specialisations.     

The cultural politics of mining and natural disaster in Indonesia: by fire and sword

Natural disasters are inevitably the outcome of cultural agonisms. The cultural politics of natural disasters are shaped by competing claims and conceptions of ‘nature’. Recent disasters in Indonesia are directly linked to these contending conceptions and the ways in which different social groups imagine risk and reward. The Sidoarjo volcanic mudflow of 2006 represents a volatile and violent exemplar of contending cultural and economic claims. Like other disasters in Indonesia and elsewhere in the developing world, this ‘natural’ disaster is characterised by differing conceptions of ‘nature’ as cultural tradition, divine force, and natural resource. A new extractive project in East Java is exhibiting similar economic and cultural agonisms, particularly around the notion of development, environment, self‐determination, and tradition. This paper examines the ‘disputes over meaning’ associated with natural disasters in contemporary societies, and the ways in which they are related to human culture, social organisation, and hierarchical systems of violence.     

Risk communication in emergency response to a simulated extreme flood

Risk communication in flood incident management can be improved through developing hydrometeorological and engineering models used as tools for communicating risk between scientists and emergency management professionals. A range of such models and tools was evaluated by participating flood emergency managers during a 4-day, real-time simulation of an extreme event in the Thamesmead area in the Thames estuary close to London, England. Emergency managers have different communication needs and value new tools differently, but the indications are that a range of new tools could be beneficial in flood incident management. Provided they are communicated large model uncertainties are not necessarily unwelcome among flood emergency managers. Even so they are cautious about sharing the ownership of weather and flood modelling uncertainties.     

Fiji, land of tropical cyclones and hurricanes: A case study of agricultural rehabilitation

Tropical cyclones and hurricanes have a severe impact on the social and economic activities of affected communities. For small island nations in the Pacific region, the effects can be devastating because of their smallness. FQi and several other countries in the region are vulnerable to such disasters as they are situated in the zone where cyclones occur frequently.
During the last decade, the frequency of natural disasters and their adverse impact on die economic and social development of small nations like Fiji, has aroused awareness mat relief efforts must go beyond immediate "mopping up" operations to those which contribute to attaining longer term benefits through reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The paper outlines the 1985 agricultural rehabilitation program and discusses related issues and problems.     

The ethical contours of research in crisis settings: five practical considerations for academic institutional review boards and researchers

The number of research studies in the humanitarian field is rising. It is imperative, therefore, that institutional review boards (IRBs) consider carefully the additional risks present in crisis contexts to ensure that the highest ethical standards are upheld. Ethical guidelines should represent better the specific issues inherent to research among populations grappling with armed conflict, disasters triggered by natural hazards, or health‐related emergencies. This paper seeks to describe five issues particular to humanitarian settings that IRBs should deliberate and on which they should provide recommendations to overcome associated challenges: staged reviews of protocols in acute emergencies; flexible reviews of modification requests; addressing violence and the traumatic experiences of participants; difficulties in attaining meaningful informed consent among populations dependent on aid; and ensuring reviews are knowledgeable of populations' needs. Considering these matters when reviewing protocols will yield more ethically sound research in humanitarian settings and hold researchers accountable to appropriate ethical standards.     

The need to look beyond the production and provision of relief seed: experiences from southern Sudan

Free distribution of seeds in selected areas of southern Sudan has been widespread as a way of increasing food security. Field research in areas targeted for seed relief found that farmer seed systems continue to meet the crop and varietal needs of farmers even following the 1998 famine. Donor investments in seed multiplication of improved sorghum have not been sustained due to a lack of effective demand for the improved seed beyond that created by the relief agencies. The article argues that rather than imposing outside solutions, whether through seed provisioning or seed production enterprises, greater attention needs to be given to building on the strengths of existing farmer systems and designing interventions to alleviate the weaknesses. The case is made to support dynamically the process of farmer experimentation through the informed introduction of new crops and varieties that can potentially reinforce the strength and diversity of local cropping systems.     

Social capital and food security in post-conflict rural Lira District,northern Uganda

While a strong relationship has been established between social capital and food security in the research literature, it is uncertain whether this holds in post-conflict situations. This study examines associations between social capital and food security in post-conflict Lira District, northern Uganda. Since factors affecting food security are complex, we explored the roles of households' characteristics in food security outcomes. Data were collected from March to July 2011 through face-to-face interviews with 221 heads of household in rural Lira. Using multinomial logistic regression, a strong positive association was identified between social capital and household food security. The study also found significant associations of food security with sex, education of household head, amount of cultivated land, and farm and home possessions. The results of this analysis can aid the design of food security programmes that empower poor people while targeting the most vulnerable groups, thereby promoting sustainable development in post-conflict communities.