An anthropogenic signal in Phoenix, Arizona winter precipitation   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Bohumil M. Svoma  Robert C. Balling Jr 《Theoretical and Applied Climatology》2009,98(3-4):315-321

Many other investigators have shown pronounced weekly cycles in atmospheric composition, particularly in large urban settings. A substantial body of literature shows that the varying concentrations of fine atmospheric aerosols (particulate matter (PM)_2.5) impact precipitation processes; generally, higher concentrations of these aerosols tend to depress winter precipitation especially in short-lived, shallow, and orographic clouds. Phoenix, Arizona has a large population relying heavily on motor vehicles as the primary means of transportation. This results in a strong weekly cycle of PM_2.5 concentrations with a maximum on Wednesday and Thursday and a distinctive minimum on the weekend. To determine any influence on rainfall, we analyze daily precipitation records from 291 stations in the Phoenix area and find a strong weekly cycle in winter precipitation frequencies with maximum values on Sunday and minimum values on Thursday. The weekly cycle in precipitation frequency strengthens slightly moving eastward (downwind) across the metropolitan area as well as with increasing proximity to the metropolitan area. These results strongly suggest that human activity is influencing winter precipitation primarily by the suppressing effect of PM_2.5.  相似文献   

CONSTABLE: A SIMPLE ONE-DIMENSIONAL CLIMATE MODEL FOR CLIMATOLOGISTS IN GEOGRAPHY     

Randall S. Cerveny  Robert C. Balling 《The Professional geographer》1984,36(2):188-196

A one-dimensional global climate model is constructed from both the basic energy balance equation for the earth-atmosphere system and the planetary boundary layer equations of motion. The theoretically based model accurately simulates many features of the present climate system and appears useful in evaluating various climatic change mechanisms. The simplicity of this process-response model increases its educational and research applicability for climatologists in geography.  相似文献   

Spatial and temporal analysis of Middle Eastern temperature changes     

Hassan A. Nasrallah  Robert C. Balling Jr. 《Climatic change》1993,25(2):153-161

The intense interest in the greenhouse effect has stimulated detailed studies of temperature records in North America, Europe, and Australia. In this investigation, the temperature records from the Middle East region (defined here as the land area extending from Morocco to Afghanistan) are investigated over the period 1950–1990. Results reveal a linear, statistically significant, temperature increase of 0.07°C per decade over the study area that may or may not be associated with the concurrent rise in equivalent carbon dioxide from approximately 350 ppm to 430 ppm. Seasonal analyses reveal that most of this increase has occurred in the spring season, moderate amounts of warming occurred in the summer and fall seasons, and virtually no warming has occurred in the winter months. An analysis of spatial controls on these temperature changes reveals a general cooling effect associated with the atmospheric sulfate levels and a warming effect associated with the degree of human-induced desertification. The results of this study may prove useful to policymakers in the Middle East who are confronted with many difficult decisions regarding highly interrelated global warming and energy issues.  相似文献   

Measuring the effect of overgrazing in the Sonoran Desert   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

Nevin A. Bryant  Lee F. Johnson  Anthony J. Brazel  Robert C. Balling  Charles F. Hutchinson  Louisa R. Beck 《Climatic change》1990,17(2-3):243-264

Long term overgrazing in Mexico has caused a sharp discontinuity in vegetative cover along the international border in the semi-arid Sonoran Desert. The United States side, protected from overgrazing by the Taylor Act since 1934, exhibits longer, more plentiful grasses and less bare soil than adjoining Mexican lands. Satellite- and ground-based datasets were used in a multi-scale examination of the differential radiative and reflective characteristics of the two regimes. The more exposed Mexican landscape dries more rapidly than the United States following summer convective precipitation. After about three days, depletion of soil moisture evokes a period of higher surface and air temperatures in Mexico. Good correspondence was found between remote and in situ measures of surface temperature and biomass.  相似文献   

The climatic impact of a Sonoran vegetation discontinuity   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Robert C. Balling Jr. 《Climatic change》1988,13(1):99-109

The international fence separating Mexico and the United States is marked by a sharp vegetation discontinuity in the Sonoran Desert. Due to overgrazing, the Mexican side of the border has shorter grasses, more bare soil, and a higher albedo compared to the adjacent lands in the United States. In this investigation, long-term climate records are analyzed to determine the magnitude of any climatic differences associated with the spatial variation in the vegetation regime. The results suggest that summertime maximum temperatures recorded at the Mexican stations are significantly higher (by nearly 2.5 °C) than the Arizona stations when latitude and elevation are held constant. When only elevation is held constant, the difference in the maximum temperature jumps to approximately 4 dgC. No discernible changes in monthly and/or summer season precipitation could be identified in the records. These findings add support to other site-specific field measurements suggesting warming in desert areas where vegetation cover is decreasing and albedo is increasing.  相似文献   

Recent changes in smoke/haze events in Phoenix,Arizona     

A. J. Brazel  S. W. Brazel  R. C. Balling Jr. 《Theoretical and Applied Climatology》1988,39(2):108-113

Summary The recent explosive population growth in Phoenix, Arizona is forcing policy-makers to develop an increased understanding of air quality meteorology in the desert setting. In this investigation, the long-term smoke/haze data base from Phoenix is analyzed to determine the magnitude of temporal changes in smoke/haze frequencies and durations. The results reveal no changes in smoke/haze frequency and intensity, but significant increases in the duration of these events. The findings appear to be related to the impact of the growing urban heat island on the structure of local inversion layers. The results suggest a link between urban-induced temperature and wind changes and air quality levels within a growing metropolitan area.

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Zusammenfassung Das zuletzt explosive Bevölkerungswachstum in Phoenix/Arizona zwingt Politiker dazu, der Meteorologie der Luftbeschaffenheit im Wüstenraum gesteigerte Aufmerksamkeit zu widmen. In vorliegender Studie werden die Langzeitdaten von Rauch/Dunst in Phoenix analysiert, um das Ausmaß zeitlicher Veränderungen in Häufigkeit und Dauer des Auftretens von Rauch/Dunst zu bestimmen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß sich zwar die Häufigkeit und Intensität von Rauch/Dunst nicht geändert haben; wohl aber die Dauer ihres Auftretens. Diese Ergebnisse scheinen auf einen Einfluß der wachsenden urbanen Wärmeinsel auf die Struktur der örtlichen Inversionsschichten hinzuweisen. Die Resultate lassen auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen städtisch bedingten Temperatur-und Windveränderungen und unterschiedlicher Luftqualität über wachsenden städtischen Ballungsräumen schließen.

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With 2 Figures  相似文献   

Recent changes in Phoenix,Arizona summertime diurnal precipitation patterns     

R. C. Balling Jr.  S. W. Brazel 《Theoretical and Applied Climatology》1987,38(1):50-54

Summary Summertime diurnal precipitation patterns for Phoenix, Arizona are analyzed for the period 1954 through 1985. Although the mean precipitation amounts and frequencies for the entire summer monsoon season have not shown any significant effects from the rapidly developing urban heat island, diurnal patterns have displayed substantial changes in the recent period of explosive population growth. During the most recent 16 years, late afternoon and evening storms have become more frequent and produce greater rainfall totals. Sharp declines are noted in the frequency of rain events between midnight and noon; especially large drops occur in the rainfall amounts between 9.00 and 12.00 MST. These findings appear to be consistent with several mechanisms proposed to explain the unusual diurnal character of the summertime rainfall in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

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Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird der sommerliche Tagesgang des Niederschlags für Phönix, Arizona, analysiert.Obwohl keine signifikante Beeinflussung der durchschnittlichen Niederschlagsmengen und -häufigkeiten über die gesamte Sommermonsunzeit durch die rasch anwachsende städtische Wärmeinsel zu verzeichnen ist, weisen die Tagesgänge in der jüngsten Zeit explosiven Bevölkerungswachstums substantielle Veränderungen auf. In den vergangenen 16 Jahren sind Unwetter spätnachmittags und abends häufiger geworden und führten zu einer größeren Niederschlagssumme. Eine starke Abnahme der Regenfälle zwischen Mitternacht und Mittag ist zu verzeichnen; bei Regenfällen zwischen 9.00 und 12.00 MST ist der Rückgang besonders deutlich.Wie sich zeigt, stehen diese Beobachtungen im Einklang mit einigen Mechanismen, die zur Erklärung der ungewöhnlichen Tagesverteilung der sommerlichen Regenfälle über Phönix, Arizona, angeführt werden.

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Spatial patterns of diurnal variations in summer-season lightning activity across the tropical and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemispheric Americas     

Shouraseni Sen Roy  Robert C. Balling Jr. 《Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics》2013,121(3-4):199-206

Hourly lightning data were obtained from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission dataset collected through the Lightning Imaging Sensor instrument from 1998 to 2011 to analyze the diurnal pattern of lightning activity in the tropical and subtropical northern hemispheric Americas. The majority of the lightning strikes occurred over land, with relatively lower strike rates over the oceanic areas. The results of our studies showed substantial spatial variations in the time of maximum and strength of the diurnal cycle in the study area. A clockwise progression in the time of maximum was observed across most of the study area, particularly over North America where an east–west orientation was observed. The findings of our study were mainly a result of the interaction between local topography such as the Andes and Rocky mountains, and surface level atmospheric circulations. The strength of the observed diurnal cycle was greatest in the Gulf of Mexico region.  相似文献