Variations In Vertical Structure Research Articles

High‐Frequency Isotope Compositions Reveal Different Cloud‐Top and Vertical Stratiform Rainfall Structures in the Inland Tropics of Brazil

AbstractUnderstanding the key drivers controlling rainfall stable isotope variations in inland tropical regions remains a global challenge. We present novel high‐frequency isotope data (5–30 min intervals) to disentangle the evolution of six stratiform rainfall events (N = 112) during the passage of convective systems in inland Brazil (September 2019–June 2020). These systems produced stratiform rainfall of variable cloud features. Depleted stratiform events (δ18Oinitial ≤ −4.2‰ and δ18Omean ≤ −6.1‰) were characterized by cooler cloud‐top temperatures (≤−38°C), larger areas (≥48 km2), higher liquid‐ice ratios (≥3.1), and higher melting layer heights (≥3.8 km), compared to enriched stratiform events (δ18Oinitial ≥ −3.8‰ and δ18Omean ≥ −5.1‰). Cloud vertical structure variability was reflected in a wide range of δ18O temporal patterns and abrupt shifts in d‐excess. Our findings provide a new perspective to the ongoing debate about isotopic variability and the partitioning of rainfall types across the tropics.

Observational evidence of changing cloud macro-physical properties under warming climate over the Indian summer monsoon region

The cloud responses to global warming are captured in various global climate models with distinct inferences on changes in cloud vertical structure as function of surface warming. However, long term observational evidences are scarce to validate the model outputs. Here, we have studied the changes in radiosonde derived cloud macro-physical properties and their association with other atmospheric variables during the period 2000–2019 in response to warming climate over the Indian summer monsoon region. We have observed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of cloudy days (∼13 % decade−1), high-level clouds (HLCs ∼11 % decade−1) and simultaneous decrease in low-level clouds (LLCs ∼8 % decade−1) over the Indian region during the monsoon season. The multiple linear regression, principle component analyses and further correlation analyses suggest significant associations between cloud vertical structure variations and large-scale climate indicators, such as global warming and El Niño-Southern Oscillation. The vertical extension of the tropospheric column and the upward shift of clouds, attributed to global warming, explain the changes observed in both HLCs and LLCs. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between global climate change and regional cloud dynamics, with implications for weather and climate modeling.

Seasonal Variation in Vertical Structure for Stratiform Rain at Mêdog Site in Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Mêdog is located at the entrance of the water vapor channel of the Yarlung Tsangpo Great Canyon on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (TP). In this study, the seasonal variation in the microphysical vertical structure of stratiform precipitation at the Mêdog site in 2022 was investigated using micro rain radar (MRR) observations, as there is a lack of similar studies in this region. The average melting layer height is the lowest in February, after which it gradually increases, reaches its peak in August, and then gradually decreases. For lower rain categories, the vertical distribution of small drops remains uniform in winter below the melting layer. The medium-sized drops show slight increases, leading to negative gradients in the microphysical profiles. Slight or evident decreases in concentrations of small drops are observed with decreasing height in the premonsoon, monsoon, and postmonsoon seasons, likely due to significant evaporation. The radar reflectivity, rain rate, and liquid water content profiles decrease with decreasing height according to the decrease in concentrations of small drops. With increasing rain rate, the drop size distribution (DSD) displays significant variations in winter, and the fall velocity decreases rapidly with decreasing height. In the premonsoon, monsoon, and postmonsoon seasons, the concentrations of large drops significantly decrease below the melting layer because of the breakup mechanism, leading to the decreases in the fall velocity profiles with decreasing height during these seasons. Raindrops with sizes ranging from 0.3–0.5 mm are predominant in terms of the total drop number concentration in all seasons. Precipitation in winter and postmonsoon seasons is mainly characterized by small raindrops, while that in premonsoon and monsoon seasons mainly comprises medium-sized raindrops. Understanding the seasonal variation in the vertical structure of precipitation in Mêdog will improve the radar quantitative estimation and the use of microphysical parameterization schemes in numerical weather forecast models over the TP.

Global characteristics of cloud macro-physical properties from active satellite remote sensing

Based on the products of joint CloudSat and CALIPSO observations from 2006 to 2017, this study investigates the global cloud macro-physical characteristics, including the spatial differences in cloud height, cloud thickness, cloud type, and cloud phase, along with the spatial-temporal variations and the land-sea discrepancy of the cloud vertical structure variables according to the study areas. The results show that the cloud frequency is higher over oceans than over land globally, but the opposite is true for cloud systems with more than two layers. Seasonal variability of global-average total cloud fraction is small, but large among different latitudinal bands. The global spatial distributions of cloud top height (CTH) and cloud base height (CBH) are similar, showing larger cloud heights over the land than over the ocean. The low clouds are mostly located in the central subtropical region, with CTH among 2.5–7.5 km, While the high clouds are mainly distributed in the equatorial region with CTH about 10–15 km. Meanwhile, the regional and seasonal variability of cloud geometric thickness (CGT) in all study areas are small, and the average thickness of higher clouds is slightly larger than that of lower clouds. By categorizing the clouds into eight types, it was found that the frequency of cirrus (Ci) and stratocumulus (Sc) is higher, followed by altocumulus (Ac), altostratus (As), nimbostratus (Ns) and cumulus (Cu), and the frequency of stratus (St) and deep convective clouds (DC) is the lowest. In addition, the occurrence frequency of clouds in phases was ranked from high to low as ice clouds, liquid clouds and mixed-phase clouds. Ice clouds are concentrated in the tropics and mid-latitudes, and located almost symmetrically around the equator during Mar-Apr-May (MAM) and Sep-Oct-Nov (SON). Liquid clouds are mainly distributed around 30°S and 30°N with large seasonal variability, and their frequency is higher over the ocean than over the land. Mixed-phase clouds are concentrated in the middle and high latitudes, with much less occurring in the equatorial regions.

Flow measurement in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea

Oceanographic monitoring was conducted in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea to evaluate the physical structure of seawater and sea currents. This monitoring aimed to gather data and analyze the characteristics of the seawater, including temperature, salinity, density, and other relevant parameters. Additionally, the monitoring also focused on studying the patterns and dynamics of sea currents in the region. The collected data and analysis from this monitoring period provided valuable insights into the oceanographic conditions of the southern basin of the Caspian Sea. During storm events, a high level of correlation between the current and wind data was observed in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea during the 2017-2018 monitoring period. The measured current data indicated that the predominant directions were north (N) and northwest (NW). It was observed that strong gusts predominantly originated from the north (N) and northwest (NW) directions. Additionally, a smaller portion of the strong gusts was observed to come from the South-Southeast (S-SE) direction. These findings indicate that the prevailing wind patterns during the monitoring period were primarily from the north and northwest, with a lesser contribution from the South-Southeast direction. The current profiles observed during the monitoring period in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea were primarily influenced by the general circulation pattern of the region. This circulation pattern played a significant role in shaping the current profiles observed during the measurements. In terms of the surface current speed, the maximum recorded value was approximately 200 cm/s, which occurred in January. This indicates that there were instances of relatively high-speed currents in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea during that time. The evaluation of inter-annual variability in vertical structure and seawater temperature profiles during the monitoring period confirmed the presence of seasonal stratification in the water column of the southern basin of the Caspian Sea. This stratification was observed to consist of different layers, including the surface mixed layer, thermocline, and deep-water layers. The formation of these layers is indicative of the seasonal variations in temperature and density within the water column. The vertical changes in the water’s physical parameters during the monitoring period revealed the formation of stratification in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea. In March, it was observed that the water temperature decreased from 11.5°C at the surface to 8.5°C at a depth of 100 m, indicating the presence of a temperature gradient. As the monitoring progressed into May, the stratification became stronger, with the surface water temperature reaching around 23°C. By August, the surface layer of the sea water experienced a significant increase in temperature, reaching 29°C. These observations highlight the development of stratification and the seasonal variations in water temperature during the monitoring period in spring and summer seasons. The water temperature beneath the thermocline layer, specifically at a depth of 100 meters, was recorded to be around 8-8.5 oC. Additionally, the water salinity in the water column exhibited fluctuations between 12-12.5 (psu). Monitoring and understanding physical properties variations are crucial for assessing the oceanographic conditions and their potential impact on marine ecosystems in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea.

Contributions of Indo‐Pacific Forcings to Interannual Variability of the Indonesian Throughflow in the Upper and Lower Layers

AbstractThe paper uses reanalysis data and model outputs to quantify relative contributions of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) to the vertical structure variability of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) using multiple regression analysis. In comparing ENSO to IOD events, it becomes evident that ENSO plays a more significant role in ITF upper layer (0–300 m) transport, while the IOD has a greater impact on ITF lower layer (300–760 m) transport. Given the larger anomaly in ITF upper layer transport, ENSO dominates the interannual variability of ITF transport. Moreover, ITF transport is influenced by different physical processes associated with varying phases of ENSO and the IOD. The month‐by‐month contributions reveal that the IOD primarily controls ITF transport during El Niño development years, while ENSO has more influence during El Niño decaying years.

Exploring the influence of tree species richness on vertical structure variability in young plantations using terrestrial laser scanning

Forest structure spatially varies at the landscape-scale (between-plot) but also local-scale (within-plot). Both scales of structural variability have significant impacts on forest ecosystem functioning and stability. However, we still have a limited understanding of how tree species richness affects the spatial structural variability. In this study, we disentangled within- and between-plot variability in stand structural variables depending on tree species richness level. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology, capable of developing forest vertical structure in 3D detail, was applied in the FORBIO tree diversity experiment at three sites in Belgium. One site was 9-year old (Hechtel-Eksel) and other two sites were 11-year old (Zedelgem and Gedinne). Each site included five different sets of one, two, three, and four tree species mixtures with one replica. At each plot, four single scan locations were used. Six stand structural variables were quantified based on TLS vertical plant profiles. We hypothesized that within-plot structural variability would increase with species richness, but that the between-plot structural variability would decrease with species richness. Our study revealed notable differences in structural variability between monocultures and mixtures across all sites examined. However, the relationship between tree species richness and structural variability patterns is site-dependent. Specifically, at the Zedelgem site, we observed increased within-plot variability and decreased between-plot variability with species richness, supporting the hypothesis that species richness drives stand structural variability. However, the hypothesized pattern was not as strong at the Hechtel-Eksel and Gedinne sites. Moreover, the various structural variables displayed contrasting responses to changes in species richness. These findings indicated the potential influence of tree species richness on within- and between-plot structural variability in young plantations, particularly in favorable site conditions with well-adapted species pools. Hence, afforestation measures would benefit from planting multiple tree species to initiate structurally complex stands by considering species richness level.

Vegetation structure derived from airborne laser scanning to assess species distribution and habitat suitability: The way forward

AbstractEcosystem structure, especially vertical vegetation structure, is one of the six essential biodiversity variable classes and is an important aspect of habitat heterogeneity, affecting species distributions and diversity by providing shelter, foraging, and nesting sites. Point clouds from airborne laser scanning (ALS) can be used to derive such detailed information on vegetation structure. However, public agencies usually only provide digital elevation models, which do not provide information on vertical vegetation structure. Calculating vertical structure variables from ALS point clouds requires extensive data processing and remote sensing skills that most ecologists do not have. However, such information on vegetation structure is extremely valuable for many analyses of habitat use and species distribution. We here propose 10 variables that should be easily accessible to researchers and stakeholders through national data portals. In addition, we argue for a consistent selection of variables and their systematic testing, which would allow for continuous improvement of such a list to keep it up‐to‐date with the latest evidence. This initiative is particularly needed not only to advance ecological and biodiversity research by providing valuable open datasets but also to guide potential users in the face of increasing availability of global vegetation structure products.

Coronal vertical structure variations in normal branch of GX 17+2: AstroSat’s SXT and LAXPC perspective

ABSTRACT We performed spectro-temporal analysis in the 0.8–50 keV energy band of the neutron star Z source GX 17+2 using AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) data. The source was found to vary in the normal branch (NB) of the hardness–intensity diagram. Cross-correlation studies of LAXPC light curves in soft and hard X-ray band unveiled anticorrelated lags of the order of few hundred seconds. For the first time, cross-correlation studies were performed using SXT soft and LAXPC hard light curves and they exhibited correlated and anticorrelated lags of the order of a hundred seconds. Power density spectrum displayed normal branch oscillations (NBOs) of 6.7–7.8 Hz (quality factor 1.5–4.0). Spectral modelling resulted in inner disc radius of ∼12–16 km with Γ ∼ 2.31–2.44 indicating that disc is close to the innermost stable circular orbit and a similar value of disc radius was noticed based on the reflection model. Different methods were used to constrain the corona size in GX 17+2. Using the detected lags, corona size was found to be 27–46 km (β = 0.1, β = vcorona/vdisc) and 138–231 km (β = 0.5). Assuming the X-ray emission to be arising from the boundary layer (BL), its size was determined to be 57–71 km. Assuming that BL is ionizing the disc’s inner region, its size was constrained to ∼19–86 km. Using NBO frequency, the transition shell radius was found to be around 32 km. Observed lags and no movement of the inner disc front strongly indicate that the varying corona structure is causing the X-ray variation in the NB of Z source GX 17+2.

The Competitive Impact of Vertical Integration by Multiproduct Firms

We study the impact of vertical integration on pricing incentives in multiproduct industries. To do so, we exploit recent variation in vertical structure in the US carbonated-beverage industry. While the elimination of double marginalization with vertical integration is normally characterized as procompetitive, economic theory predicts that it may cause anticompetitive price increases in multiproduct industries. We indeed find that vertical integration causes price decreases in products with eliminated double margins but price increases in the other products sold by the integrated firm. These results provide new evidence of anticompetitive effects of vertical mergers. (JEL D22, D43, G34, L13, L22, L66)

Comparison of stand characteristic parameters and biomass estimations from light detection and ranging and structure-from-motion point clouds

The accurate estimation and inversion of stand characteristic parameters and biomass is the premise for the evaluation of forest productivity, forest ecosystem carbon storage, and ecological forest service capacity. The horizontal accuracies of structure from motion (SfM) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point clouds were identical, whereas the descriptions of the upper canopy indices were similar ( R = 0.91 to 0.93). However, the descriptions of the lower canopy indices and vertical structure variables were different based on comparisons of the two point cloud types in the same region. Variables that described the vertical structure of the canopy in the SfM point clouds were much less important in the factor estimation models, exhibiting high correlations with basal area and volume. The factor estimation models with high correlations with tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) exhibited similar importance for LiDAR variables. LiDAR ( R 2 = 0.515 to 0.895) was superior to SfM ( R 2 = 0.63 to 0.835) in estimating the same parameters, particularly those with high correlations with vertical structures. The combination of unmanned aerial vehicle aerial photogrammetry and LiDAR technology might enable the estimation of stand characteristic parameters and the inversion of biomass, as well as the estimation of characteristic parameters such as Lorey’s H and DBH, which are highly sensitive for large datasets. The LiDAR and SfM model outcomes were comparable. We found that the model outcomes exhibited the greatest differences for volume (ΔrRMSE % = 13.94 % ) and the lowest for average DBH (ΔrRMSE = 0.8 % )

Variability in vertical structure of precipitation with sea surface temperature over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal as inferred by Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission precipitation radar measurements

Abstract. Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar measurements are used to examine the variation in vertical structure of precipitation with sea surface temperature (SST) over the Arabian Sea (AS) and Bay of Bengal (BOB). The variation in reflectivity and precipitation echo top with SST is remarkable over the AS but small over the BOB. The reflectivity increases with SST (from 26 to 31 ∘C) by ∼1 and 4 dBZ above and below 6 km, respectively, over the AS, while its variation is <0.5 dBZ over the BOB. The transition from shallow storms at lower SSTs (≤27 ∘C) to deeper storms at higher SSTs is strongly associated with the decrease in stability and mid-tropospheric wind shear over the AS. In contrary, the storms are deeper at all SSTs over the BOB due to weaker stability and mid-tropospheric wind shear. At lower SSTs, the observed high aerosol optical depth (AOD) and low total column water (TCW) over AS results in the small cloud effective radius (CER) and weaker reflectivity. As SST increases, AOD decreases and TCW increases, leading to a large CER and high reflectivity. The changes in these parameters with SST are marginal over the BOB and hence the CER and reflectivity. The predominance of collision–coalescence process below the bright band is responsible for the observed negative slopes in the reflectivity over both the seas. The observed variations in reflectivity originate at the cloud formation stage over both the seas, and these variations are magnified during the descent of hydrometeors to the ground.

The evolution of an aerosol event observed from aircraft in Beijing: An insight into regional pollution transport

To investigate the transport and formation mechanism of pollution in Beijing, this study explored the vertical profiles of aerosol properties using aircraft measurement during a regional transport (RT) pollution event from 10th to 12th December 2016. The aerosol chemical composition and size distribution were characterized. Different vertical structures exhibited during three periods (defined as before RT, during RT, and after RT) for this pollution event. Before RT, PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) mass loading were at low level in the mixing layer (ML) when the clean northerly air mass dominated. During RT, an elevated aerosol layer, in which BC and PM2.5 mass concentrations were about 1.5 times higher than that at the ground level, was found in the upper ML (at 400–900 m) over Beijing. This elevated aerosol layer was advected by the prevailing southwesterly air mass which transported the pollutants from the intensively polluted southwestern region over Beijing. These aerosols through RT featured with pronounced secondary compositions and large coatings on BC particles. After RT, the pollutants were significantly diluted by the prevailing NW air mass, whereas the aerosol concentration almost maintained in the near surface, leading to notable vertical gradient. The continued surface pollution may result from the low wind speed and secondary aerosol formation in the next day. This study suggests that only the ground observation could not fully explain the pollution event, but the variation of vertical structure of aerosol properties should be considered to elucidate the formation mechanism of pollution over Beijing.

Analysis of the occurrence of wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula based on harmonised data from national forest inventories

Every year, about 280,000 ha of forest area burn in the Iberian Peninsula. Both countries national forest inventories were harmonised to provide consistent results of the influence of forest stand structure on fire probability. Results show that basal area and vertical structure variables are associated with fire probability; however, that association varies with forest composition. Deciduous oaks and pine forests showed opposite tendencies. Forest management could be oriented considering these results. Fuel variables, in particular the ones that characterise stand vertical structure, are extremely important to determine the occurrence and severity of fire. However, documentation on fire occurrences and stand characteristics is still scarce in southern Europe. In this study, we analyse the stand and structure variables from National Forest Inventories (NFIs) in order to identify the important ones that are associated with the presence/absence of wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula. A harmonised database including a characterization of the vertical structure of the stand and its species composition was obtained by combining data from NFIs from Spain and Portugal and data from burned areas that occurred between 2005 and 2015. Stand characteristics results show that the plots that were later burned have lower average stand basal area. For deciduous oaks, more canopy cover has less probability to burn, and for all the other oaks, in different degrees, more understory cover has higher probability to burn. Regarding pine species, more canopy cover has lower probability to burn. The results indicate important associations between stand variables and the presence/absence of wildfires that could support the forest management with the objective of reducing the probability of forest fires.

Vertical Integration With Multiproduct Firms: When Eliminating Double Marginalization May Hurt Consumers

How do vertical mergers impact consumers? Though often presumed to eliminate double marginalization and generate efficiencies, theory predicts that vertical integration in multiproduct industries may cause price changes that hurt consumers even in the absence of market foreclosure. We measure the causal effects of vertical integration on prices by exploiting variation in vertical structure caused by vertical mergers in the carbonated-beverage industry. We find that vertical integration caused a decrease in the prices of products with eliminated double margins, but a price increase on average, raising the question of whether consumers necessarily benefit from vertical mergers.

Temperature Control of the Variability of Tropical Tropopause Layer Cirrus Clouds

AbstractThis study examines the temperature control of variability of tropical tropopause layer (TTL) cirrus clouds (i.e., clouds with bases higher than 14.5 km) by using 8 years (2006–2014) of observations from the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) and Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC). It is found that the temporal variability of vertical structure of TTL cirrus cloud fraction averaged between 15°N and 15°S can be well explained by the vertical temperature gradient below ~17.5 km but by the local temperature above for both seasonal and interannual time scales. It is also found that the TTL cirrus cloud fraction at a given altitude is best correlated with the temperature at a higher altitude and this vertical displacement increases with a decrease of the cirrus altitude. It is shown that the TTL cirrus cloud fractions at all altitudes are significantly correlated with tropical cold point tropopause (CPT) temperature. The plausible mechanisms that might be responsible for the observed relations between TTL cirrus fraction and temperature‐based variables are discussed, which include ice particle sediments, cooling associated with wave propagations, change of atmospheric stability, and vertical gradient of water vapor mixing ratio. We further examine the spatial covariability of TTL total cirrus cloud fraction and CPT temperature for the interannual time scale. It is found that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and quasi‐biennial oscillation are the leading factors in controlling the spatial variability of the TTL cirrus clouds and temperatures.

Urban forest structure and land cover composition effects on land surface temperature in a semi-arid suburban area

Using multispectral imagery and LiDAR data, we developed a high-resolution land cover dataset for a semi-arid, Colorado (USA) suburb. These data were used to evaluate patterns of land cover composition and vertical structure in relation to land use and age of development. Landsat 5 TM thermal band data for six separate dates were used to compare land surface temperature (LST) in urbanized and remnant shortgrass steppe reference areas. We used 2010 census blocks to extract LST and various explanatory variables for use in Random Forest models evaluating the relative importance of land cover composition, LiDAR-derived vertical structure variables, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) on LST patterns.We found that land cover, vertical structure, and LST varied between areas with different land use and neighborhood age. Older neighborhoods supported significantly higher tree cover and mean tree height, but differences in LST were inconsistent between Landsat image dates. NDVI had the highest variable importance in Random Forests models, followed by tree height and the mean height difference between trees and buildings. Models incorporating NDVI, vertical structure, and land cover had the highest predictive accuracy but did not perform significantly better than models using just vertical structure and NDVI. Developed areas were cooler on average than shortgrass steppe reference areas, likely due to the influence of supplemental irrigation in urbanized areas. Patterns of LST were spatially variable, highlighting the complex ways land cover composition and vertical structure can affect urban temperature.

Effects of forest structure on natural regeneration of Excentrodendron hsienmu population in Southwest Guangxi, China.

The effects of forest vertical structural variables (crown index, tree height, and large and small tree proportions) and density variables (basal area, adult tree density, shrub density, shrub coverage, and Excentrodendron hsienmu proportion in the forest canopy) on the natural rege-neration of the typical E. hsienmu populations in the karst mountains of Southwest Guangxi, China were studied. The results showed that the average regeneration density of E. hsienmu populations was 1742-3861 trees·hm-2 and relatively low. Forest vertical structure and density variables did not significantly affect the number of E. hsienmu seedlings, but significantly affected seedling ground diameter and height to some extent. Among the vertical structure variables, a significant nega tive correlation was observed between crown index and seedling height, but the association between crown index and seedling ground diameter was not significant. The large tree proportion and tree height were significantly negatively correlated with both seedling ground diameter and height. However, the proportion of small trees was significantly positively related to both seedling ground diameter and height. Among the density variables, adult tree density showed a significant positive correlation with both seedling ground diameter and height. A significant negative association was observed between the proportion of E. hsienmu and seedling ground diameter. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the model based on stand structure factors showed a poor fitness with regard to the number of E. hsienmu seedlings (P>0.05), and the quantitative distribution of E. hsienmu seedlings was affected to some extent by vertical structural variables. The stand structure factor model fitted well for the diameter and height of the seedlings (P<0.01). Seedling ground diameter was mainly affected by adult tree density, and seedling height was mainly determined by the combined effects of adult tree density and basal area.

Relationships between landscape pattern metrics, vertical structure and surface urban Heat Island formation in a Colorado suburb

Change in land surface temperature (LST) due to urbanization is a critical influence on the ecohydrological function and human health in cities. Past research has emphasized land cover composition and planimetric landscape pattern as drivers of LST patterns, but there have been few empirical studies examining the effects of vertical structure on thermal variation in cities. We used agglomerative cluster analysis to group 5 ha grid cells with similar land cover composition from high-resolution land cover data for our Aurora, Colorado, USA study area. We then compared the importance of different planimetric landscape pattern metrics and lidar-derived vertical structure variables as predictors of LST estimated from Landsat 5 thermal band data for each group. Variation in LST between cluster groups was analyzed with landscape and vertical structure data using random forest regression models and conditional variable importance metrics. Cluster analysis produced 7 distinct groups differing in land cover composition, planimetric landscape pattern, and vertical structure. Clusters with greater tree cover and higher mean tree height were generally cooler, while the height difference between buildings and trees had high conditional variable importance in random forest regression models. We found that the specific planimetric landscape pattern and vertical structure metrics most important for individual clusters differed, suggesting that the relative importance of variables depends on land-use and land cover. Our results highlight the importance of including vertical structure in empirical analyses of urban LST.

Raindrop size distribution and vertical velocity characteristics in the rainband of Hurricane Bolaven (2012) observed by a 1290 MHz wind profiler

Microphysics and vertical velocity characteristics between weak and strong rainband regions of Hurricane Bolaven were investigated primarily from 1290MHz (UHF) wind profiler measurements on 27–28 August 2012. With a focus on regions with radar reflectivities greater than 30 dBZ below a melting level, raindrop size distributions (DSDs) and related rain parameters retrieved from profiler Doppler spectra were examined. Temporal variations in vertical structure and bright band from a widespread stratiform to a relatively narrow, intense rainband were examined as the rainbands move over the land in the southern coast of Korea. Based on vertical characteristics in radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and vertical air motion (w) profiles, the rainbands were classified into a stratiform (S) region with a strong bright band and mixed stratiform-convective (S-C) region with a weak or non-existent bright band. The retrieved w fields showed that updrafts were dominant in the mixed S-C region and downdrafts in the S region. More broad histograms in both radar reflectivity (Z) and mass-weighted mean diameter (Dm) were found in the S period. Compared to the Z distribution, rain rate (R) was more widely distributed in the mixed S-C region than in the S region. This is largely because R values were more variable in association with stronger updrafts in this region since they depend on fall velocities of raindrops. Higher R and smaller Dm mean values were analyzed within relatively strong updrafts in the mixed S-C period compared to those in the S period. Even when the w correction is applied, the mean Dm was still slightly smaller in the mixed S-C region, indicating that there is a relatively larger number of small drops than those in the S region.