Process-evaluation of tropospheric humidity simulated by general circulation models using water vapor isotopologues: 1. comparison between models and observations

[1] The goal of this study is to determine how H2O and HDO measurements in water vapor can be used to detect and diagnose biases in the representation of processes controlling tropospheric humidity in atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs). We analyze a large number of isotopic data sets (four satellite, sixteen ground-based remote-sensing, five surface in situ and three aircraft data sets) that are sensitive to different altitudes throughout the free troposphere. Despite significant differences between data sets, we identify some observed HDO/H2O characteristics that are robust across data sets and that can be used to evaluate models. We evaluate the isotopic GCM LMDZ, accounting for the effects of spatiotemporal sampling and instrument sensitivity. We find that LMDZ reproduces the spatial patterns in the lower and mid troposphere remarkably well. However, it underestimates the amplitude of seasonal variations in isotopic composition at all levels in the subtropics and in midlatitudes, and this bias is consistent across all data sets. LMDZ also underestimates the observed meridional isotopic gradient and the contrast between dry and convective tropical regions compared to satellite data sets. Comparison with six other isotope-enabled GCMs from the SWING2 project shows that biases exhibited by LMDZ are common to all models. The SWING2 GCMs show a very large spread in isotopic behavior that is not obviously related to that of humidity, suggesting water vapor isotopic measurements could be used to expose model shortcomings. In a companion paper, the isotopic differences between models are interpreted in terms of biases in the representation of processes controlling humidity

Gesundheitsförderung für und mit Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen : wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse und Empfehlungen für die Praxis

Die Zielgruppe der Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen ist im Kontext der Corona-Pandemie in den Fokus gerückt. Wie wichtig es ist, die Gesundheit der Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen zu fördern, wird durch diese Fokussierung betont. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es wichtig, die wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen als Basis für wirksame Massnahmen und Interventionen zu aktualisieren. So ist sichergestellt, dass die Grundlage für Programme und Projekte auf dem neuesten Stand ist. Der vorliegende Bericht zeigt, weshalb sich ein Engagement für die Gesundheit von Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen lohnt. Aufbauend auf wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen wird gezeigt, warum die Themen Bewegung, Ernährung und psychische Gesundheit wichtige Pfeiler für die Gesundheit im Jugend- und jungen Erwachsenenalter sind. Es werden Interventionen und bewährte Handlungsansätze und Empfehlungen vorgestellt. Autorinnen und Autoren: Kapitel 1 Einleitung und Kapitel 10 Schlussfolgerungen: Dr. phil. Fabienne Amstad Kapitel 2 Lebensphase: Prof. Dr. med. Joan-Carles Suris, Dr. Yara Barrense-Dias Kapitel 3 Grundlagen: Prof. Dr. med. Julia Dratva, Matthias Meyer, dipl. SozÖk, Prof. Dr. phil. Karin Nordström Kapitel 4 Chancengleichheit: lic. phil. Dominik Weber Kapitel 5 Medien: MSc Jael Bernath, Prof. Dr. Daniel Süss Kapitel 6 Bewegung: Prof. Dr. Suzanne Suggs Kapitel 7 Ernährung: Dr. Sophie Bucher Della Torre Kapitel 8 Psychische Gesundheit: Prof. Dr. Frank Wieber, Prof. Dr. Agnes von Wyl, Dr. Annina Zysset Kapitel 9 Zusammenspiel: MSc Ronia Schiftan, MSc Anne-Françoise Wittgenstein Man

Validation of MIPAS ClONO2 measurements

Altitude profiles of ClONO2 retrieved with the IMK (Institut fur Meteorologie und Klimaforschung) science-oriented data processor from MIPAS/Envisat (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding on Envisat) mid-infrared limb emission measurements between July 2002 and March 2004 have been validated by comparison with balloon-borne (Mark IV, FIRS2, MIPAS-B), airborne (MIPAS-STR), ground-based (Spitsbergen, Thule, Kiruna, Harestua, Jungfraujoch, Izana, Wollongong, Lauder), and spaceborne (ACE-FTS) observations. With few exceptions we found very good agreement between these instruments and MIPAS with no evidence for any bias in most cases and altitude regions. For balloon-borne measurements typical absolute mean differences are below 0.05 ppbv over the whole altitude range from 10 to 39 km. In case of ACE-FTS observations mean differences are below 0.03 ppbv for observations below 26 km. Above this altitude the comparison with ACE-FTS is affected by the photochemically induced diurnal variation of ClONO2. Correction for this by use of a chemical transport model led to an overcompensation of the photochemical effect by up to 0.1 ppbv at altitudes of 30-35 km in case of MIPAS-ACE-FTS comparisons while for the balloon-borne observations no such inconsistency has been detected. The comparison of MIPAS derived total column amounts with ground-based observations revealed no significant bias in the MIPAS data. Mean differences between MIPAS and FTIR column abundances are 0.11 +/- 0.12 x 10(14) cm(-2) (1.0 +/- 1.1%) and -0.09 +/- 0.19 x 10(14) cm(-2) (-0.8 +/- 1.7%), depending on the coincidence criterion applied. chi(2) tests have been performed to assess the combined precision estimates of MIPAS and the related instruments. When no exact coincidences were available as in case of MIPAS-FTIR or MIPAS-ACE-FTS comparisons it has been necessary to take into consideration a coincidence error term to account for chi(2) deviations. From the resulting chi(2) profiles there is no evidence for a systematic over/underestimation of the MIPAS random error analysis.Peer reviewe

Process-evaluation of tropospheric humidity simulated by general circulation models using water vapor isotopic observations: 2. Using isotopic diagnostics to understand the mid and upper tropospheric moist bias in the tropics and subtropics

Evaluating the representation of processes controlling tropical and subtropical tropospheric relative humidity (RH) in atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) is crucial to assess the credibility of predicted climate changes. GCMs have long exhibited a moist bias in the tropical and subtropical mid and upper troposphere, which could be due to the mis-representation of cloud processes or of the large-scale circulation, or to excessive diffusion during water vapor transport. The goal of this study is to use observations of the water vapor isotopic ratio to understand the cause of this bias. We compare the three-dimensional distribution of the water vapor isotopic ratio measured from space and ground to that simulated by several versions of the isotopic GCM LMDZ. We show that the combined evaluation of RH and of the water vapor isotopic composition makes it possible to discriminate the most likely cause of RH biases. Models characterized either by an excessive vertical diffusion, an excessive convective detrainment or an underestimated in situ cloud condensation will all produce a moist bias in the free troposphere. However, only an excessive vertical diffusion can lead to a reversed seasonality of the free tropospheric isotopic composition in the subtropics compared to observations. Comparing seven isotopic GCMs suggests that the moist bias found in many GCMs in the mid and upper troposphere most frequently results from an excessive diffusion during vertical water vapor transport. This study demonstrates the added value of water vapor isotopic measurements for interpreting shortcomings in the simulation of RH by climate models

Prävalenz von osteochondrotischen Veränderungen in den Epiphysenfugen der Ossa metatarsalia bei Schweizer Maststieren

The prevalence of osteochondral changes in the metatarsal growth plates of fattening bulls was investigated. Plantarodorsal radiographic views of the metatarsal region of 204 hind legs from 102 slaughtered fattening bulls were taken. Radiographic lesions in metatarsal growth plates were confirmed in selected cases using computed tomography (n=14) and histology (n=6). Radiographic criteria for growth plate lesions were axis deviations between the metatarsal bones and the digit, radiolucencies in the growth plate, increased bone density in the metaphysis, irregularities of the growth plate and marginal osteophytes («lipping»). The individual lesions were categorised as present/absent or 1 = slight, 2 = distinct, and 3 = severe. A weighted sum of these radiographic changes was generated for each growth plate and for each animal, and used for statistical analysis of the associations between husbandry factors and the occurrence of lesions. Almost all of the metatarsal bones had signs of osteochondral changes on the radiographs of the growth plates. The most common lesions were lipping (99,5 %), increased bone density in the metaphysis (66,6 %) and radiolucencies in the growth plates (64,1 %). Computed tomography and histology revealed hyperplasia of the margins of the epiphysis and metaphysis, focal increase in bone deposits accompanied by incomplete ossification and irregular and widened cartilage columns of the growth plate. There were statistically significant associations between the weighted radiographic changes and slaughter weight, average daily weight gain, husbandry practices and production label. The prevalence of radiographic lesions indicative for osteochondrosis of the metatarsal growth plates of fattening bulls slaughtered at a local abattoir was high. The extent to which the distinct and severe lesions are associated with reduced production and obvious clinical lameness requires further study

Derivation of tropospheric methane from TCCON CH4and HF total column observations

The Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) is a global ground-based network of Fourier transform spectrometers that produce precise measurements of column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of atmospheric methane (CH4). Temporal variability in the total column of CH4 due to stratospheric dynamics obscures fluctuations and trends driven by tropospheric transport and local surface fluxes that are critical for understanding CH4 sources and sinks. We reduce the contribution of stratospheric variability from the total column average by subtracting an estimate of the stratospheric CH4 derived from simultaneous measurements of hydrogen fluoride (HF). HF provides a proxy for stratospheric CH4 because it is strongly correlated to CH4 in the stratosphere, has an accurately known tropospheric abundance (of zero), and is measured at most TCCON stations. The stratospheric partial column of CH4 is calculated as a function of the zonal and annual trends in the relationship between CH4 and HF in the stratosphere, which we determine from ACE-FTS satellite data. We also explicitly take into account the CH4 column averaging kernel to estimate the contribution of stratospheric CH4 to the total column. The resulting tropospheric CH4 columns are consistent with in situ aircraft measurements and augment existing observations in the troposphere

On the line parameters for the X 1sigma+g (1–0) infrared quadrupolar transitions of 14N2

Re-examination of the 14N2 X 1sigma+g (1–0) line parameters in the HITRAN database showed that the vibration–rotation interaction effect on the line intensities has been neglected, and that the halfwidths are not compatible with experimental and theoretical studies. New line parameters have been generated, which improve the consistency and accuracy in individual N2 line retrievals from atmospheric spectra. Unresolved line shape issues require further studies

Langfristszenarien für die Transformation des Energiesystems in Deutschland. Modul 1: Hintergrund, Szenarioarchitektur und übergeordnete Rahmenparameter: Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie

Im Modul 1 werden der Hintergrund und die Szenarioarchitektur der Langfristszenarien erläutert. Ferner werden nach einem kurzen Überblick über die Methodik zentrale Rahmendaten und -annahmen wie die fossilen Brennstoffpreise und die Bevölkerungsentwicklung dargestellt. Zudem wird das Biomassepotenzial abgeleitet, das energetisch genutzt werden kann und der Modellierung der Szenarien zugrunde liegt

Langfristszenarien für die Transformation des Energiesystems in Deutschland. Modul 4: Szenario "Geringerer Ausbau der Übertragungsnetze": Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie

Die Transformation des Stromversorgungssystems hin zu einer weitgehenden Deckung des Strombedarfs aus erneuerbaren Energien verändert die Anforderungen an die Stromnetze erheblich. Im kostenoptimierten Basisszenario (Modul 3) kommt es zu einem starken Ausbau der Stromnetze. Die momentane Situation zeigt aber, dass sich insbesondere auf der Übertragungsnetzebene die Umsetzung von erforderlichen Netzausbauvorhaben verzögern kann. In dem Szenario "Geringerer Ausbau der Übertragungsnetze" wird daher ermittelt, welche Auswirkungen ein deutlich geringerer Ausbau des Übertragungsnetzes auf die übrigen Systemkomponenten hat. Hierzu wird über den derzeit beschlossenen Übertragungsnetzausbau hinaus nur noch in bestimmten Ausnahmefällen Netzausbau zugelassen. Dennoch soll auch in diesem Szenario sowohl in Deutschland als auch europaweit die Emissionsreduktion des Basisszenarios erreicht werden