Residual Stresses in Tungsten Thin Films for Single Photon Detectors

The residual stress in 20 nm thick tungsten films deposited on silicon substrate by dc magnetron sputtering is investigated. The sample was held in a continuous flow cryostat, which was capable of achieving temperatures as low as 8 K. The cryostat was mounted on a goniometer to enable the angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements. X-ray diffraction was used to monitor the shift of the α-W {110} Bragg reflection at room temperature and 8 K. From the shift of the {110} Bragg reflection, the total residual stress was estimated at about 6.0 GPa. After applying corrections for the thermal stress in the film, the residual intrinsic stress is estimated at 5.8 GPa

Decision-centric adaptation appraisal for water management across Colorado's Continental Divide

A multi-step decision support process was developed and applied to the physically and legally complex case of water diversions from the Upper Colorado River across the Continental Divide to serve cities and farms along Colorado's Front Range. We illustrate our approach by simulating the performance of an existing drought-response measure, the Shoshone Call Relaxation Agreement (SCRA) [the adaptation measure], using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool [the hydrologic cycle and water systems model]; and the Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM-DC) [the stochastic climate scenario generator]. Scenarios relevant to the decision community were analyzed and results indicate that this drought management measure would provide only a small storage benefit in offsetting the impacts of a shift to a warmer and drier future climate coupled with related environmental changes. The analysis demonstrates the importance of engaging water managers in the development of credible and computationally efficient decision support tools that accurately capture the physical, legal and contractual dimensions of their climate risk management problems

Decision-centric adaptation appraisal for water management across Colorado’s Continental Divide

A multi-step decision support process was developed and applied to the physically and legally complex case of water diversions from the Upper Colorado River across the Continental Divide to serve cities and farms along Colorado’s Front Range. We illustrate our approach by simulating the performance of an existing drought-response measure, the Shoshone Call Relaxation Agreement (SCRA) [the adaptation measure], using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool [the hydrologic cycle and water systems model]; and the Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM-DC) [the stochastic climate scenario generator]. Scenarios relevant to the decision community were analyzed and results indicate that this drought management measure would provide only a small storage benefit in offsetting the impacts of a shift to a warmer and drier future climate coupled with related environmental changes. The analysis demonstrates the importance of engaging water managers in the development of credible and computationally efficient decision support tools that accurately capture the physical, legal and contractual dimensions of their climate risk management problems

Statistics of multi‐year droughts from the method for object‐based diagnostic evaluation

This study uses the Method for Object-based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE) technique to examine and compare the statistics of drought attributes over the upper Colorado River basin (UCRB). The drought objects are based on the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) on a 36-month timescale (SPI36 and SPEI36, respectively). The drought indicators are calculated using monthly precipitation as well as minimum and maximum temperatures from the Precipitation- Elevation Regression on Independent Slopes Model datasets from 1948 to 2012. MODE uses paired object attributes such as centroid distance, orientation angle, area ratio, and intersection area and a combination of parameter thresholds to determine the number of objects identified and retained in the merging and matching process in the two fields. Using MODE run with convolution radius of 0 (no smoothing) and an area threshold of 4 grid points, this study computes and analyzes object statistics including centroid locations, areas and intensity percentiles. Results of the analysis show that SPI36 produces more drought objects than SPEI36. Although the spatial patterns are roughly similar leading up to almost similar statistics of object attributes, such as locations of the object centroids, the SPI36 produces higher percentile intensity of drought objects than does SPEI36, which is clearly obvious in the 90th percentile intensity of drought objects. The largest difference between SPEI36 and SPI36 occurs in the area of drought objects during the early 2000s when the region experienced multi-year drought resulting from increased warming of the atmosphere. This study demonstrates the use of MODE as a tool to evaluate and monitor drought event over the UCRB.This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Abatan, Abayomi A., William J. Gutowski Jr, Caspar M. Ammann, Laurna Kaatz, Barbara G. Brown, Lawrence Buja, Randy Bullock, Tressa Fowler, Eric Gilleland, and John Halley Gotway. "Statistics of multi‐year droughts from the method for object‐based diagnostic evaluation." International Journal of Climatology 38, no. 8 (2018): 3405-3420, which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1002/joc.5512. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.</p

Statistics of multi‐year droughts from the method for object‐based diagnostic evaluation

This study uses the Method for Object-based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE) technique to examine and compare the statistics of drought attributes over the upper Colorado River basin (UCRB). The drought objects are based on the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) on a 36-month timescale (SPI36 and SPEI36, respectively). The drought indicators are calculated using monthly precipitation as well as minimum and maximum temperatures from the Precipitation- Elevation Regression on Independent Slopes Model datasets from 1948 to 2012. MODE uses paired object attributes such as centroid distance, orientation angle, area ratio, and intersection area and a combination of parameter thresholds to determine the number of objects identified and retained in the merging and matching process in the two fields. Using MODE run with convolution radius of 0 (no smoothing) and an area threshold of 4 grid points, this study computes and analyzes object statistics including centroid locations, areas and intensity percentiles. Results of the analysis show that SPI36 produces more drought objects than SPEI36. Although the spatial patterns are roughly similar leading up to almost similar statistics of object attributes, such as locations of the object centroids, the SPI36 produces higher percentile intensity of drought objects than does SPEI36, which is clearly obvious in the 90th percentile intensity of drought objects. The largest difference between SPEI36 and SPI36 occurs in the area of drought objects during the early 2000s when the region experienced multi-year drought resulting from increased warming of the atmosphere. This study demonstrates the use of MODE as a tool to evaluate and monitor drought event over the UCRB.This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Abatan, Abayomi A., William J. Gutowski Jr, Caspar M. Ammann, Laurna Kaatz, Barbara G. Brown, Lawrence Buja, Randy Bullock, Tressa Fowler, Eric Gilleland, and John Halley Gotway. "Statistics of multi‐year droughts from the method for object‐based diagnostic evaluation." International Journal of Climatology 38, no. 8 (2018): 3405-3420, which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1002/joc.5512. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.</p

Multiyear Droughts and Pluvials over the Upper Colorado River Basin and Associated Circulations

This study analyzes spatial and temporal characteristics of multiyear droughts and pluvials over the southwestern United States with a focus on the upper Colorado River basin. The study uses two multiscalar moisture indices: standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and standardized precipitation index (SPI) on a 36-month scale (SPEI36 and SPI36, respectively). The indices are calculated from monthly average precipitation and maximum and minimum temperatures from the Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model dataset for the period 1950–2012. The study examines the relationship between individual climate variables as well as large-scale atmospheric circulation features found in reanalysis output during drought and pluvial periods. The results indicate that SPEI36 and SPI36 show similar temporal and spatial patterns, but that the inclusion of temperatures in SPEI36 leads to more extreme magnitudes in SPEI36 than in SPI36. Analysis of large-scale atmospheric fields indicates an interplay between different fields that yields extremes over the study region. Widespread drought (pluvial) events are associated with enhanced positive (negative) 500-hPa geopotential height anomaly linked to subsidence (ascent) and negative (positive) moisture convergence and precipitable water anomalies. Considering the broader context of the conditions responsible for the occurrence of prolonged hydrologic anomalies provides water resource managers and other decision-makers with valuable understanding of these events. This perspective also offers evaluation opportunities for climate models.This article is published as Abatan, Abayomi A., William J. Gutowski Jr, Caspar M. Ammann, Laurna Kaatz, Barbara G. Brown, Lawrence Buja, Randy Bullock, Tressa Fowler, Eric Gilleland, and John Halley Gotway. "Multiyear Droughts and Pluvials over the Upper Colorado River Basin and Associated Circulations." Journal of Hydrometeorology 18, no. 3 (2017): 799-818. doi: 10.1175/JHM-D-16-0125.1. Posted with permission.</p

A low-to-no snow future and its impacts on water resources in the western United States

Anthropogenic climate change is decreasing seasonal snowpacks globally, with potentially catastrophic consequences on water resources, given the long-held reliance on snowpack in water management. In this Review, we examine the changes and trickle-down impacts of snow loss in the western United States (WUS). Across the WUS, snow water equivalent declines of ~25% are expected by 2050, with losses comparable with contemporary historical trends. There is less consensus on the time horizon of snow disappearance, but model projections combined with a new low-to-no snow definition suggest ~35–60 years before low-to-no snow becomes persistent if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated. Diminished and more ephemeral snowpacks that melt earlier will alter groundwater and streamflow dynamics. The direction of these changes are difficult to constrain given competing factors such as higher evapotranspiration, altered vegetation composition and changes in wildfire behaviour in a warmer world. These changes undermine conventional WUS water management practices, but through proactive implementation of soft and hard adaptation strategies, there is potential to build resilience to extreme, episodic and, eventually, persistent low-to-no snow conditions. Federal investments offer a timely opportunity to address these vulnerabilities, but they require a concerted portfolio of activities that cross historically siloed physical and disciplinary boundaries

Flash droughts present a new challenge for subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction

Flash droughts, which develop over the course of weeks, are difficult to forecast given the current state of subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction. This Perspective offers operational and research definitions, places them in the broader context of climate and suggests avenues for future research. Flash droughts are a recently recognized type of extreme event distinguished by sudden onset and rapid intensification of drought conditions with severe impacts. They unfold on subseasonal-to-seasonal timescales (weeks to months), presenting a new challenge for the surge of interest in improving subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction. Here we discuss existing prediction capability for flash droughts and what is needed to establish their predictability. We place them in the context of synoptic to centennial phenomena, consider how they could be incorporated into early warning systems and risk management, and propose two definitions. The growing awareness that flash droughts involve particular processes and severe impacts, and probably a climate change dimension, makes them a compelling frontier for research, monitoring and prediction.Public domain articleThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]