Wenzhi Song

Effects of elevated O3 concentration on winter wheat and rice yields in the Yangtze River Delta, China

The effects of a continuing rise of ambient ozone on crop yield will seriously threaten food security in China. In the Yangtze River Delta, a rapidly developing and seriously air polluted region in China, innovative open-top chambers have been established to fumigate winter wheat and rice in situ with elevated O(3). Five years of study have shown that the yields of wheat and rice decreased with increasing O(3) concentration. There were significant relationships between the relative yield and AOT40 (accumulated hourly O(3) concentration over 40 ppb) for both winter wheat and rice. Winter wheat was more sensitive to O(3) than rice. O(3)-induced yield declines were attributed primarily to 1000-grain weight and harvest index for winter wheat, and attributed primarily to grain number per panicle and harvest index for rice. Control of ambient O(3) pollution and breeding of O(3) tolerant crops are urgent to guarantee food security in China.

Three‐dimensional MHD simulation of two coronal mass ejections' propagation and interaction using a successive magnetized plasma blobs model

A three-dimensional (3-D), time-dependent, numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model is used to investigate the evolution and interaction of two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the nonhomogeneous ambient solar wind. The background solar wind is constructed on the basis of the self-consistent source surface with observed line of sight of magnetic field and density from the source surface of 2.5 R(s) to Earths orbit (215 R(s)) and beyond. The two successive CMEs occurring on 28 March 2001 and forming a multiple magnetic cloud in interplanetary space are chosen as a test case, in which they are simulated by means of a two high-density, high-velocity, and high-temperature magnetized plasma blobs model, and are successively ejected into the nonhomogeneous background solar wind medium along different initial launch directions. The dynamical propagation and interaction of the two CMEs between 2.5 and 220 R(s) are investigated. Our simulation results show that, although the two CMEs are separated by 10 h, the second CME is able to overtake the first one and cause compound interactions and an obvious acceleration of the shock. At the L1 point near Earth the two resultant magnetic clouds in our simulation are consistent with the observations by ACE. In this validation study we find that this 3-D MHD model, with the self-consistent source surface as the initial boundary condition and the magnetized plasma blob as the CME model, is able to reproduce and explain some of the general characters of the multiple magnetic clouds observed by satellite.

Three-dimensional MHD simulation of the evolution of the April 2000 CME event and its induced shocks using a magnetized plasma blob model

A three-dimensional (3-D) time-dependent, numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model with asynchronous and parallel time-marching method is used to investigate the propagation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the nonhomogenous background solar wind flow. The background solar wind is constructed based on the self-consistent source surface with observed line-of-sight of magnetic field and density from the source surface of 2.5 R-s to the Earths orbit (215 Rs) and beyond. The CMEs are simulated by means of a very simple flux rope model: a high-density, high-velocity, and high-temperature magnetized plasma blob is superimposed on a steady state background solar wind with an initial launch direction. The dynamical interaction of a CME with the background solar wind flow between 2.5 and 220 Rs is investigated. The evolution of the physical parameters at the cobpoint, which is located at the shock front region magnetically connected to ACE spacecraft, is also investigated. We have chosen the well-defined halo-CME event of 4-6 April 2000 as a test case. In this validation study we find that this 3-D MHD model, with the asynchronous and parallel time-marching method, the self-consistent source surface as initial boundary conditions, and the simple flux rope as CME model, provide a relatively satisfactory comparison with the ACE spacecraft observations at the L1 point.

Preliminary report on methane emissions from the Three Gorges Reservoir in the summer drainage period

Recently reported summertime methane (CH4) emissions (6.7 +/- 13.3 mg CH4/(m2 x hr)) from newly created marshes in the drawdown area of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China have triggered broad concern in academic circles and among the public. The CH4 emissions from TGR water surfaces and drawdown areas were monitored from 3rd June to 16th October 2010 with floating and static chambers and gas chromatography. The average CH4 emission flux from permanently flooded areas in Zigui, Wushan and Yunyang Counties was (0.33 +/- 0.09) mg CH4/(m2 x hr). In half of these hottest months of the year, the wilderness, cropland and deforested drawdown sites were aerobic and located above water level, and the CH4 emissions were very small, ranging from a sink at 0.12 mg CH4/(m2 x hr) to a source at 0.08 mg CH4/(m2 x hr) except for one mud-covered site after flood. Mean CH4 emission in flooded drawdown sites was 0.34 mg CH4/(m2 x hr). The emissions from the rice paddy sites in the drawdown area were averaged at (4.86 +/- 2.31) mg CH4/(m2 x hr). Excepting the rice-paddy sites, these results show much lower emission levels than previously reported. Our results indicated considerable spatial and temporal variation in CH4 emissions from the TGR. Human activities and occasional events, such as flood, may also affect emission levels. Long-term CH4 measurements and modeling in a large region are necessary to accurately estimate greenhouse gas emissions from the TGR.

Surface methane emissions from different land use types during various water levels in three major drawdown areas of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Methane (CH4) emissions from the drawdown area of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) have not been thoroughly investigated even though the drawdown area encompasses one third of the reservoir surface. In this study, CH4 emissions from different land uses were measured in the TGR drawdown area. The average diffusive CH4 emissions were 2.61, 0.19, 0.18, and 0.12 mg CH4 m(-2) h(-1) in rice paddies, fallow lands, deforested lands, and croplands, respectively, and were positively related to the duration of the inundated season among the latter three land uses. On average the drawdown areas studied here (except rice paddies) were sources in the inundated season (0.22 +/- 0.26 mg CH4 m(-2) h(-1)) and a sink in the drained season (-0.008 +/- 0.035 mg CH4 m(-2) h(-1)). The water level was the dominant factor that controlled whether the drawdown area was either inundated or drained, which in turn determined whether the drawdown area was a source or sink of CH4 emissions. The average diffusive CH4 emissions from the fallow lands, croplands, and deforested lands increased as the distance from the dam increased from Zigui (0.10 +/- 0.15 mg CH4 m(-2) h(-1)) to Wushan (0.15 +/- 0.29 mg CH4 m(-2) h(-1)) to Yunyang (0.24 +/- 0.27 mg CH4 m(-2) h(-1)), which could reflect different sediment characteristics and water velocities. The total CH4 emission from the drawdown area was estimated to range from 1033.5 to 1333.9 Mg CH4 yr(-1), which would account for 42-54% of the total CH4 emissions from the water surface of TGR.

EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL FEATURES IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE ON THE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVOLUTION

Based on time-dependent MHD simulation, we investigate how physical features in the solar atmosphere affect the evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). It is found that temperature and density play a crucial role in CME initiation. We argue that lower temperature facilitates the catastrophes occurrence, and that the CMEs which initiate in low density could gain lower velocity. In our numerical experiment, by employing different values of beta, the resulting eruptions of either slow or fast events may be obtained.

Soil warming effect on net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide during the transition from winter carbon source to spring carbon sink in a temperate urban lawn.

The significant warming in urban environment caused by the combined effects of global warming and heat island has stimulated widely development of urban vegetations. However, it is less known of the climate feedback of urban lawn in warmed environment. Soil warming effect on net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide during the transition period from winter to spring was investigated in a temperate urban lawn in Beijing, China. The NEE (negative for uptake) under soil warming treatment (temperature was about 5 degrees C higher than the ambient treatment as a control) was -0.71 micromol/(m2 x sec), the ecosytem was a CO2 sink under soil warming treatment, the lawn ecosystem under the control was a CO2 source (0.13 micromol/(m2 x sec)), indicating that the lawn ecosystem would provide a negative feedback to global warming. There was no significant effect of soil warming on nocturnal NEE (i.e., ecosystem respiration), although the soil temperature sensitivity (Q10) of ecosystem respiration under soil warming treatment was 3.86, much lower than that in the control (7.03). The CO2 uptake was significantly increased by soil warming treatment that was attributed to about 100% increase of alpha (apparent quantum yield) and Amax (maximum rate of photosynthesis). Our results indicated that the response of photosynthesis in urban lawn is much more sensitive to global warming than respiration in the transition period.

A solar eruption triggered by merge interactions of different helicity loops

Aims. We investigate the magnetic evolution of a flare/CME source region to determine the trigger of the flare and the EUV brightening event. Also, we discuss the role of the current helicity (hc) in solar activity. Methods. We use the long duration sequences of SOHO/MDI magnetograms and TRACE 195 A images for a super active region (AR), NOAA AR 8375. Magnetic field changes in the photosphere and the corona are investigated. Results. In AR 8375, the southwestern and northwestern parts of an overlying loop (hc 0) and the emerging flux region (hc > 0). Two collisions make the overlying loop inflate in a bounce interaction. However, the related solar events are triggered by a merge interaction which takes place among the fibers of the rising magnetic arcades and among those of the overlying loop.