기본 콘텐츠로 건너뛰기

Mechanism underlying the correlation between the warming-wetting of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and atmospheric energy changes in high-impact oceanic areas

 

Mechanism underlying the correlation between the warming-wetting of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and atmospheric energy changes in high-impact oceanic areas

Abstract

The powerful thermal driving force of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) exerts a significant influence on weather, climate, and environmental processes in Asia and across the globe. This paper investigates the causes of climate change on the QTP from the perspective of global atmospheric energy transport and water cycle. During summer, a “hollow energy pool” has been discovered in the troposphere, with its energy center located above the QTP, the “Asian water tower”. Our study indicates that the QTP serves as a critical “window” for the global transport of water vapor and energy. Since 1991, the total atmospheric energy (TAE) and precipitation in the warming-wetting region of the QTP (central and northern plateau) have exhibited interdecadal growth. Furthermore, the TAE of the plateau is closely linked to the TAE and water vapor of oceans at mid-low latitudes, and even in the southern hemisphere, the increased precipitation in the warming-wetting region of the plateau has been mainly regulated by the atmospheric energy and water vapor transport structures over the equatorial western Pacific, southwestern Pacific, and southern Indian Ocean, we further reveal the energy transport channel from the warming oceanic areas of the southern and northern hemispheres to the QTP. This study deepens the novel understanding of atmospheric energy accompanying water vapor transport in the southern and northern hemispheres, which is of significant importance for understanding the responses of energy and water cycle in the warming-wetting of the QTP and global climate change.

Introduction

The Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP), known as the “Roof of the World”, is particularly susceptible to the effects of global warming, and has an essential feedback effect on the Asian climate system and even the global climate system1,2.

The energy and water cycling mechanism among the QTP-land-ocean has long been of great concern3. As one of the most sensitive regions responding to global climate change, the water resource changes in the QTP in recent decades have shown obvious spatial variations4,5,6,7. For example, the rate of glacier retreat decreases progressively from the Himalayas to the Pamir Plateau8,9,10. Lake expansion mainly occurs in the interior of the QTP, while the Himalayan region exhibits more lake shrinkage11,12. The overall increase in precipitation shows a trend of decrease in the south and increase in the north, with significant increases mainly occurring in the central-northern part of the QTP13,14,15,16,17,18. In previous studies, the atmospheric heat source was characterized by the researchers to represent the thermal role of the QTP. Driven by this heat source, the QTP functions as a potent “heat pump” and continuously attracts warm and humid vapor from the mid-to-low-latitude oceans19,20, which builds up the structure of the trans-hemispheric atmospheric moisture cycle.

The ocean and atmosphere are essential components of the climate system. While solar radiation is the ultimate energy source driving climate change and atmospheric motion, the primary energy directly driving atmospheric circulation comes mainly from the ocean21,22. Due to the spherical nature of the Earth, there is an energy surplus in low latitudes, forming energy source regions, while high latitudes experience energy deficits, forming energy sinks. The atmosphere acts as one of the transporters, transferring energy from low to mid-to-high latitudes. Jian et al.23 provided the first explanation of the driving role of low-latitude ocean processes in climate evolution from an energy perspective, revealing that the heat from the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool can regulate water vapor transport between the Asian continent and the Pacific Ocean. He et al.24 argued that because of global warming, more than 90% of the heat energy has been absorbed by the oceans, and that the heat energy, most of which has been “hidden” in the Southern Ocean, has been accumulating year after year25,26,27.

If the atmosphere is regarded as a heat engine, the atmospheric heat source over the QTP provides energy to the heat engine. The atmospheric energy of the QTP determines the operational state of this heat engine, while the difference in atmospheric energy between the QTP and the external world determines the efficiency of this heat engine28. In previous studies on the thermodynamics of the QTP, there has been a lack of systematic analysis of the distribution and variation of atmospheric energy over the QTP, with only a small amount of work involving atmospheric energy. Atmospheric energy is key to studying the thermodynamics of the QTP. What are the distribution characteristics of the atmospheric energy over the QTP? How does the atmospheric energy evolve under the background of climate change? What impact will the change have on the climate of the region? Does the atmospheric energy over the QTP play an important role in the trans-hemispheric water vapor transport? All these questions are not well addressed up till now.

Although it has been recognized that tropical oceans are an energy source and provide energy for atmospheric circulation, the study on how they affect the global circulation system, especially the mid-to-high latitude circulation system, remains limited. With global warming, the sea surface temperature (SST) tends to increase. So how will the atmospheric energy over the ocean change accordingly? Since low-latitude oceans serve as energy source regions, how does the atmospheric energy over the low-latitude oceans transport to mid-to-high latitude regions through circulation? And what impact will the transport have on the climate of mid-to-high latitude regions? Therefore, by using a new physical quantity-total atmospheric energy (TAE), this paper attempts to investigate from a new perspective, namely global atmospheric energy and water cycle, to elucidate the mechanism of atmospheric energy transport from the warming regions of the Southern Hemisphere oceans to the climate-sensitive area of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly the “QTP”, which can more profoundly uncover the impact of the atmospheric energy over the ocean on the climate of East Asia, and to provide a basis for the thorough understanding of the overall characteristics of prolonged global climate change from the perspective of energetics.

Results

TAE structure characteristics over the QTP

Figure 1a shows that the global TAE in summer exhibits a distribution pattern of decreasing from low latitude to high latitude. Notably, the total atmospheric energy of the QTP (QTPE) is significantly higher than that in other regions at the same latitude, and even higher than in the equatorial region, forming a high-value closure center over the upper and middle levels of the troposphere, and the closure center extends southward to the Bay of Bengal, India, and northern Southeast Asia.

댓글

이 블로그의 인기 게시물

Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering MagR and Cry2 gene expression

  Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering  MagR  and  Cry2  gene expression Dinotefuran is known to negatively affect honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) behavior, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The magnetoreceptor ( MagR , which responds to magnetic fields) and cryptochrome ( Cry2 , which is sensitive to light) genes are considered to play important roles in honey bees’ homing and localization behaviors. Our study found that dinotefuran, even without direct contact, can act like a magnet, significantly altering  MagR  expression in honeybees. This non-contact exposure reduced the bees’ homing rate. In further experiments, we exposed foragers to light and magnetic fields, the  MagR  gene responded to magnetic fields only in the presence of light, with  Cry 2 playing a key switching role in the magnetic field receptor mechanism ( MagR–Cry2 ). Yeast two-hybrid and BiFc assays confirmed an interactio...

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis Earlier this year, midwives from 41 countries shared their experiences of working in communities affected by climate change through our survey, Midwives’ Experiences and Perspectives on Climate Change. Their voices shaped our new report, Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis , which highlights how midwives are already responding to the health impacts of climate disasters like floods, wildfires, and extreme heat—and why they must be included in climate action plans. What did we learn?Climate change is damaging community health: 75% of midwives reported that climate change is harming the communities they serve, with rising rates of preterm births, food insecurity, and restricted access to care during disasters like floods. Midwives are critical first responders: Midwives are often the first and only healthcare providers on the ground in crises, delivering care during wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. Midwives face signi...

Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor

  Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor Newspaper distributor Pushparaja Shetty (45), who sustained severe injuries in a bee attack, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at a hospital in Mangaluru. Pushparaja was attacked by a swarm of bees on Wednesday morning while walking at Kenjaru Taangadi under Bajpe town panchayat limits. He was immediately admitted to a hospital for treatment but could not survive the ordeal. Fondly known as ‘Boggu’ in the Porkodi area, Pushparaja was well-known for his dedication to delivering newspapers on foot to every household. He was admired for his generosity, as he often distributed sweets to schoolchildren on Independence Day using his own earnings and contributed part of his income to the betterment of society. Pushparaja was unmarried and is survived by three brothers and one sister.

“Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns

  “Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns The World Beekeeping Awards will not grant a prize for honey next year due to the “inability” to thoroughly test honey for adulteration. The announcement comes amid the rise of honey fraud in the EU, where a 2023 investigation found that 46% of 147 honey samples tested were likely contaminated with low-cost plant syrups.  Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, organizes the event at its Congress, whose 49th edition will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 2025. The conference brings together beekeepers, scientists and other stakeholders. “We will celebrate honey in many ways at the Congress, but honey will no longer be a category, and thus, there will be no honey judging in the World Beekeeping Awards. The lessons learned from Canada 2019 and Chile 2023 were that adequate testing was impossible if we are to award winning honey at the Con...

Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific

  Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific In an exciting development for environmentalists and beekeeping experts, researchers have discovered eight new species of masked bees in the Pacific Islands, shining a light on the rich biodiversity hidden within the forest canopy. This discovery underscores the critical role bees play in our ecosystems and the pressing need for conservation efforts to protect these vital pollinators. A New Frontier in Bee Research By exploring the forest canopy, scientists have opened a new frontier in bee research, revealing species that have adapted to life high above the ground. These discoveries are crucial for understanding the complex relationships between bees, flora, and the broader ecosystem. The new species of masked bees, characterized by their striking black bodies with yellow or white highlights, particularly on their faces, rely exclusively on the forest canopy for survival. The Importance of Bee Conservation...

Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee

  Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee There are lots of opportunities to be as busy as a bee during these winter holidays. As we hustle toward the dawn of the New Year, it can be hard to notice that the natural world is actually suggesting something different for us right now. We’re past the solstice, but the winter still stretches ahead, the days are still short and the nights long. We’re being invited into a quieter, more inner-focused time. The ancient yogis were all about this inner focus. In India, for example, the Upanishads, the Sanskrit writings that accompanied the development of Hinduism — and alongside it, yoga — beginning around 800 B.C.E., went deeper than earlier texts had into philosophy and questions of being. With the goals of increased inner awareness and higher consciousness, yoga was at that time not yet as focused on the body or on asanas, as it now can tend to be. But the yogis did develop many practices to try to open the way to those goals. They discovered...

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face Bees have been an integral part of our ecosystem and human agriculture for over four centuries, primarily utilized for their honey in the early days. Now, they are recognized more for their critical role in pollination, which directly impacts a vast majority of the food we consume. Mark Lilly, a prominent beekeeper, emphasizes that without bees' pollination efforts, a significant portion of our diet would be at risk. However, bees face numerous threats, including varroa mites and, in specific regions like West Virginia, black bears. These challenges necessitate concerted efforts for preservation and protection. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: Why are bees so important to the ecosystem? A1: Bees are crucial for pollinating plants, which is necessary for the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Without bees, a large portion of the food we eat would not be available. Q2: What are the main threats to...

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles As the number of pets in South Korea steadily increases, pet owners face a growing dilemma due to the limited number of pet cemeteries across the country. Under the current legal framework, pet remains are classified as household waste, requiring specific disposal methods that are neither convenient nor easily accessible for all citizens. The imbalance between the rising pet population—over 5.52 million households with pets by the end of 2022—and the mere 70 registered pet cemeteries has led to significant challenges. This shortage is particularly evident in regions like Jeju Island, where pet owners must undergo arduous journeys to the mainland to ensure their pets receive proper burials. The root cause of this shortage lies in the strict regulations governing the establishment of pet cemeteries. These facilities, which must include crematoriums, face numerous restrictions, such as proximity to resident...

Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive

  Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals a distressing consequence of global warming: the irreversible loss of valuable climate data stored in alpine glaciers. The research, conducted by a team led by Margit Schwikowski from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), underscores the alarming rate at which glaciers are melting and highlights the implications for climate research. The study focuses on the Corbassière glacier at Grand Combin in Switzerland, where ice cores drilled in 2018 and 2020 were intended to serve as vital climate archives. However, comparing the two sets of ice cores reveals a grim reality—global warming has rendered the glacier unsuitable as a reliable climate archive. Glaciers, renowned as climate archives, encapsulate valuable information about past climatic conditions and atmospheric compositions. The fluctuating concentrations of trace substances in ice layers provide insights into historica...

German election: Climate and environment take a back seat

  German election: Climate and environment take a back seat When the coalition government comprising the center-left  Social Democratic Party (SPD) ,  Greens  and neoliberal  Free Democratic Party (FDP)  emerged after the last German federal election in the fall of 2021, then-incoming Chancellor  Olaf Scholz  (SPD) did not object to being called the "climate chancellor." That was no surprise: the climate crisis had been a top issue during the election campaign. The new government made the fight against climate change a task for the Economy Ministry and appointed Vice Chancellor  Robert Habeck  from the Greens as its head. Three and a half years later, campaign speeches barely mention climate protection. The dominant issues are how to curb irregular immigration and how to boost Germany's sluggish economy. Skeptical view of renewable energy The head of the center-right  Christian Democratic Union (CDU) ,  Friedrich Merz ...