Characteristics and Altitudinal Distribution of Periglacial Decay Phenomena in the Massif of Rondane,Central Norway

The Norwegian massif of Rondane is part of the Scandes Mountains and is subject to polar, oceanic and continental influences. Because of its climatic context and its quartzitic structure, the massif has one of the thickest functional periglacial belts in Europe (1200 m). This belt is not fixed considering its translation in altitude since the end of the Little Ice Age. This mobility is continuing and involves periglacial decay dynamics which are revealed by numerous and various periglacial forms in the field. Because of their frequency in the massif and also their sensitivity to climate fluctuations, earth patches and small non‐sorted circles have a diagnostic value for current periglacial climate fluctuations. The major aim of this study is to propose several indicators of this periglacial decay and to highlight its consequences on periglacial belt mobility because these landforms enable the delimitation of a critical belt of decay in the massif.     

MUDBOIL AND ICE‐WEDGE DYNAMICS INVESTIGATED BY ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY TOMOGRAPHY,GROUND TEMPERATURES AND SURFACE MOVEMENTS IN SVALBARD

Arctic tundra surfaces are dominated by a variety of patterned ground forms. Whereas a large number of studies have described morphology, structure and processes of patterned ground, few have monitored detailed patterned ground dynamics and subsurface environments continuously. We applied electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to understand near‐surface conditions of two types of patterned ground, ice‐wedge polygons and mudboils in Svalbard, where periglacial processes associated with permafrost are intensively monitored. Automated monitoring shows surface movement characterized by annual cycles of frost heave and thaw settlement, the amounts and rates of which are influenced by the intensity of ice segregation. A time series of ERT shows (1) a distinct resistivity boundary delimiting the active‐layer depth, (2) seasonal variation in resistivity controlled by thermo‐hydrological dynamics and (3) spatial variation in resistivity reflecting desiccation in summer and intensive ice segregation in winter. These results demonstrate ERT as a useful complementary technique for monitoring active‐layer depths and near‐surface hydrological conditions at periglacial patterned ground sites, where automated soil thermal and moisture measurements are limited.     

Interaction of geomorphic and ecologic features across altitudinal zones in a subarctic landscape

Vegetation is often considered to stabilize geomorphic processes. An increasing abundance of vegetation may cause negative feedbacks within a periglacial system. In this study, we explored the importance of vegetation on the occurrence of active cryoturbation-dominated feature fields in subarctic Finland on a landscape scale. The vegetation–cryoturbation interaction was studied across three altitudinal zones by applying hierarchical partitioning (HP) and variation partitioning (VP) methods that overcome collinearity problems in multivariate analysis. Firstly, our results showed that vegetation factors, especially the canopy cover of the field-layer vegetation and the total above ground biomass, were among the most important environmental variables affecting the occurrence of active cryoturbation features. Moreover, vegetation factors were for the most part positively associated with cryoturbation. Under the predicted global warming, the ‘greening’ of arctic and subarctic regions may, therefore, decrease and also increase the activity of the periglacial processes in sparsely vegetated terrain. Secondly, our analyses gave contrasting results of the environmental factors of the periglacial processes across altitudinal zones, although the relative importance of the vegetation group was rather constant throughout the zones. Thus, we stress the importance of the spatial study setting in geomorphic studies in topographically varying relief. We recommend either taking the altitudinal zonation of the landscape into consideration or studying the features within a predetermined zone to decrease misinterpretations in environment–process relationships. Methodologically, our results encourage wider applications of partitioning methods in multivariate settings in geomorphology.     

SPATIAL ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN LONGEST-LASTING WINTER SNOW COVER AND COLD REGION LANDFORMS IN THE HIGH DRAKENSBERG, SOUTHERN AFRICA

Although snow is known to influence landform genesis and distribution, the spatial associations between snow and landforms within particular cold regions has received limited research attention. We present a case study from the high Drakensberg of southern Africa, comparing the contemporary spatial pattern of longest-lasting cold-season snow patches with the distribution patterns of active and relic cold region landforms. Two 30 m resolution sets of TM images dated 3 and 19 August 1990 and a DEM were used to demonstrate the geographic trends of snow patch depletion during late winter. Geomorphological phenomena with known coordinates were then incorporated into the GIS. The spatial distribution of several periglacial land-forms (earth hummocks, stone-/turf-banked lobes, block deposits, large sorted patterned ground) coincides with topographic positions that limit snow accumulation. However, the strong spatial association between longest-lasting snow patches and palaeo-moraines implies substantial snow accumulation at some high altitude south-facing sites during the last glacial cycle.     

景观格局下中俄大城市安全空间相似性研究 —以圣彼得堡和大连市为例

城市不断膨胀使其在面对城市内涝、地震、危险事故、雾霾等危害时显现了更多的脆弱性，使得城市安全问题越来越受到广泛关注和重视，随之以安全城市为目标的城市规划与城市研究逐渐兴起。本文基于土地利用数据、人口统计数据、交通网络数据和避难绿地数据，运用景观格局指数、多尺度分析、城市网络分析工具、邻域法等方法，在ArcGIS10.2和Fragstats （ver 4.2.1）软件平台上进行空间分析，然后在以上计算结果基础上建立城市安全相似性模型对圣彼得堡和大连市景观格局视角下城市安全环境的相似性进行评价，结果显示：圣彼得堡市和大连市人口密度景观格局表现为相似，土地利用景观格局较为相似，交通网络景观格局较不相似, 避难绿地景观格局最不相似;相比而言，圣彼得堡在交通效率和避难绿地整体可达性两方面显示出优势，而大连则在“工业-居住-绿地”三大功能用地空间布局以及人口与交通网络中心性两个方面显示出优势；大连今后城市安全空间建设应注重提升交通效率和避难绿地整体可达性，以提升城市安全性。     

Integrating multi-agent evacuation simulation and multi-criteria evaluation for spatial allocation of urban emergency shelters

The timely and secure evacuation of residents to nearby urban emergency shelters is of great importance during unexpected disaster events. However, evacuation and allocation of shelters are seldom examined as a whole, even though they are usually closely related tasks in disaster management. To conduct better spatial allocation of emergency shelters in cities, this study proposes a new method which integrates techniques of multi-agent system and multi-criteria evaluation for spatial allocation of urban emergency shelters. Compared with the traditional emergency shelter allocation methods, the proposed method highlights the importance of dynamic emergency evacuation simulations for spatial allocation suitability analysis. Three kinds of agents involved in evacuation and sheltering procedures are designed: government agents, shelter agents, and resident agents. Emergency evacuations are simulated based on the interactions of these agents to find potential problems, for example, time-consuming evacuation processes and road congestion. A case study in Jing’an District, Shanghai, China was conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method. After three rounds of simulation and optimization, new shelters were spatially allocated and a detailed recommended plan of shelters and related facilities was generated. The optimized spatial allocation of shelters may help local residents to be evacuated more quickly and securely.     

Grain size characteristics and environmental indication of the sediments around Great Wall Station,Antarctica

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基于GIS的福州应急避难所空间格局评价

日益凸显的突发性自然灾害对城市应急管理提出了更高的要求,应急避难所是其重要基础设施之一.本研究利用福州市社区尺度的人口统计数据建立高精度的人口密度分布图,根据应急避难所的容纳人数与人口密度图动态缓冲区分析计算其服务能力空间范围,对研究区内21个避难所的空间格局进行评价.结果表明,福州城区避难所建设数量不足,空间分布不均,人口服务辐射能力弱.针对福州城区避难所空间分布现状,分析了主要的影响因素,对福州城区应急避难场所选址提出了进一步优化建议,认为在人口分散区的避难所应该增加数量,适当减小规模;而在人口稠密区则可增加规模适中的避难所建设.     

Conifer stomata analysis in paleoecological studies on the Loess Plateau: An example from Tianchi Lake, Liupan Mountains

The identification of fossil conifer stomata was conducted from a lake sedimentary sequence on the Liupan Mountains, southwestern Loess Plateau, in order to reconstruct detailed forest history and assess the potential of using stomata as a supplement to pollen analysis to determine the local presence of conifers over the last 3200 years. The pollen has already been analyzed in our previous study. Reference conifer stomata were prepared for the fossil stomata identification and demonstrate that the conifer stomata could be identified to at least genus level. Our stomata and pollen results reveal three clear stages of the forest recession during the late Holocene: mixed conifer-deciduous forest, steppe-forest and steppe. Combined stomata and pollen results confirm the local presence of conifer trees (Abies and Pinus) in the vicinity of the Tianchi Lake. Abundant Abies trees existed during 3200-2200 cal yr BP. Then it decreased and finally demised at ca.210 cal yr BP. Pinus trees have been continuously present with very low abundance throughout the late Holocene. Application of comprehensive studies comprising both stomata and pollen analyses allowed a detailed determination of the stages of conifer trees presence in the vicinity of the Tianchi Lake. Our study suggests that the analysis of fossil stomata is a valuable methodological tool for the provision of unambiguous evidence of the past local presence of the coniferous taxa in this region.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠沙垄区公路防护带内风场特征研究

塔克拉玛干沙漠公路是世界上穿越流沙区最长的公路,公路两侧防沙治沙工程体系是公路正常运行的关键因素。以塔克拉玛干沙漠沙垄区的公路防护林带为研究对象,结合野外地形测量、防护工程调查以及风沙数据观测,分析沙垄不同地貌部位防护林带内气流特征,揭示防护林带内风场变化规律,探讨不同地貌部位防护林带的防护效果。主要结论是:①垂直于公路的防护林带断面风场存在3个区(防护林带前部风速迅速降低区、防护林带中部风速低值区、防护林带工程后部风速恢复区),气流穿过公路路面时风速呈增大趋势,利于公路防护;②现有防护林带具有较好的防护效果,相对于防护林带上风向流沙区的风速,防护林带中部风速降低幅度在80%以上,多数断面在林带前缘10H后（H为植株平均高度）风速降低至最小;③沙垄不同地貌部位的工程防护效益存在显著差异,迎风坡底部防护效果最好,迎风坡中部防护最差。其研究结果可为塔克拉玛干沙漠公路防沙治沙工程体系优化提供科学依据。     

五台山冰缘地貌植物群落的数量分类与排序

在野外样方调查的基础上,采用双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析法(DCA)对五台山冰缘地貌植被进行了数量分类和排序研究,将五台山冰缘地貌植被分为13个群丛,13个群丛是不同冰缘地貌生态景观的重要组成要素,各群丛的群落学特征与冰缘地貌生境有密切的生态关系。DCA样方排序结果和种排序结果表明,五台山冰缘地貌植物群落分布格局是土壤、水分、热量等综合环境因子决定的。而不同冰缘地貌上植物群丛优势种的分布格局在很大程度上决定着植物群丛类型的分布格局,反映出植物群落类型和物种分布随冰缘地貌类型及环境梯度变化的趋势。     

CHEMICAL WEATHERING PROCESSES ON THE VANTAGE PEAK NUNATAK,JUNEAU ICEFIELD,SOUTHERN ALASKA

On the Vantage Peak nunatak in the Juneau Icefield of southeastern Alaska, grus and soils display evidence of extensive chemical alteration in a self-evidently periglacial environment. Accompanying the alteration of bedrock to grus and soil is a decrease in grain size. Grus is dominated by very coarse sand while the soils are predominantly fine sand. Grain-size reduction is attributed primarily to mineral grain dissolution. Total chemical analyses show that alkali earths (calcium and magnesium) and alkalis (sodium and potassium) are lost as weathering progresses, while silicon and iron increase relative to resistant elements. Secondary clay minerals present in the grus and soils appear to have been derived from clay-size primary minerals. Vermiculite is the principal secondary clay mineral and appears to have formed by the alteration of biotite. Scanning electron microscopy shows that quartz and feldspars are primarily weathered by dissolution with no evidence of feldspar transformation to secondary clays. Superimposed on these weathering transformations is evidence of eolian processes. Chemical weathering processes, notably dissolution and clay mineral transformation, do occur in the periglacial environment of the Vantage Peak nunatak and are clearly an important component of the periglacial geomorphic process suite.     

昆仑山区青藏公路沿线冰缘现象

本区位于东昆仑山腹地,青藏高原多年冻土区的北缘。区内海拔高,地形相对高差较大,气候寒冷而较干旱。故冰缘作用强烈,冰缘现象种类繁多。本区冰缘作用及其形态类型的分布具明显的垂直地带性。自高至低有4个冰缘作用带,各带内冰缘现象不同。区内冰缘现象的动态变化相当复杂,这与环境条件有关,主要决定于自身的生成条件。     

RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE ATTRIBUTES ON THE LESOTHO–DRAKENSBERG ESCARPMENT EDGE, SOUTHERN AFRICA

Located near the southeastern limit of Africa, the Lesotho‐Drakensberg and associated escarpment is the highest range of African mountains south of the massifs in Tanzania. At the escarpment summit and on the adjacent high peaks, the climate is generally interpreted as marginal periglacial yet few data, specifically rainfall and temperature, exist on record at these altitudes. Climatic data from two temporary field stations on the escarpment edge, one of which is the highest rainfall station yet on record in southern Africa, provide contemporary surface‐climate conditions. Mean annual rainfall recorded between 2001 and 2005 averages 767.8 mm at Sani Pass summit (three complete years), and 753.2 mm on Sentinel Peak (two complete years); these values are less than those recorded for the same period in the mountain foothills. Even though rainfall is slightly below long‐term rainfall averages for the area due to a marginally dry spell, the data show that earlier estimates of between 1000 mm and 2000 mm rainfall per annum on the escarpment are too high. A measured mean air temperature of 5.8°C at Sani Pass, however, falls within the range estimated for the escarpment summit. Frost cycles in air and at the soil surface are frequent in winter, but absent in soil for summer, and no long‐duration surface‐soil freeze was measured. Temperatures thus confirm the marginal periglacial nature as postulated for previously, but precipitation data indicate a dryer environment than anticipated. Palaeoenvironmental scenarios, notably arguments for former glaciation based on extrapolations from somewhat exaggerated contemporary precipitation values, thus require re‐consideration.     

Recent patterned grounds development on a glacier surface (Dovrefjell,central Norway): an ephemeral periglacial activity in a paraglacial context

Researches carried out on the main glacier of the Dovrefjell massif, Scandes Mountains, Norway (62° N; 9° E) point to recent periglacial features which are presently directly developed on the ice. This original location raises the problem of their morphodynamic significance and a hypothesis of ephemeral periglacial activity in a paraglacial context is proposed here.     

EMERGENCY SHELTER NETWORKS IN AN URBAN AREA: SERVING THE HOMELESS IN METROPOLITAN TORONTO

A framework for analyzing the structure of urban emergency shelter networks is proposed. The shelter and service network consists of clients, shelters, support services, and a political context shaped by state policies and community attitudes. The example of Metropolitan Toronto shows that, while it might be true that there is a need for more permanent housing, there also exists a real need for emergency shelters. A problem exists for certain groups who might seek temporary shelter in suburban areas because of the unequal spatial distribution of shelters and support services between the inner City of Toronto and suburban municipalities. The recent suburbanization of some shelters has been dominated by shelters for women and children. Patterns of repeat usage of the shelter network suggest that certain client groups might not have access to all the support services they need. The conclusions argue that urban shelter networks offer an opportunity for geographers to consider more closely the links between housing, policy, and political ideologies.     

Plant functional traits and microbes vary with position on striped periglacial patterned ground at Glacier National Park,Montana

The retreating snowfields and glaciers of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, present alpine plants with changes in habitat and hydrology. The adjacent and relic periglacial patterned ground consists of solifluction terraces of green, vegetation-rich stripes alternating with sparsely vegetated brown stripes. We established georeferenced transects on striped periglacial patterned ground for long-term monitoring and data collection on species distribution and plant functional traits at Siyeh Pass and at Piegan Pass at Glacier National Park. We documented species distribution and calculated the relative percent cover (RPC) of qualitative functional traits and used 16S rRNA from soil samples to characterize microbial distribution on green and brown stripes. Plant species distribution varied significantly and there were key differences in microbial distribution between the green and brown stripes. The rare arctic-alpine plants Draba macounii, Papaver pygmaeum, and Sagina nivalis were restricted to brown stripes, where the RPC of xeromorphic taprooted species was significantly higher at the leading edge of the Siyeh Pass snowfield. Brown stripes had a higher percentage of the thermophilic bacteria Thermacetogenium and Thermoflavimicrobium. Green stripes were co-dominated by the adventitiously-rooted dwarf shrubs Salix arctica and the possibly N-fixing Dryas octopetala. Green stripes were inhabited by Krummholz and seedlings of Abies lasiocarpa and Pinus albicaulus. Prosthecobacter, a hydrophilic bacterial genus, was more abundant on the green stripes, which had 6,524 bacterial sequences in comparison to the 1,183 sequences from the brown stripes. While further research can determine which functional traits are critical for these plants, knowledge of the current distribution of plant species and their functional traits can be used in predictive models of the responses of alpine plants to disappearing snowfields and glaciers. This research is important in conservation of rare arctic-alpine species on periglacial patterned ground.

     

生态屏障约束下的综合功能区划研究——以云南省昭通市为例

Ecological shelter zones reconstruction is an ecosystem restoration and conservation project aimed to the ecological safety of nations, regions and basins. Reconstruction of ecological shelter zones of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River became one of the most important tasks of Western Development strategy. This article, taking Zhaotong as an example, studies the functional regionalization of ecological shelter zones. The study supplies a case for functional regionalization of small and medium regions whose main tasks are environment reservation. With the guidance of theories of functional regionalization, and based on the analysis of Zhaotong＇s natural, ecological and socioeconomic factors, the paper suggests five principles for factors selection. These principles include： （1） reversing order evaluation; （2） selecting main factors; （3） keeping the integrality of administrative regions of towns; and （4） making the products acceptable by local government. To analyze spatial status of selected factors, LUCC data in 2002, 1：50,000 relief maps and town-unit socioeconomic statistical data in 2004 are used. RS and GIS tools are also applied to melt traditional and modern geographical methods. This would be useful to functional regionalization research in mountainous areas. As a conclusion, the leading functional regions of ecological conservation or economic development are suggested, respectively. Zhaotong city is divided into two-level functional regions. The first-level includes three leading functional regions and they will lead developing direction of sub-regions. The second-level includes eight sub-regions, which are policy implemented regions, and will supply guidance to Zhaotong＇s ecological shelter zones reconstruction.     

RATES OF HEAVE AND SURFACE ROTATION OF PERIGLACIAL FROST BOILS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS,CALIFORNIA

The White Mountains of California have a cold semi-arid climate that has led to the development of large areas of periglacial patterned ground. Rates of activity vary widely, and no present activity has been noted below 3600 m. Three distinct scales of patterned ground—having average diameters of 3–5 m, 0.5–1.0 m, and 0.1–0.5 m—exist together in a nested fashion at a favorable location at 3914 m. Vertical heave, horizontal displacement, and surface rotation were investigated on landforms of each scale, to determine rates of activity and the spatial and temporal variation of heave. No movement was detected in the largest landforms, but frost boils located in the centers of the larger sorted polygons were highly active. Rates of heave increased dramatically at the beginning of the thaw season, approaching 3.6 mm per day. Dowels were heaved an average of 16.8 cm over ten months. Disks used as surface markers demonstrated exceptional rotational and radial displacement over a nine-month period; 29% of the markers were overturned. The processes responsible for the observed movement in the White Mountains are discussed in relation to processes affecting other alpine environments.     

Functional regionalization with the restriction of ecological shelter zones: A case of Zhaotong in Yunnan

Ecological shelter zones reconstruction is an ecosystem restoration and conserva-tion project aimed to the ecological safety of nations, regions and basins. Reconstruction of ecological shelter zones of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River became one of the most important tasks of Western Development strategy. This article, taking Zhaotong as an exam-ple, studies the functional regionalization of ecological shelter zones. The study supplies a case for functional regionalization of small and medium regions whose main tasks are envi-ronment reservation. With the guidance of theories of functional regionalization, and based on the analysis of Zhaotong’s natural, ecological and socioeconomic factors, the paper suggests five principles for factors selection. These principles include: (1) reversing order evaluation; (2) selecting main factors; (3) keeping the integrality of administrative regions of towns; and (4) making the products acceptable by local government. To analyze spatial status of selected factors, LUCC data in 2002, 1:50,000 relief maps and town-unit socioeconomic statistical data in 2004 are used. RS and GIS tools are also applied to melt traditional and modern geo-graphical methods. This would be useful to functional regionalization research in mountain-ous areas. As a conclusion, the leading functional regions of ecological conservation or economic development are suggested, respectively. Zhaotong city is divided into two-level functional regions. The first-level includes three leading functional regions and they will lead developing direction of sub-regions. The second-level includes eight sub-regions, which are policy implemented regions, and will supply guidance to Zhaotong’s ecological shelter zones reconstruction.