Characteristics and dynamics of the soil seed bank at the north edge of Taklimakan Desert

In order to understand the potential of revegetation of halophytic community at the north edge of Taklimakan Desert, the species structure, storage capacity, the vertical distribution pattern and seasonal dynamics of soil seed bank and their interrelationship with community structure of above-ground plants were investigated. The results show that (i) 9 species were identified from seed bank in different seasons indicating that plant composition in this area was simple. (ii) The seed density in soil was 222±10.79 grain/m2 on average, and showed a seasonal variation range from 132±8.16 grain/m2 in summer to 303±12.70 grain/m2 in autumn. (iii) The similarity coefficient between soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation was 0.778. (iv) Vertically, seed densities declined with soil depth. 82.4% of total seeds were found in the top 3 cm of soil profile. No active seeds were found in soil profile below 6 cm. It is concluded that the seed bank at the north edge of Taklimakan Desert contains active seeds of all plant species observed on above ground, and is able to supply potential contribution to reconstruction of vegetation.     

洞庭湖湿地土壤种子库特征及其与地表植被的相关性

本文研究洞庭湖三种分布于不同水位的主要群落(荻、苔草、虉草)土壤种子库大小组成、垂直分布特征及其地表植被的相关性.结果表明:荻群落土壤种子库密度最高,为44656粒/m2,苔草群落的最低,为15146粒/m2,虉草群落的居中,为31725粒/m2.种子主要分布于土壤表层(0～5 cm),且随土壤剖面深度的增加而迅速递减.三种群落湿地种子库由53种植物组成,分属18科39属,其中多年生物种20种,一或二年生物种33种.在荻、苔草和虉草三种群落中,种子库的多年生物种分别占29.9%、35.2%和38.0%,物种多样性指数分别为0.76、0.70和0.72;地表植被物种多样性指数分别为0.53、0.17和0.45,土壤种子库与相应地表植被相似性系数分别为0.40、0.28和0.52.可见,在洞庭湖这一通江湖泊湿地,多年生地表植被所产生的种子对土壤种子库大小贡献相对有限,种子库可能主要通过其它途径(如水的流动作用)输入.     

洞庭湖洲滩土壤种子库对土壤水分变化的响应

由于三峡大坝及上游水库群的运行,长江中下游水域水文节律随之发生了改变,导致洞庭湖枯水期提前,进而影响洞庭湖洲滩植被及其土壤种子库的分布格局.本研究在洞庭湖4个自然保护区内选取共11个典型洲滩湿地,沿由水到陆方向根据植被类型将洲滩分为泥沙洲滩、泥沙—湖草洲滩过渡带、湖草洲滩、湖草—南荻洲滩过渡带、南荻洲滩5种洲滩类型.通过样带—样方法调查和采样,并结合湿润和水淹两种条件下的土壤种子库萌发实验,分析了土壤水分变化对洲滩种子库萌发特征的影响及土壤种子库与地表植被的关系.结果显示:①土壤含水量沿水到陆方向由泥沙洲滩向南荻洲滩递减;②不同类型洲滩土壤种子库密度没有显著差异;③温室萌发实验中,水淹条件下土壤种子库物种丰富度和种子库密度显著降低,东洞庭湖自然保护区土壤种子库物种丰富度和种子库密度较高;④地表植被物种丰富度高于土壤种子库,泥沙洲滩土壤种子库与地表植被物种组成的Jaccard相似性指数最低.此外,虉草(Phalaris arundinacea)、芦苇(Phragmites communis)、南荻(Miscanthus sacchariflorus)等只在地表植被中存在,而陌上菜(Lin...     

Structures of subgrade/pavement and construction techniques for the Taklimakan Desert Highway

With lots of indoor and outdoor experiments, several key technical issues in construc-tion of the Desert Highway have been solved satisfactorily, on the basis of great achievements ofthe studies in respects of dry compaction on sand base, design parameters, structure combinationof subgrade and pavement, stabilization analysis of sand base strengthened with geotextile and acomplete set of construction techniques. It is the first time the achievements of the study weresuccessfully applied in the Taklimakan Desert where the natural condition is extremely harsh. Ithas been proved that it is economic and reasonable with reliable techniques and simple construc-tion methods. The Desert Highway constructed with the achievements is the first-grade highwayrunning through huge migratory desert for long distance in the world.     

Structures of subgrade/pavement and construction techniques for the Taklimakan Desert Highway

With lots of indoor and outdoor experiments, several key technical issues in construction of the Desert Highway have been solved satisfactorily, on the basis of great achievements of the studies in respects of dry compaction on sand base, design parameters, structure combination of subgrade and pavement, stabilization analysis of sand base strengthened with geotextile and a complete set of construction techniques. It is the first time the achievements of the study were successfully applied in the Taklimakan Desert where the natural condition is extremely harsh. It has been proved that it is economic and reasonable with reliable techniques and simple construction methods. The Desert Highway constructed with the achievements is the first-grade highway running through huge migratory desert for long distance in the world.     

Observations of several characteristics of aeolian sand movement in the Taklimakan Desert

With both sides of the Taklimakan Desert highway line as the study area, three typical aeolian sand landforms, i.e. complex dune ridge, barchan dune and flat sand land, were selected as sand beds for the observation, analysis and research of the characteristics of aeolian sand movement such as aeolian sand stream structure, sand transport intensity, etc. in the Taklimakan Desert. The results show that there is a linear relation between the height and the log of sand transport rate over transverse dune chain, longitudinal dune ridge and flat sand land, i.e. the sand transport percentage decreases exponentially with increasing height. Sand transport rate within the 10 cm height above the bed surface accounts for 80%-95% of the total sand transport rate of the observed height (40 cm), while the sand transport rate in 20 cm occupies 98% of the total amount. Sand transport rate (g·cm-1·min-1) differs greatly with respect to different landform types and different topographic positions. Based on the investig     

Comparison of dust emissions,transport, and deposition between the Taklimakan Desert and Gobi Desert from 2007 to 2011

The Taklimakan Desert(TD) and Gobi Desert(GD) are two of the most important dust sources in East Asia, and have important impact on energy budgets, ecosystems and water cycles at regional and even global scales. To investigate the contribution of the TD and the GD to dust concentrations in East Asia as a whole, dust emissions, transport, and deposition over the TD and the GD in different seasons from 2007 to 2011 were systematically compared, based on the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry(WRF-Chem). Dust emissions, uplift, and long-range transport related to these two dust source regions were markedly different due to differences in topography, elevation, thermal conditions, and atmospheric circulation. Specifically,the topography of the GD is relatively flat, and at a high elevation, and the area is under the influence of two jet streams at high altitudes, resulting in high wind speeds in the upper atmosphere. Deep convective mixing enables the descending branch of jet streams to continuously transport momentum downward to the mid-troposphere, leading to enhanced wind speeds in the lower troposphere over the GD which favors the vertical uplift of the GD dust particles. Therefore, the GD dust was very likely to be transported under the effect of strong westerly jets, and thus played the most important role in contributing to dust concentrations in East Asia. Approximately 35% and 31% of dust emitted from the GD transported to remote areas in East Asia in spring and summer, respectively. The TD has the highest dust emission capabilities in East Asia, with emissions of about 70.54 Tg yr.1 in spring, accounting for 42% of the total dust emissions in East Asia. However, the TD is located in the Tarim Basin and surrounded by mountains on three sides. Furthermore, the dominant surface wind direction is eastward and the average wind speed at high altitudes is relatively small over the TD. As a result, the TD dust particles are not easily transported outside the Tarim Basin, such that most of the dust particles are re-deposited after uplift, at a total deposition rate of about 40 g m.2. It is only when the TD dust particles are uplifted above 4 km, and entrained in westerlies that they begin to undergo a long-range transport. Therefore,the contribution of the TD dust to East Asian dust concentrations was relatively small. Only 25% and 23% of the TD dust was transported to remote areas over East Asia in spring and summer, respectively.     

Characteristics and dynamics of multiple intertidal bars,north Lincolnshire,England

Multiple intertidal bars and troughs, often referred to as ‘ridges and runnels’, are significant features on many macrotidal sandy beaches. Along the coastline of England and Wales, they are particularly prevalent in the vicinity of estuaries, where the nearshore gradient is gentle and a large surplus of sediment is generally present. This paper examines the dynamics of such bar systems along the north Lincolnshire coast. A digital elevation model of the intertidal morphology obtained using LIDAR demonstrates that three to five intertidal bars are consistently present with a spacing of approximately 100 m. The largest and most pronounced bars (height = 0·5–0·8 m) are found around mean sea level, whereas the least developed bars (height = 0·2–0·5 m) occur in the lower intertidal zone. Annual aerial photographs of the intertidal bar morphology were inspected to try to track individual bars from year to year to derive bar migration rates; however, there is little resemblance between concurrent photographs, and ‘resetting’ of the intertidal profile occurs on an annual basis. Three‐dimensional beach surveys were conducted monthly at three locations along the north Lincolnshire coast over a one‐year period. The intertidal bar morphology responds strongly to the seasonal variation in the forcing conditions, and bars are least numerous and flattest during the more energetic winter months. Morphological changes over the monthly time scale are strongly affected by longshore sediment transport processes and the intertidal bar morphology can migrate along the beach at rates of up to 30 m per month. The behaviour of intertidal bars is complex and varies over a range of spatial and temporal scales in response to a combination of forcing factors (e.g. incident wave energy, different types of wave processes, longshore and cross‐shore sediment transport), relaxation time and morphodynamic feedback. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of biological soil crusts on soil moisture dynamics under different rainfall conditions in the Tengger Desert,China

Rainfall is considered as the dominant water replenishment in desert ecosystems, and the conversion of rainfall into soil water availability plays a central role in sustaining the ecosystem function. In this study, the role of biological soil crusts (BSCs), typically formed in the revegetated desert ecosystem in the Tengger Desert of China, in converting rainfall into soil water, especially for the underlying soil moisture dynamics, was clarified by taking into account the synthetic effects of BSCs, rainfall characteristics, and antecedent soil water content on natural rainfall conditions at point scale. Our results showed that BSCs retard the infiltration process due to its higher water holding capacity during the initial stage of infiltration, such negative effect could be offset by the initial wet condition of BSCs. The influence of BSCs on infiltration amount was dependent on rainfall regime and soil depth. BSCs promoted a higher infiltration through the way of prolonged water containing duration in the ground surface and exhibited a lower infiltration at deep soil layer, which were much more obvious under small and medium rainfall events for the BSCs area compared with the sand area. Generally, the higher infiltration at top soil layer only increased soil moisture at 0.03 m depth; in consequence, there was no water recharge for the deep soil, and thus, BSCs had a negative effect on soil water effectiveness, which may be a potential challenge for the sustainability of the local deep‐rooted vegetation under the site specific rainfall conditions in northwestern China.     

Multi-method pIRIR dating of sedimentary sequences at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert,NW China and its palaeoenvironmental implications

The Gurbantunggut Desert is the second-largest desert in China, located in the westerly-dominated region of north-western China. Previous understanding of palaeoclimate of this desert was mostly based on lake and loess records from the Junggar Basin and Tian Shan Mountains, whilst direct dating of sedimentary records from the desert was very limited. This study applies high-resolution post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) dating to three sedimentary profiles at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert, which contain aeolian sand and water-lain sediments, recording palaeoenvironmental changes at the desert margin since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Different pIRIR dating procedures were applied for samples with different ages. For Holocene-aged samples, a single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) pIRIR procedure based on a three-stepped pIRIR measurement at 110 °C, 140 °C and 170 °C was used, and a standard growth curve (SGC) procedure yields an equivalent dose (D_e) similar to that of the full-SAR procedure; thus, is applicable for accelerating D_e measurement. For samples much older than the Holocene, a multi-aliquot regenerative-dose (MAR) pIRIR procedure based on a three-stepped pIRIR measurement at 150 °C, 200 °C and 250 °C was found to be the optimal dating procedure, because a SAR procedure would yield underestimated ages due to uncorrected initial sensitivity change. pIRIR dating results of the investigated profiles reveal a substantial sand accumulation during the LGM, an intensification of aeolian deposition at ∼12 ka and a wetter depositional environment at ∼10–8 ka. A rapid fluvial deposition is dated at ∼20–19 ka, corresponding to the deglaciation period. The sedimentary records from the desert margin show some correlation with lake and loess records in the same region and suggest a complex response of the desert environment to different climatic factors.     

Generation of VLF emissions during the substorm preliminary phase and the auroral dynamics at the auroral oval northern edge

About 100 breakups of different types and intensities are studied on the basis of Lovozero Observatory data. Magnetic pulsations in different frequency ranges, VLF emissions, and auroral activity are analyzed using the TV data. It is found that magnetic pulsations in all frequency ranges lag behind the moment of breakup by 0.5–2.0 min, and bursts of low-intensity broadband VLF emission hiss are observed 3–10 min before breakup. Hiss leading breakup corresponds to feeble auroras located northward of a pre-breakup arc.     

Groundwater recharge and discharge in a hyperarid alluvial plain (Akesu,Taklimakan Desert,China)

Groundwater recharge and discharge in the Akesu alluvial plain were estimated using a water balance method. The Akesu alluvial plain (4842 km²) is an oasis located in the hyperarid Tarim River basin of central Asia. The land along the Akesu River has a long history of agricultural development and the irrigation area is highly dependent on water withdrawals from the river. We present a water balance methodology to describe (a) surface water and groundwater interaction and (b) groundwater interaction between irrigated and non‐irrigated areas. Groundwater is recharged from the irrigation system and discharged in the non‐irrigated area. Uncultivated vegetation and wetlands are supplied from groundwater in the hyperarid environment. Results show that about 90% of groundwater recharge came from canal loss and field infiltration. The groundwater flow from irrigated to non‐irrigated areas was about 70% of non‐irrigated area recharge and acted as subsurface drainage for the irrigation area. This desalinated the irrigation area and supplied water to the non‐irrigated area. Salt moved to the non‐irrigation area following subsurface drainage. We conclude that the flooding of the Akesu River is a supplemental groundwater replenishment mechanism: the river desalinates the alluvial plain by recharging fresh water in summer and draining saline regeneration water in winter. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

湿地种子库及其植被恢复研究进展

近年来,受损湿地生态系统的植被恢复与重建掀起了湿地植被恢复的热潮.种子库是过去植物的"记忆库",是湿地植被自然恢复的重要潜力.本文从湿地种子库的形成、湿地种子库的规模及空间分布格局、湿地种子库的物种组成及种子库与地表植被的关系等几个方面总结了湿地种子库主要研究内容的国内外研究进展,并重点介绍了湿地种子库在湿地植被恢复中的应用研究,尤其是湿地种子库幼苗萌发主要影响因素、湿地种子库种苗建群适宜生境及湿地种子库植被恢复潜力等内容的研究现状.在此基础上,对目前湿地种子库及植被恢复研究存在的问题以及将来可能的研究方向进行分析,以期对湿地种子库植被恢复理论及实践技术的发展提供参考.     

太湖北部隐藻生物量时空动态

利用2005-2009年每月一次的监测资料,对太湖竺山湾、梅梁湾和贡湖湾理化因子和浮游植物,特别是隐藻生物量周年季节变化进行比较研究,探讨环境因子以及蓝藻变化对隐藻生物量的影响.结果显示,竺山湾内隐藻平均生物量(1.89 mg/L)高于梅梁湾(0.87 mg/L)、贡湖湾(0.43 mg/L).2008-2009年隐藻平均生物量(2.12 mg/L)高于2005-2007年平均生物量(0.28 mg/L).通过与环境冈子的时空差异比较分析,竺山湾内高营养盐浓度、高有机质浓度和高悬浮质浓度使得隐藻更具有竞争优势,而贡湖湾内浮游动物的摄食作用可能限制了隐藻生物量.同时,太湖隐藻与蓝藻的竞争演替趋势明显,春夏季高温和蓝藻的过度繁盛可能对隐藻的生长产生抑制作用.     

Sub-arctic river bank dynamics and driving processes during the open-channel flow period

There is growing concern that rapidly changing climate in high latitudes may generate significant geomorphological changes that could mobilise floodplain sediments and carbon; however detailed investigations into the bank erosion process regimes of high latitude rivers remain lacking. Here we employ a combination of thermal and RGB colour time-lapse photos in concert with water level, flow characteristics, bank sediment moisture and temperature, and topographical data to analyse river bank dynamics during the open-channel flow period (the period from the rise of the spring snowmelt flood until the autumn low flow period) for a subarctic river in northern Finland (Pulmanki River). We show how variations of bank sediment temperature and moisture affect bank erosion rates and locations, how bank collapses relate to fluvial processes, and elucidate the seasonal variations and interlinkages between the different driving processes. We find that areas with high levels of groundwater content and loose sand layers were the most prone areas for bank erosion. Groundwater seeping caused continuous erosion throughout the study period, whereas erosion by flowing river water occurred during the peak of snowmelt flood. However, erosion also occurred during the falling phase of the spring flood, mainly due to mass failures. The rising phase of the spring flood therefore did not affect the river bank as much as its peak or receding phases. This is explained because the bank is resistant to erosion due to the prevalence of still frozen and drier sediments at the beginning of the spring flood. Overall, most bank erosion and deposition occurrences were observed during the low flow period after the spring flood. This highlights that spring melt, while often delivering the highest discharges, may not be the main driver of bank erosion in sub-arctic meandering rivers. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics and occurrence of wind erosion features in the Namib Desert

Small scale features resulting from wind erosion are widespread in the Namib Desert. They include selective erosion of lithological variations (etching), flutes and grooves, facetting of clasts and residual boulders, and smoothing and polishing of rock surfaces. Large scale features are tentatively identified and are restricted to the southern Namib, with its high energy, unidirectional wind regime. Wind erosion features are best developed on fine-grained rocks of intermediate hardness. They are oriented towards or parallel to modern strong winds. The turbulent flow of wind armed only with dust particles is probably more important than wind driven sand in creating smooth polished rock surfaces, flutes, and grooves. Wind driven sand appears to be significant only in facetting rock masses.     

Velocity and turbulence variations at the edge of saltmarshes

Saltmarsh vegetation significantly influences tidal currents and sediment deposition by decelerating the water velocity in the canopy. In order to complement previous field results, detailed profiles of velocity and turbulence were measured in a laboratory flume. Natural Spartina anglica plants were installed in a 3 m length test section in a straight, recirculating flume. Different vegetation densities, water depths and surface velocities were investigated. The logarithmic velocity profile, which existed in front of the vegetation, was altered gradually to a skimming-flow profile, typical for submerged saltmarsh vegetation. The flow reduction in the denser part of the canopy also induced an upward flow (the current was partially deflected by the canopy). The skimming flow was accompanied by a zone of high turbulence co-located with the strongest velocity gradient. This gradient moved upward and the turbulence increased with distance from the edge of the vegetation. Below the skimming flow, the velocity and the turbulence were low. The structure of the flow in the canopy was relatively stable 2 m into the vegetation. The roughness length (z₀) of the vegetation depends only on the vegetation characteristics, and is not sensitive to the current velocity or the water depth. Both the reduced turbulence in the dense canopy and the high turbulence at the top of the canopy should increase sediment deposition. On the other hand, the high turbulence zone just beyond the vegetation edge and the oblique upward flow may produce reduced sedimentation; a phenomenon that was observed near the vegetation edge in the field.     

松辽盆地北缘的上地幔速度结构及该区火山成因探讨

中国东北是研究板内新生代火山活动及其成因的天然场所.以往的研究根据不同的壳幔速度结构,提出多种模型用以解释中国东北地区的火山活动.由于松辽盆地北缘的观测台站相对较少,导致这些模型对盆地北缘的约束较弱.我们利用近年来覆盖松辽盆地北缘的流动宽频带观测台站数据开展远震体波走时层析成像研究,获得了深达800 km的深部速度结构,在盆地北缘的火山群区域内得到如下认识：诺敏河和五大连池火山群共用一个200~300 km深处的地幔岩浆房.该地幔岩浆房内的低速异常为水平展布,未下延至地幔转换带内,并仅在该区域上地幔的局部范围内有所体现.结合前人的研究结果分析,我们认为该水平的局部低速异常可能是中生代晚期岩石圈拆沉导致的软流圈上涌热物质.

     

南洞庭湖杨树(Populus deltoides)清理迹地恢复初期涨水前后土壤种子库特征

本文研究了南洞庭湖杨树清理1 a、2 a后的迹地（简称1 a和2 a）和未清理杨树洲滩（ck）涨水前后土壤种子库特征变化及其与地上植被的关系.结果显示：杨树清理迹地土壤种子库共萌发物种23科59属65种,涨水前后土壤种子库密度和种类均表现出1 a > 2 a > ck的趋势,且随着土层加深而递减.退水后ck、1 a、2 a不同土层物种数量和密度较涨水前均有所减少,其中一或二年生物种较涨水前有所减少,多年生物种占比增加;湿生物种与中生物种数目较涨水前均有所减少,而2 a土壤种子库中生物种比例较涨水前有所增加.涨水前后土壤种子库Shannon-Wiener和Simpson指数变化较小,退水后Margalef指数较涨水前有所下降.退水后地上植被物种Shannon-Wiener和Simpson指数高于涨水前地上植被,而Margalef指数有所下降.涨水前Sørensen相似性系数表现为1 a > 2 a > ck的趋势,退水后表现为2 a > 1 a > ck的趋势,涨水前后不同恢复年份土壤种子库和地上植被优势物种所占比例有所差异.研究表明,南洞庭湖杨树清理迹地退水后土壤种子库密度和种类显著下降,随着恢复年份和水淹频次的增加,一或二年生物种迅速减少,多年生物种比例增加,地上植被物种均匀性有所增加,可见水文因子是影响南洞庭湖杨树清理迹地种子库恢复能力的重要因素.     

Effects of soil moisture dynamics on slope failure at Hyrum Reservior,Utah

Field observations of shoreline conditions at Hyrum Reservoir, Utah, were conducted during the summers of 1991 to 1993. A process of bluff retreat is described for a multiple-layered bluff environment of sand and clay layers. Failure is initiated by wetting and drying of clay sediments, which produces horizontal cracks within bluff material. These cracks appear to penetrate to a depth of approximately 100-150 mm before initiating vertical cracking in the sediments. The vertical cracks are propagated by continued drying of the surface sediment, ultimately leading to failure of the bluff material. The physical dimensions of sediment blocks succumbing to this mechanism range from a few hundred millimetres up to 3 m on a side, with a depth of approximately 100-150 mm. The mechanism described here appears to operate optimally when the supply of subsurface moisture is abundant and nearly continuous throughout the spring and early summer. Reservoir draw-down, large capillary fringe effects in the bluff and periodic wetting from upslope undrained hollows are the dominant moisture controls at this site. Moisture delivery to the face is strongly influenced by anisotropy of saturated hydraulic conductivity in the alternating clay and sand layers and related differences in sediment texture.