Rainfall regulates decomposition of buried cellulose in the Namib Desert

Because of the aridity of the Namib Sand Sea, it has long been assumed that decomposition of buried plant material was largely independent of rainfall. Losses were attributed to consumption by detritivores that forage year-round. Moisture-limited micro-organisms were reported to occur in low densities in Namib sands, supporting the assumption that rainfall was insignificant in regulating decomposition. Observations of abundant macrofungal fruiting from buried plant material and herbivore dung, following a 12 mm rain, suggested the importance of rain-induced decomposition had been underestimated. We used cellulose substrates to compare material loss during dry periods and following differing amounts of rain. Strips of cotton cloth and filter paper, buried at 10 cm depths at five disjunct locations, were sequentially removed over 10 months. A period of at least 170 days elapsed before rains, ranging from 4–46 mm, fell at all locations. Material loss during the dry period averaged 8·2% (range 0–16·7%), and was attributed to macrodetritivore consumption. In marked contrast, an average of 84·1% of the material (range 64·7–97·2%) was lost following rains greater than 9 mm. Wet substrates were heavily colonized by fungi, and termites and tenebrionid beetle larvae were observed feeding on fungus-colonized substrates. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that rainfall, rather than duration of burial, was the primary factor determining substrate loss in the Namib Sand Sea. Although rain events are infrequent and ensuing periods of moist soil are brief, substrate loss following rains is highly significant relative to that occurring in the absence of rain. In contrast to more mesic deserts, rainfall is an important trigger of decomposition in the Namib Sand Sea where soils are too dry to support significant decomposition, except when episodically moistened by rain.     

Psammophily in Namib Desert spiders

A community of psammophilous spiders was studied in the central Namib Desert. Of 20 species, 85% were cursorial. Complex setae, claws or keels facilitate digging, sweeping, carrying, and swimming in or walking on sand, while long spigots enable spiders to bind sand with silk when burrowing down to depths with amenable microclimate (10–120 cm). Sand is excavated either by sweeping it up an incline or carrying it vertically up. Other characteristics of dune spiders were large size, polyphagy, low metabolism, longevity, brood care and seasonal foraging and breeding patterns. The large, dominant heteropodid,Leucorchestris, may determine many characteristics of the Namib arthropod community.     

Movement of a small slipfaceless dome dune in the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia

The migration of a small slipfaceless dome dune close to the northern edge of the Namib Sand Sea has been measured by topographic survey. The dune dimensions are 45-m wide and 1-m high with a volume of 551 m³ that has been calculated as the difference between the dune's surface elevation and an interdune surface extrapolated from measurements around the edge of the dune. The migration direction, 64°, and distance moved, 90 m, are measured against stakes set out in 1976. The dune has moved about 90 m between 1976 and 1999. This is an average linear migration rate of around 4 m year⁻¹, and is equivalent to an annual sand transport rate of about 1.2 tonnes m⁻¹ year⁻¹. The calculated total potential sand flow in this part of the Namib Desert is 119 tonnes m⁻¹ year⁻¹, and the resultant potential sand flow is 63 tonnes m⁻¹ year⁻¹. The dune migration is therefore about 1% of the total potential sandflow and 2% of the resultant indicating that dune migration is only a small part of total potential sand transport. The results suggest that small slipfaceless dome dunes are very inefficient at trapping sand, and that winds blowing across the interdune in this area are undersaturated with sand.     

巴丹吉林沙漠湖泊对浅层沙含水量的影响

湖泊与高大沙山共存是巴丹吉林沙漠独特的自然景观,对其形成机制尚未形成共识。已有研究发现沙层含水量偏高的现象可能在高大沙山的形成中发挥了重要作用,但对其水分来源的研究尚不充分。本研究通过对沙漠腹地3个湖盆内气象要素和浅层沙含水量时空分布的对比,结合前人对水同位素和水分运移规律的研究,发现湖泊的存在大大增加了湖盆内空气相对湿度和浅层沙含水量的变化幅度,并影响了浅层沙含水量随高度的分布特征;相关分析表明,控制有湖湖盆浅层沙含水量变化的主导过程是气温升降引起的水分损失与补充,而干湖盆浅层沙水分补给主要来自风的平流输送。尽管沙丘分层含水量的长期定量观测仍有待开展,但现有证据表明巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山沙层含水量偏高的现象很可能是湖泊蒸发的水汽以土壤吸附水汽或凝结水等形式逐渐运移至沙层内而形成,是湖泊-沙山体系长期共存、形成局地水汽平衡的结果。这为沙层水分来源研究提供了新的视角,也对沙漠腹地水资源开发利用有一定的参考意义。     

Magnitude and frequency of grain flows on a desert sand dune

Preliminary studies of the magnitude and frequency of lee side avalanches (grain flows) on a Namib crescentic dune show that the frequency of grain flows for a given segment of the lee face is dependent on the wind speed and sand transport rate for the period preceding their initiation; and the magnitude of the flows as described by their area is inversely proportional to the interval between flows and thus wind speed and sand transport rates. These studies indicate the potential of using a simple digital video camera technique to document the magnitude, frequency and geometry of grain flows on desert sand dunes.     

巴丹吉林沙漠及其高大沙山研究评述

亚洲内陆干旱化是国际古环境研究的热点问题。巴丹吉林沙漠是亚洲内陆第二大流动沙漠,拥有世界最高大的风积地貌——沙山,是亚洲内陆干旱化研究的重要载体。沙山的形成演化与其所在沙漠的环境变迁有关,且真实地记录了区域与全球的气候变化。沙山形成过程研究应从区域地质和环境演化入手。本文从地质演化、环境演化、沙漠沉积、沙漠水文、沙山地貌和沙山形成发育等6个方面阐述了有关巴丹吉林沙漠的高大沙山、沙漠湖泊和沙漠自身的形成演化。认为构造-气候事件是亚洲内陆干旱化的一级控制,地球运行轨道变化是二级控制。自新构造运动始至其趋缓,构造-气候事件始终是巴丹吉林沙漠环境气候的主控因素,地球运行轨道变化也起很大的作用。此时西风环流是中国北方沙漠带环境气候的主要驱动力。新构造运动趋缓后,地球运行轨道变化是中国北方沙漠带环境气候的主控因素,青藏高原对大气环流的影响逐渐显现,东亚季风环流是该地区环境气候的主要驱动力。古水说可以很好地解释沙漠湖泊水的来源问题,沙漠湖泊是通过浅层的地下水路依靠保存在地下的古水来相互补给的。宏观上沙漠湖泊是风蚀湖,高大沙山的维持与沙漠湖泊之间不存在必然的因果关系。风成说可以较好地解释沙山的成因。未...     

晚更新世末期南海北部陆架的古地理探讨

根据地球物理综合调查,沉积物的粒度、矿物成分、石英砂粒扫描电镜分析,14T测年,以及微体古生物等成果,表明南海北部外陆架地区在更新世末期,冬半年气候干寒,东北风强劲,风沙活动强烈,砂丘广布,为干寒多风沙的自然环境。     

Spectral properties, iron oxide content and provenance of Namib dune sands

This paper applies multispectral remote sensing techniques to map the Fe-oxide content over the entire Namib sand sea. Spectrometric analysis is applied to field samples to identify the reflectance properties of the dune sands which enable remotely sensed Fe-oxide mapping. The results indicate that the pattern of dune colour in the Namib sand sea arises from the mixing of at least two distinct sources of sand; a red component of high Fe-oxide content (present as a coating on the sand grains) which derives from the inland regions, particularly from major embayments into the Southern African escarpment; and a yellow coastal component of low Fe-oxide content which is brought into the area by northward-moving aeolian transport processes. These major provenances are separated by a mixing zone between 20 km and 90 km from the coast throughout the entire length of the sand sea. Previous workers have also recognised a third, fluvial, provenance, but the methodology applied here is not able to map this source as a distinct spectral component.     

从沉积重矿物与土壤养分特点看毛乌素沙地全新世环境变迁

根据全新世沉积重矿物组合与古土壤养分分析的结果，认为毛乌素沙地全新世沉积环境有过多次正逆变化：１１－１０ｋａＢ。Ｐ．、８５００－５０００ａＢ，Ｐ．、４０００－３５００ａＢ．Ｐ．、２７００－２０００ａＢ，Ｐ．以及１５００－１０００ａＢ．Ｐ．时期气候较为潮湿，土壤、植被发育较好，化学风化作用较强，风沙活动受到限制，为相对低能的沉积环境。介于其间的时期则分别为机械风化作用占优势的高能沉积环境，土壤风蚀严重，气候较为干燥。     

西藏雅鲁藏布江中游下段沙地植被研究

沙地植被主要有沙地高山松林、巨柏疏林、砂生槐群系和固沙草群系。砂生槐＋多花亚菊群落是本区沙地植被演替的顶极群落，高山松林疏林可能会成为本区人为演替顶极群落，风沙活动是影响本区植被演替的主导因子，半固定沙区仅生长砂生槐灌丛阶段是沙地植被正逆向演替的临界状态。砂生槐和高山松在沙地具有天然更新能力和生长快的特点。     

Dynamic processes of a simple linear dune—a study in the Taklimakan Sand Sea, China

Samples of dune sands, surveys of the morphology and field measurements of wind velocity and direction of a simple linear dune in Taklimakan Sand Sea show that the airflow and sand flux vary with the change of wind direction on the dune surface. Decrease of the airflow stress on the lee flank does not result in much decrease of the sand flux because of the low threshold shear velocities and the airflow conditions. There are no significant relations between the sand flux on the lee flank and the angle of incidence of the airflow. The low threshold shear velocities and the maintenance of the sand flux at the lee flank are the main mechanisms keeping the linear shape of the dunes. Measurements of the sand flux shows that it reaches a maximum on the crest of the dune. The grain size of the transported sands has some differences compared to that of the dune surface. The sands transported are finer than that on the dune surface, but better sorted under the influence of the medium to low wind activity. The field experiment results exhibit that it is possible for the dunes to be shaped as linear dunes during the processes of accumulation and elongation.     

巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山湿沙层水分特征

湿沙层水分及其运移过程是沙漠地区水循环的重要环节。巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山湿沙层规模巨大,本文对巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山湿沙层水分特征进行了初步分析。结果表明：湿沙层水分具有区域相似性特征,含水量多小于3%;吸附水和沙粒空隙间的水汽是湿沙层水分两种主要的类型,沙粒粒级级配影响吸附水水量变化,两种水分在沙山垂直剖面上的运移过程及相互转化可能维持了湿沙层水分的相对平衡状态;沙丘表层形成的“逆温层”以及由此引起的沿沙丘表层向沙丘内部的热量传递,形成与湿沙层水分蒸发相反的空气运动方向,使得湿沙层水分在夏季晴朗的白天受到保护;夏季受温度梯度影响,湿沙层中的水汽和膜状水向沙山底部缓慢运移;冬季受温度梯度和水势的双重影响,沙山底部潜水面附近的水汽和膜状水向上缓慢运移,补给湿沙层;湿沙层水分来源包括大气降水、大气水汽、凝结水及地下水等。     

若尔盖盆地沙丘形成分布影响因素探讨

应用遥感数据、DEM数据、野外采样数据和气象数据探讨若尔盖盆地沙丘形成分布的影响因素。气候变化与人类活动等多种因素导致的现代河相沉积物与活化出露的古河相湖相沉积物是重要沙源,风动力条件与沙源的时空结合在堆积床面形成沙丘,沙丘主要分布在河谷与丘陵山坡。沙丘分布随海拔高度增加面积减少,随坡度增大面积下降。河谷沙丘坡度小,主导坡向也不突出。丘陵沙丘坡度相对较大,以分布在斜坡和缓坡为主;主导坡向相对突出,主要分布在背风坡的东坡、东南坡。在沙源地下风方向随距离增大沙丘沉积物平均粒径变小,分选性变好。沙丘形成是沙源、风动力、堆积床面三者耦合作用的结果,这种耦合既表现在时间上,也表现在空间上。     

敦煌鸣沙山月牙泉景区风沙环境分析

基于月牙泉周边7个气象站点同步风况资料,探讨月牙泉周边起沙风况、输沙势以及主导输沙方向的空间分布特征。结合月牙泉周边沙山、建筑物、树木等的方位特点,剖析了近年来月牙泉受沙害困扰的缘由。由于受南北两高大沙山的夹击,该区北风相对较少,西风和南风较强,南侧沙山的北移最为突出,直接威胁月牙泉的存亡。     

Current study and prospect of the Old Red Sand along the southeast coast of China

The Old Red Sand is composed of brown-red, red, or orange-yellow semi-cemented and medium-fine sand sediment, mainly distributed along the southeast coast of China. Based on previous studies, this paper summarizes the distribution and forms, sedimentary characteristics, formation mechanism, developing age, reddening process and the paleo-environment, suggesting that the Old Red Sand is mainly aeolian sediment of Late Pleistocene Age. The reddening process is mainly the result of decomposition and oxidation of iron-containing minerals caused by hot and humid tropical and sub-tropical climate. In this study, existing problems are discussed and the prospect of further research is presented as well.     

不同沙源供给条件下砾石床面的风沙流结构与蚀积量变化风洞实验研究

通过对不同沙源供给条件下各种砾石床面的风沙流结构、床面风蚀及堆积沙量变化的风洞实验,结果表明,风沙流结构是判断戈壁风沙流饱和与不饱和的一个重要途径,不同的戈壁风沙流结构对床面输、阻沙特性具有不同的指示意义。近地表0～6 cm高度内的风沙流结构决定了床面的输、阻性质,而6 cm以上的风沙流结构反映了风力对沙物质的输送状况。沙源供给的丰富与否,决定了风沙流的饱和程度,以及风沙流在砾石床面产生的蚀积状况。同等风速条件下,饱和风沙流的输沙率是非饱和风沙流输沙率的2～8倍。在饱和风沙流情形下,床面过程总体以积沙为主,且随风力的增强,床面积沙量急剧增加。在不饱和风沙流情形下,砾石床面总体以风蚀和输送沙物质过程为主,风沙流结构在0～2 cm高度内反映出砾石床面具有明显的阻沙功能,在2～5 cm高度上出现最大输沙值。     

雅鲁藏布江中游不同地表输沙量特征

雅鲁藏布江河流宽谷区是青藏高原风沙活动最为强烈地区之一.输沙量是评价区域风沙活动的最主要指标之一,但目前对该地区输沙量的研究几乎是空白.利用旋转多路方口集沙仪对雅鲁藏布江流域中游河岸沙地、河漫滩沙地和山麓沙地3种地表类型、6个点2020年9-12月的输沙量进行野外实地观测,对比不同下垫面的输沙量,分析地表特征对输沙量的...     

Advances and Problems of Study on Saltation Particles in Wind-Sand Current

风沙流研究是风沙物理学的主要内容,研究方法上大致分宏观和微观研究两个方面。宏观研究着眼于风沙流的整体结构和动力学过程,微观研究侧重于单一颗粒的运动状态。宏观和微观研究相结合是解决风沙物理学中一系列问题的一条合理路线。但长期以来,由于在颗粒运动机理研究方面进展缓慢且不成熟,对联系宏观和微观研究的纽带——起跳粒子的运动状态分布的重要性认识不够,造成风沙流宏观研究和微观研究的严重脱节。本文综述国内外在这两方面的研究历史和现状,指出了现存问题和解决途径,并对风沙物理学的发展方向提出了一些建议。     

机械防沙体系防沙功能的衰退过程

作为一种十分有效的防治流沙的方法,机械防沙体系在防止风沙前移显示出很大的优越性,其目的就是要把流沙滞留在体系内,体系在发挥其功能的同时也是逐步丧失其功能的过程。在平坦地形条件下,草方格沙障积沙是从前沿向纵深发展的。在复杂地形地貌条件下,流沙的堆积具有不平衡性,且积沙形式多样。无论积沙形式如何,都有整体向前推进的趋势。阻沙栅栏的积沙形式因材料及孔隙度的大小而异,阻沙栅栏在初期时,可以拦截较多的沙量（75%）,草方格固沙带只承担25%的积沙量,随着时间推移,阻沙栅栏的效益逐渐降低,草方格固沙带则要承担较多的积沙量。从阻滞的沙量来看,一道栅栏阻拦的沙量至少等于40行草方格滞留的沙量,在工程实践中应优先考虑栅栏的应用。     

沙源供给条件对风沙流结构的影响

 针对风沙运动的气固两相流特点,利用FLUNET 软件,对不同沙源供给条件下各种床面的风沙积蚀平衡进行了数值模拟,给出了风速分布和沙粒体积分数随沙源供给条件和下垫面变化的线图,比较了流动边界条件对流场的影响。计算结果揭示了风沙运动中沙粒的体积浓度分布在风速变化和床面形态变化下的变化规律,为沙漠化的防治和理论研究提供了基础。