SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE IN A SMALL MIDWESTERN CITY

Location, timing, and intensities of urban atmospheric moisture anomalies in the relatively small city of Lawrence, Kansas are mapped, explained, and compared with previously studied cities. Forty-five urban-rural dew point distributions were obtained during mornings, afternoons, and evenings in August, September, and October. A meteorologically-equipped auto was used to traverse an 88.5-km route through the major land uses in the city and surrounding countryside. Rural dew points exceeded urban values much more frequently than the reverse. On several dates, a reversal of the urban-rural dew point relationship occurred; in the afternoon, rural dew points were greater than urban values, but at night urban values exceeded those in rural areas. Lowest values often corresponded with the most developed sections of the city, and the central business district exerted the most consistent influence on dew points. Greatest gradients developed on the periphery of the developed area. Pattern complexity was generally at a maximum in the afternoon and was least complex during morning hours. Results compare and contrast with previous urban-rural humidity studies.     

MAJOR SNOWFALL EVENTS IN THE GREAT PLAINS: TEMPORAL ASPECTS AND RELATIVE IMPORTANCE

The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of central Great Plains snowstorms by: (1) identifying trends in the frequency of snow events, (2) determining the relative importance of significant snowfalls (those producing snowfall amounts of 10 cm or more), and (3) identifying temporal and/or latitudinal variations in the frequency of significant snowstorms. Using NCDC data from cooperative program weather stations along a north-south transect, summary statistics, correlation coefficients, and frequency histograms were generated. The results provided evidence of a highly variable spatial and temporal record. Significant snowstorms are more critical to total snowfall amounts in Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. Although strong, regionally coherent temporal trends were not detected, a predominance of January through March snow events was observed. The greater frequency of January snowstorms coincides with the mean position of the polar front, while February and March snowfall frequency reflects the increased incidence of Colorado cyclones. Decadally, snowfall variability corresponds with a change in mean temperatures and predominant upper atmospheric flow that occurred around 1950. This change brought less snow to the Southern and Central Plains states, but more snow to the north. [Key words: snowfall, Great Plains, temporal/spatial variability.]     

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CLIMATOLOGY OF SNOWSTORMS IN THE DEEP SOUTH

Significant snowstorm events occurring during the winters from 1948/49 through 1989/90 are studied using a network of 100 weather stations across the southern states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. To qualify for entry into the snowstorm inventory, at least 10 out of the 100 sites need a minimum of 25 mm (1 inch) of snowfall. A total of 69 events are identified and further categorized into four magnitudes based upon areal coverage or total snowfall amount. The storms are also classified into regional categories based upon the dominant part of the study area affected. The spatial characteristics of the snowstorms are discussed and illustrated with maps showing snowfall distributions for representative storms. Most events impact the northern portions of the study area although some very major storms fit into a Miscellaneous category with unique snowfall distributions in the southern or central parts of the Deep South. The temporal character of snowstorm frequency reveals that a very low number of events occurred during the 1950s with peak occurrence during the 1960s. Snowstorms generally remained more frequent during the 1970s and 1980s compared to the 1950s.     

The Distribution Patterns of Timberline and Its Response to Climate Change in the Himalayas

Himalayan region represents the highest and most diverse treeline over the world. As one of the most conspicuous boundaries between montane forests and alpine vegetation, the alpine timberline attracted the interest of researchers for many decades. However, timberline in the Himalayas is understudied compared with European counterparts due to remoteness. Here we review the distribution pattern of timberline and its climatic condition, the carbon and nutrient supply mechanism for treeline formation, and treeline shift and treeline tree recruitment under climate change scenarios. Growth limitation, rather than carbon source limitation is the physiological cause of timberline under the low temperature condition. Nutrient limitation and water stress are not the direct cause of timberline formation. However, more clear local limitation factors are need to integrate in order to enable us to predict the potential impacts and changes caused by human activity and related global change in this sensitive region.     

中国高山林线的分布高度与气候的关系

通过研究我国高山林线的分布高度沿纬度、经度的变化格局,和对高山林线处的温度和基带降水等气候指标的分析,对我国高山林线分布高度与气候因子的关系进行探讨。结果表明：(1) 我国高山林线高度表现出明显的纬向和经向变化,总体趋势是：在北纬30^o以北,高山林线高度随纬度升高而下降,下降速率为112 m/度左右;在30^oN以南,则表现出较大的东西部差异：在东部,高山林线高度变化不明显,西部则随纬度增加呈上升趋势。在相似的纬度上,高山林线高度呈现出从东向西升高的趋势。高山林线在藏东南的洛隆、丁青、工布江达一带 (约29^o~32^oN,94^o~96^oE) 达到4 600 m,为世界最高林线高度,并以此为中心向四周降低。(2) 影响高山林线高度的主导气候因子为生长季温度条件。我国高山林线高度的温度指标为年生物温度3.5 ^oC,温暖指数14.2 ^oC·月,生长季平均温度8.2 ^oC。该指标相应海拔高度的地理差异,导致了我国高山林线高度的纬向、经向变化,和从沿海到内陆林线高度的差异。(3) 降水对高山林线高度有显著影响。在中高纬度地区,相同纬度上干旱区域的高山林线高于较湿润区域,降水量是通过温度间接作用于林线高度的。     

青藏高原高寒草甸的时空变化特征

本文首先用比较地理学的观点分析了青藏高原高寒草甸与其相邻景观之间的连续性与间断性；然后从高寒草甸上下限垂直分布的特征出发，半定量地阐明了上下限分布特征的原因以及决定上下限分布的主导因素；最后从不同的时间尺度出发，探讨了高寒草甸生态系统的动态变化特征。     

北极新奥尔松地区夏季近地面CO2、CH4和N2O浓度的观测研究

2008和2009年夏在北极新奥尔松地区（Ny-Ålesund）不同苔原区域（鸟类保护区、海滩苔原、矿区、人类活动区等）监测CO₂、CH₄和N₂O近地面浓度的时空变化并分析其可能的影响因素。2008年7月25日-8月13日和2009年7月13-26日,在不同观测区域设置常规和非常规采样点采集气体样品共239瓶并妥善保存。实验室内使用气相色谱（GC）测定准确真空瓶中温室气体（CO₂、CH₄和N₂O）的浓度。鸟类保护区的日变化中,2008年鸟类保护区CO₂和N₂O日变化浓度均大于2009年约30 ppm和25 ppb。2008年海滩苔原CO₂浓度均高于2009年约30 ppm;N₂O浓度低于2009年11 ppb;2008年鸟类保护区CH₄浓度低于2009年,而海滩苔原2008年浓度高于2009年,差值均约为0.7 ppm。这些年际变化可能由环境条件（天气变化等）和地表覆盖情况的变化引起。高海鸟活动区（HB）CO₂浓度低于海鸟活动较少的区域（MB 和 LB）;鸟类保护区CO₂浓度低于海滩苔原,N₂O浓度高于海滩苔原,主要原因是海鸟活动和鸟粪增加了土壤营养元素,影响苔藓植被发育的情况并改变上垫面状况。综合不同苔原区域：新奥尔松地区CO₂和CH₄浓度高于ZEP (Zeppelin Station)监测平均浓度,地表向大气输送CO₂和CH₄;而N₂O低于ZEP监测的平均浓度,地表从大气吸收N₂O。不同区域影响因素不同：鸟类保护区、海滩苔原和鸟岛主要是受到海鸟活动影响;矿区主要是受水分和土壤基质影响;站区和机场受到人类活动影响但并不明显,总的来说直接原因是由于地表覆盖情况以及地形不同引起。     

ALPINE AREAS IN THE COLORADO FRONT RANGE AS MONITORS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE*

ABSTRACT. The presence of a seasonal snowpack in alpine environments can amplify climate signals. A conceptual model is developed for the response of alpine ecosystems in temperate, midlatitude areas to changes in energy, chemicals, and water, based on a case study from Green Lakes Valley–Niwot Ridge, a headwater catchment in the Colorado Front Range. A linear regression shows the increase in annual precipitation of about 300 millimeters from 1951 to 1996 to be significant. Most of the precipitation increase has occurred since 1967. The annual deposition of inorganic nitrogen in wetfall at the Niwot Ridge National Atmospheric Deposition Program site roughly doubled between 1985–1988 and 1989–1992. Storage and release of strong acid anions, such as those from the seasonal snowpack in an ionic pulse, have resulted in episodic acidification of surface waters. These biochemical changes alter the quantity and quality of organic matter in high‐elevation catchments of the Rocky Mountains. Affecting the bottom of the food chain, the increase in nitrogen deposition may be partly responsible for the current decline of bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountains.     

大兴安岭北部大白山高山林线动态与气候变化的关系

高山林线植被对气候变化十分敏感,已成为全球变化研究的热点.研究了大兴安岭北部大白山高山林线的树木生长和群落更新动态及其与气候变化、火干扰等因素的关系.结果表明,林线树木的生长对气候变化十分敏感,但其敏感性随着海拔的降低而减弱;在高海拔,林线树木的径向生长与上年生长季后期(8月)降水负相关,而与上年初秋(9月)温度正相关,这限制作用随着海拔的降低而逐渐消失;与此相反,低海拔树木生长与当年冬末春初(3月)的温度负相关,但随着海拔上升这种限制作用消失.分析结果还表明,本地区的群落更新主要受火干扰驱动,而与气候变化没有显著关系.不同树种在火灾后更新的时间存在差异,这种差异又因海拔的不同而异,反映出不同树种的更新策略及对环境变化适应能力的差异.大兴安岭北部的高山林线在树木生长对气候变化的敏感性、与气候因子的关系及群落更新动态等方面均与干旱区林线有明显的差异,这些差异与气候条件、树种、更新驱动力等方面的不同有密切的关系.     

土地利用变化的时空分析及其在云南丽江的应用

土地利用／土地覆被变化(LUCC)是全球环境变化研究的重要组成部分之一。土地利用变化包括时间变化、空间变化和质量变化等3个方面，其中时空变化反映土地利用类型变化的空间分布以及区域差异，是土地管理和规划关注的焦点问题。为了解决这一问题，探讨4种主要的时空分析指标：土地利用变化幅度，变化速度，变化区域差异和类型相互转化的马尔可夫转移矩阵模型，并应用这些指标对云南丽江进行研究，揭示了该区域土地利用数量变化和空间变化等特征，结果较为符合当地实际状况。     

天山北坡三工河流域中山带森林发育与气候土壤的关系

开展干旱区山地森林发育状况及其土壤因素影响的分析,对干旱区乃至全球山地森林带的成因研究具有重要的理论意义。以天山北坡三工河流域为研究区,主要利用森林调查与遥感影像数据,确定该流域森林带的分布状况,并结合流域气象与土壤采样数据,重点分析气候土壤因素对森林发育的影响。结果表明:1.该流域森林带位于海拔1 510～2 720 m,胸径与树高随海拔增加呈双峰曲线;其中胸径两个峰值分别位于约海拔2 000 m与2 550m,而树高峰值分别为海拔2 100 m与2 600 m,均稍高于胸径的峰值海拔高度;2.在森林带内,年均温随海拔高度增加呈线性下降趋势,最冷月均温(1月)则表现先增加后减小趋势;与其他地区相比,该流域高山林线年均温较高,最冷月均温相差较大,而最热月均温差异不明显;年降水量呈先增加后减小的趋势,且在海拔2 000 m左右达到最大值。土壤属性随海拔递增呈规律性的变化趋势:森林带内海拔约2 000～2 700 m树木发育较好,其有机质、全磷及全氮含量较高;CaCO3,pH值及电导率最小值与海拔2 000 m的最大降水带恰好吻合;土壤A层(0～10 cm)有机质、全磷及全氮含量与B(10～30 cm)、C(>3...     

极地浮游病毒的研究进展

本文对极地海洋病毒的国内外研究现状进行了扼要阐述,尤其是海冰融化对病毒的生态影响。内容包括极地海域的浮游病毒丰度、多样性及在碳循环中的作用研究,以及我国在极地科考中所进行的与浮游病毒相关的工作。并提出了今后在极地海域要解决的与病毒相关的科学问题。     

牛背梁自然保护区林线不同海拔巴山冷杉径向生长对气候变化的响应

近年来气候变化对秦岭植被的影响已得到众多研究的证实,牛背梁作为秦岭东部主脊和国家级自然保护区,该地区亚高山林线植被对气候变化的生态响应现状尚未得到广泛关注。依照树木年代学原理,进行响应分析并建立回归模型,探讨了牛背梁林线关键树种巴山冷杉（Abies fargesii）年表特征及对气候响应的海拔分异特征。结果表明：（1）随海拔升高,树木生长对气候的敏感性逐渐上升,但轮宽年表的同步性和信号强度呈先下降后上升的特点。（2）不同海拔树轮宽度年表的气候响应结果基本一致,对气温的敏感性均较降水强,敏感时段为当年2～8月,差异主要体现在,高海拔树木受生长季末期8月气温的影响较重,中海拔树木受生长季前期3～4月降水和上年冬季10～11月气温的促进,而低海拔树木受初春1～2月降水的限制作用明显。（3）对比分析低、中、高海拔3个回归模型中显著因子的变化趋势,发现气候变化可以促进巴山冷杉生长季的提前,但不同海拔树木的生长动态各异,说明研究区林线不同海拔巴山冷杉生长对全球变化可能具有不同的响应机制。     

Sigmoid wave transitions at alpine treeline

Ecotones that are controlled by a single environmental gradient or a set of correlated environmental factors are hypothesized to show a sigmoid wave form in percentage cover as the ecotone is crossed. This study investigates the sigmoid wave hypothesis at the alpine treeline in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. We find that approximately half of the sampled locations exhibit a sigmoid wave form in percentage cover across the ecotone. These results indicate that in some cases treeline is controlled by a single environmental gradient or a set of correlated environmental factors. However, in other cases, additional factors that are not correlated with the primary controlling gradient act to change the form of the transition. We investigated surficial geology as a possible controlling factor that would not be correlated with the primary climatic gradients found along transects across the alpine treeline. In at least some of the cases, surficial geology type was shown to be significantly associated with differences between sigmoidal and non‐sigmoidal transitions. These results support previous evidence for sigmoid wave transitions at the boreal forest—tundra ecotone, but also show that the alpine treeline case is more complex. We argue that in cases where ecotones are used as sites for monitoring the effects of climate change on vegetation, care should be taken to utilize only sites that exhibit a sigmoidal transition so as to minimize the effects of non‐climate‐related controlling factors on the interpretations.     

Variations in the Drought Severity Index in Response to Climate Change on the Tibetan Plateau

Quantifying the relationship between the drought severity index and climate factors is crucial for predicting drought risk in situations characterized by climate change. However, variations in drought risk are not readily discernible under conditions of climate change, and this is particularly the case on the Tibetan Plateau. This study examines the correlations between the annual drought severity index (DSI) and 14 climate factors (including temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and hours of sunshine factors), on the Tibetan Plateau from 2000 to 2011. Spatial average DSI increased with precipitation and minimum relative humidity, while it decreased as the hours of sunshine increased. The correlation between DSI and climate factors varied with vegetation types. In alpine meadows, the correlation of the spatial DSI average with the percentage of sunshine and hours of sunshine (P<0.001) was higher compared to that in alpine steppes (P<0.05). Similarly, average vapor pressure and minimum relative humidity had significant positive effects on spatial DSI in alpine meadows, but had insignificant effects in alpine steppes. The magnitude of DSI change correlated negatively with temperature, precipitation, and vapor pressure, and positively with wind speed and sunshine. This demonstrates that the correlation between drought and climate change on the Tibetan Plateau is dependent on the type of ecosystem.     

高寒草甸土壤有机碳储量及其垂直分布特征

青藏高原是全球变化的敏感区。高寒草甸草原是青藏高原上最主要的放牧利用草地资源之一。选择青藏高原东北隅海北站内具有代表性的高寒草甸土壤进行高分辨率采样,测定土壤根系和有机碳含量。研究得出,青藏高原高寒草甸土壤贮存有巨大的根系生物量 (23544.60 kg ha^-1~27947 kg ha^-1) 和土壤有机碳 (21.52 GtC);自然土壤表层 (0~10 cm) 储存了整个剖面土壤有机碳总量的30%左右。比较发现,高寒草甸土壤的有机碳平均贮存量 (23.17×10⁴ kgCha^-1) (0~60 cm) 较相应深度的热带森林土壤、灌丛土壤和草地土壤的有机碳贮存量高约1~5倍多。在全球碳预算研究中,青藏高原高寒草甸土壤有机碳库不可忽视。随着全球变暖,表层土壤有机碳分解释放的CO₂将增加。为了减少高寒草甸生态系统的碳排放,应加强高寒草甸土壤地表覆被的保护,合理种植深根系植物。这对减缓全球大气CO₂浓度升高的速率以及可持续开发高寒草甸的生态服务功能都具有重要意义。     

微机制图在土地详查中的应用

新疆土地详查历经八年，至今未完。为降低劳动强度，提高工作效率，针对叶城县山区土地利用类型多样，耕地分散等特点，进行了微机制图的探讨。本文着重介绍了（1）微机制图的软硬件工作环境；（2）图形编辑和编码技巧；（3）图形量化方法，建立图形库；（4）属性数据输入、更新、修改；（5）错误信息检查，建立点线面的相互关系；（6）面积计算与机助制图。     

中国低碳治理的制约因素和相应对策

作为全球碳排放大国,中国低碳治理的发展方向对全球气候变化有深远的影响,值得深入研究。通过中国低碳治理的制约因素及其成因的分析,提出地方政府行为是中国低碳治理的主要制约因素。这主要表现在地方政府鼓励不符合低碳发展的粗放式经济增长和城市开发及地方政府制定与执行低碳政策的积极性不高。而地方政府行为背后是各种制度环境因素。因此,改善中国低碳治理需要从制度改革入手。对制度改革提出3个建议：① 强化节能目标责任制;② 缓和地方政府过于强烈的发展意愿;③ 加强公民参与低碳治理。     

近四十年来我国气温的长期变化趋势*

利用160个站1951—1988年的气温资料,本文对近四十年来我国气温变化过程和时空特征作了分析。结果表明:全国十年平均气温从50年代至今一直在升温,80年代较50年代升高0.2℃。一般升温随纬度的增高而加强,冬秋季全国普遍增温,且升温幅度最大,夏季一般降温或升温幅度很小。总的趋势是近40年来我国大部分地区有冬暖夏凉的变化。     

龙滩水库贵州库区局地气候变化分析

利用龙滩水库贵州库区及其周边10个气象站1961～2010年气象资料,采用线性倾向估计方法对贵州库区的年平均气温、降水量、日照时数、相对湿度做变化趋势分析,采用秩和检验方法对各要素比值的平均值进行水库蓄水前后差异性分析。结果表明：贵州库区年平均降水量和日照时数较常年偏多,其变化趋势主要是大尺度大气环流影响造成的,水库影响不明显;水库蓄水后,使近库区年平均气温降低,年平均相对湿度增大,水库对年平均气温产生影响的最大距离在14～17 km,而对年平均相对湿度产生影响的最大距离〈14 km。