Changes in soil organic carbon and its active fractions in different desertification stages of alpine-cold grassland in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

In recent years, the desertification of alpine-cold grasslands has become increasingly serious in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China, but it has not received the same amount of attention as has desertification in (semi)arid areas. Little is thus known about the change in soil organic carbon (SOC) during alpine-cold grassland desertification. To quantify the impacts of desertification on vegetation, SOC and its active fractions in alpine-cold grasslands, areas of light desertified grassland, medium desertified grassland, heavy desertified grassland, serious desertified grassland, and nondesertified grassland were selected as experimental sites in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China. The species number, height and coverage of vegetation were surveyed, and the soil particle fractions, SOC and SOC active fractions (including dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and labile organic carbon (LOC) were measured to a depth of 0–100 cm. The results showed that alpine-cold grassland desertification resulted in a significant reduction in vegetation cover, plant biomass, fine soil particles, SOC, DOC, LOC and MBC. The decreases in DOC, LOC and MBC were more rapid and apparent than were those in SOC, and the decrease in MBC was the most obvious among them. The rates of reduction in SOC concentrations accelerated as desertification progressed; most of the SOC was lost in the middle and later desertification stages, with lower losses during early desertification. The results indicate that active SOC fractions, particularly MBC, are more sensitive to desertification and can be used as sensitive indicators of desertification. Efforts to limit desertification and reduce SOC loss in alpine-cold grasslands should focus on early desertification stages and adopt strategies to prevent overgrazing and control the erosion of soil by wind.     

风蚀对中国北方脆弱生态系统碳循环的影响

风蚀是中国北方脆弱生态系统土壤质量退化和沙漠化的关键因素。文章基于土壤剖面普查和土壤侵蚀遥感调查数据,计算出风蚀土壤有机碳的侵蚀量和空间分布,并与风蚀区的净第一性生产力(NPP)比较。结果发现土壤风蚀区的一个显著特征是表层土壤有机质含量较小,并且随着土壤风蚀强度的增加,相应的表层土壤平均有机质含量和NPP基本上逐渐减小,而相应的土壤有机碳的侵蚀量却明显增大。在中国北方严重风蚀的脆弱生态区,土壤有机碳的侵蚀量超过了NPP,风蚀影响了生态系统的正常碳循环。     

Wind erosion hazard assessment of the Mongolian Plateau using FCM and GIS techniques

The most serious environmental problems of the Mongolian Plateau are land degradation and sand storms caused by wind erosion, but the evaluation of wind erosion at regional scales has been a difficult process in wind erosion research. In this study, fuzzy c-means clustering (FCM) was used to assess the spatial pattern of wind erosion hazard on the Mongolian Plateau. By fuzzy clustering four main wind erosion factors (vegetation cover, average degree of land surface relief, degree of soil dryness and intensity of wind energy), wind erosion hazard was classified into six grades. Results show that FCM can effectively integrate related information between wind erosion and environmental factors, which provides the basis for predictive mapping of wind erosion hazard. Spatial patterns of wind erosion hazard indicate a gradual trend of increasing hazard in the Mongolian Plateau from east to west. Similar patterns were also found in NDVI and soil dryness, indicating that soil moisture and vegetation are the most important factors in the formation of wind erosion hazard. In addition, the distribution of different levels of wind erosion hazard is basically consistent with the regional distribution of landscape vegetation types in the Mongolian Plateau.     

2010—2018年中国北方沙质荒漠化变化分析

荒漠化目前已成为威胁全球生态环境的主要问题。我国北方地区风蚀作用强烈,是土地沙质荒漠化问题最为突出的地区。以沙漠、沙地分布较广的北方6省(区)为研究区,利用遥感技术获取2010—2018年研究区沙质荒漠化演化特征,并将气象、地质等因素进行综合分析,探讨毛乌素沙地、科尔沁沙地沙质荒漠化变化原因。遥感解译结果表明: 2018年北方地区沙质荒漠化土地共35.08万km²,其中重度沙质荒漠化面积11.92万km²,中度沙质荒漠化13.54万km²,轻度沙质荒漠化9.62万km²,主要分布于内蒙古自治区和新疆维吾尔自治区; 2010—2018年,北方地区沙质荒漠化土地面积减少0.73万km²,其中,新疆维吾尔自治区沙质荒漠化面积减少0.48万km²,内蒙古自治区减少0.19万km²,同时有2.78万km²沙质荒漠化土地程度减轻。以毛乌素沙地和科尔沁沙地为典型研究区,对比两沙地生态地质条件差异,总结了沙质荒漠化好转、加重的原因。研究认为,毛乌素沙地应降低人类活动干扰的影响,以自然恢复为主; 科尔沁沙地应加强地下水资源管理,优化植被结构,进一步推进退耕还林、退耕还草工作。研究成果为我国北方沙质荒漠化地区生态保护修复提供了科学参考。     

内蒙古中东部浅覆盖区荒漠化的驱动因素及其演化的地质依据

内蒙古中东部荒漠草原浅覆盖区因其特殊的地质地貌成为了地球科学、环境科学等研究的热点地区。在这个区域内,一方面针对水土资源和矿产资源的开发利用,从多角度、多维度对其覆盖层的揭露探索取得一定成效;另一方面又存在沙质荒漠化和生态环境退化等问题,其覆盖层结构、风沙来源,驱动因素和演化趋势等问题亟待解决。通过研究沙质荒漠化主要成因类型及其形成演变规律、成因机制和未来的发展趋势。以驱动因素-现今状态-影响趋势-地质解释为主线。分析认为：（1）、借助青藏高原隆升影响气候变化可能造就中国北方干旱气候的大背景,新构造运动为沙质荒漠化的孕育圈闭了沉积空间。同时,因构造抬升使得周围山体在外动力地质作用的推动下易于风化剥蚀沙质的沉积;（2）、气候干旱和水资源匮乏是沙质荒漠环境重要影响因素,河流的改道和变迁也是沙质荒漠化发生的动力条件。现代河流阶地和河漫滩上丰富的沙物质是现代沙质荒漠化和沙尘暴的沙源;（3）、空间上半干旱典型的气候带是多动力复合侵蚀的根本原因,时间上,季节性风沙和河流的更替使得复合侵蚀作用更为突出;（4）、人为活动对自然的改造速度是有目共睹的,不合理的人类活动是沙质荒漠化发生和发展的催化剂。在上述背景下,以地质成因的角度揭示沙质荒漠化形成与演化,为荒漠化的科学治理提供相应的地质依据。     

Advances in Researches of the Effects of Grassland Vegetation on Soil Erosion in Loess Plateau

Soil erosion is a serious global environmental problem which limits the survival and development of human beings. In our country, due to the special physical geography and socio-economic conditions, soil erosion intensity is great, which is particularly prominent in Loess Plateau region. Therefore, preventing and controlling soil erosion, as well as reducing soil erosion in Loess Plateau have become the key to solving environmental problems in the region. Soil erosion on Loess Plateau is serious, and grassland vegetation has good effects on soil and water conservation, which can improve ecological environment well. After the implementation of the project about returning farmland to grassland on Loess Plateau, the ecological benefits mainly focused on soil and water conservation benefits, soil improvement benefits, water conservation benefits and species diversity benefits, etc. Grassland vegetation has an irreplaceable role in the construction of the ecological environment on Loess Plateau. Therefore, the role of grassland in preventing soil erosion has received more and more attention. Scholars have done lots of research involved in the relationship between grassland coverage and soil erosion, impacts of grassland on hydrodynamic parameters, effects of grassland on soil properties, reduction effects of grassland on runoff and sediment, and soil erosion process on grassland slope. However, there is little research on erosion effect induced by grassland cover. This paper mainly pointed out the following questions: First, grassland cover is influenced by many factors, but the relationship with soil erosion from the dynamic mechanism is rarely discussed; Second, there is no well-developed theory of overland flow erosion at present, which limits the study of hydrodynamic parameters on grassland slope; Third, establishment of mathematical model between grassland cover and soil resistance can accelerate the quantitative analysis of grassland influence on erosion; Fourth, comprehensive analysis of influencing factors on water reduction and sediment reduction effect on grassland are insufficient; Fifth, there are not many mechanisms to analyze the erosion process of grassland slope by using the hydrodynamic characteristics of slope; sixth, research results on grassland-induced erosion are mainly focused on leading to soil dry layer and we should continue to strengthen in the future. This paper summarized the previous results, and supplemented some studies about erosion caused by grassland, then pointed out the existing problems in current research and the areas that need to be strengthened in the future, aiming at reducing soil erosion on the Loess Plateau.     

草原农垦区土地沙质荒漠化过程的生物学机制

以沙质荒漠化正处在发展过程的河北坝上地区和沙质荒漠化严重的科尔沁沙地流沙治理区为例,结合国内外已有的研究成果,探讨草原沙质荒漠化的主要生物学机制。指出在草原农垦区开垦和过度放牧引起的土壤细颗粒物质、养分损失,促进了灌木侵入。灌木侵入又加剧了土壤养分、水分空间格局的改变,在灌丛周围形成一个包括微生物在内的土壤肥力富集区,即灌丛"土壤肥岛",而在丛间发生土壤风蚀和水蚀,导致斑块状流沙甚至大面积流沙的出现。诱发荒漠化的不合理耕作、灌溉、盐渍化、过度放牧等过程同样影响菌根菌的密度和接种成功率,从而降低草地生产力。在草原地区的流沙上建立各种固沙植被不仅使流沙地土壤养分、水分异质性加强,而且使沙地景观异质性增加。还提出用土壤颗粒分形维数来表征土地沙质荒漠化的程度,以空间上不同样点土壤属性变异系数（方差与平均值之比）作为沙质荒漠化土壤属性异质性的测度。     

中国北方沙漠化的若干问题

随着经济、社会的发展,沙漠化问题对自然环境和社会发展的影响愈来愈深刻,已得到国际社会的普遍重视,作为沙漠化问题极其严重的国家,我国在对沙漠化的认识及治理上,经过多年工作取得了一些成就.本文根据已有的经验和研究成果,就中国北方沙漠化的成因、发展过程、灾害评价及防治机理等方面做一简单探讨,以便为今后更好地开展沙漠化研究工作起一定的参考作用.     

青藏高原高寒区草地生态环境系统退化研究

青藏高原高寒地区的草地生态环境是高原生态环境的重要组成部分.近几十年来,在人类活动的强烈干扰和自然环境变化的影响下,高寒草地生态环境严重退化.在退化草地选取典型样地,调查研究了草地退化后土壤水文过程、土壤结构、植被状况等的变化.结果表明:高原高寒地区草场退化以后,土壤水文过程都发生改变,植被退化越严重土壤含水量变化越强烈、土壤入渗过程越快.退化草地的植被群落演替变化明显,优势种群退化严重,植物个体出现了小型化现象.水土流失日趋严重,土壤贫瘠化、沙化、荒漠化增强,鼠虫害等自然灾害频繁.     

Climatic and anthropogenic drivers of land use/cover change in fragile karst areas of southwest China since the early 1970s: a case study on the Maotiaohe watershed

Land use/cover change and its driving forces has been one of the most important fields in global environmental change research since the 1990s. Karst areas are distributed extensively on the Earth’s surface and are usually characterized by a fragile eco-environment. In southwest China, karst landforms are fully developed and their eco-environment is highly fragile. Over the past decades, irrational land use practice has caused a series of alarming eco-environmental issues including forest clearing, soil erosion, and karst rocky desertification. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to study land use/cover change in this area and its driving forces in order to re-build the damaged eco-environment and achieve sustainable land use. In this paper, the authors conduct a case study on land use/cover change and its natural and human driving forces since the early 1970s in southwest China’s Maotiaohe watershed. The results indicate that the land use/cover pattern in the study area has undergone a very complex change, which is a result of combined action of both natural and anthropological factors. In the 1970s and 1980s, climate change and fast population increase played dominating roles in the change of arable land, shrub land, grassland, and rocky desertification land. Since the early 1990s, economic development has gradually taken the place of population change to become the overwhelming human factor to go along with climate change in driving the land use/cover change, particularly the change in arable land, construction land, and rocky desertification land.     

黄河源区玛多县沙漠化成因与发展过程

通过分析黄河源区玛多县沙漠化的成因和过程,结果表明,玛多县沙漠化成因类型有三种,分别为固定沙丘/古沙丘活化、滑塌陡坎及风蚀斑块,其形成都与多年冻土退化相关.在固定沙丘或古沙丘分布区,冻土退化导致热融沉陷,形成沉陷坑,沉陷坑边缘形成拉裂缝或陡坎,使下伏松散沙露出.在斜坡上,冻土退化形成滑塌陡坎,使底层土壤从侧面暴露.在平坦的冲积平原,差异性冻胀和融沉导致草皮拉裂,形成积水坑洼,冻土退化导致土壤变干,土壤的底层暴露.下伏风成沉积物暴露后,遭受风蚀,形成侧向凹槽,致使上部土体坍塌,使更多的风成沉积物暴露,这些过程的不断重复,使风蚀坑、陡坎、风蚀斑块扩大相连,最终形成流动沙丘、风蚀劣地、戈壁等地貌.     

内蒙古自治区东部荒漠化现状及危害

依据1994年《国际防治荒漠化公约》的荒漠化定义,对内蒙古自治区东部的荒漠化现状进行了调查与划分,对荒漠化的分布特征及危害类型进行了论述.内蒙古自治区东部存在沙质荒漠化、土壤盐渍化及水蚀荒漠化3种类型.现有荒漠化土地面积148521.65km2,占调查区总面积的54.76%.荒漠化的发展,造成内蒙古东部草原退化、诱发沙尘暴、地下水位下降等环境地质问题.     

21世纪前十年的中国土地覆盖变化

土地覆盖变化是陆地生态系统变化的重要组成部分与驱动因素。在全球变化、生态环境建设、经济高速发展等因素的影响下,21世纪前十年中国土地覆盖发生了显著变化,对此变化的监测和分析不但能支持中国碳源/汇的评估和碳收支估算,还可为生态环境变化评估提供基础数据。本研究在面向对象（object-based）的分类技术支持下,利用LandsatTM/ETM数据和HJ-1卫星数据,结合大量外业调查数据生产了30m分辨率的2000年、2010年中国土地覆盖数据（ChinaCover）;采用像元二分法生产了植被覆盖度数据。利用这两个数据集对中国土地覆盖10年的变化特点进行了分析。结果表明,人工表面和林地呈增加趋势,而耕地、湿地和草地面积呈减少的趋势;人工表面的快速增加和耕地面积的大规模减少是这一时期中国土地覆盖变化的最主要特点;土地覆盖类型转换中,耕地转换为人工表面的区域主要集中在我国中东部地区,耕地转换为林地和草地的区域主要分布在退耕还林还草的重点区域,耕地的扩张主要来自三江平原和新疆绿洲的农业开发。以植被覆盖度为评估指标显示森林、灌丛和草地质量总体呈上升趋势,但在汶川地震重灾区、横断山以及武夷山等局部地区的森林质量呈退化趋势;塔里木盆地周围、青藏高原东部、太行山、吕梁山等地区的灌丛植被覆盖度有所下降;内蒙古中部、青藏高原西南部、新疆天山南部、呼伦贝尔等地区的草地出现退化现象。     

Interactions between freeze–thaw actions,wind erosion desertification,and permafrost in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

The unique natural environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has led to the development of widespread permafrost and desertification. However, the relationship between desertification and permafrost is rarely explored. Here we study the interaction between desertification and permafrost using a combination of simulations, experiments, and field observations in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Results show the cohesion values of the test samples that experienced 1, 3, and 6 freeze–thaw cycle times decreased by 65.9, 46.0, and 35.5 %, respectively, and the compressive strength of the test samples decreased by 69.6, 39.6, and 34.7 %, respectively, compared to the test samples that did not experience freeze–thaw cycles. The wind erosion rate of the test block eroded by sand-bearing wind was far larger than that by clean wind under the same conditions; the maximum value was 50 times higher than that by clean wind. The wind erosion rate increased with an increasing number of freeze–thaw cycles, water content, and freeze–thaw temperature difference. The ground temperature below the sand layer was decreased, compared to the natural ground surface that without sand layer covering, the drop amplitude of yearly average temperature was roughly maintained at 0.2 °C below the thick sand layer (1.2 m), and the maximum drop of yearly average temperature was 0.7 °C below the thin sand layer (0.1 m). Therefore, with the presence of water, the destruction of surface soil structure caused by repeated and fierce freeze–thaw actions is the main cause of wind erosion desertification in the permafrost region of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and sand-bearing wind is the main dynamic force. The development of eolian sand deposits after the desertification emerges. As a result, the properties of the underlying surface are altered. Due to the high reflectivity and poor heat conductivity of the sand layer, the heat exchange of the land–atmosphere system is impeded, causing a drop in the ground temperature of the underlying permafrost that subsequently preserves the permafrost.     

青藏高原冻融荒漠化的若干问题——以藏西-藏北荒漠化区为例

冻融荒漠化是高海拔地区特有的土地退化过程,依据生态基准面理论将青藏高原冻融荒漠化划分为极重度、重度、中度和轻度4个等级.藏西-藏北区冻融荒漠化面积达44303.73km²,多呈斑块状零星分布和片状分散分布.高原冻土区具有冻融荒漠化形成的环境基质,近40a区域气候持续变暖,人为活动频率与强度加剧,鼠类活动猖獗,使浅层多年冻土的冻融过程加剧,从而形成冻融荒漠化土地.其形成过程主要有多年冻土季节融化层增厚-地下水位下降-地表土壤干燥化、地表覆盖改变或地下融水增加-冻土融冻界面热融-地表沉陷破碎、冻融作用过程和斜坡过程受到强化等.预测未来20~30a冻融荒漠化继续发展,程度加重.防治冻融荒漠化的对策主要是减轻草场压力、恢复草地植被,加强鼠害防治和合理布局开发工程、采用工程与生物措施等.     

阿拉善高原干涸湖床沉积物与华北地区沙尘暴

文章通过内蒙古阿拉善高原古居延泽干涸湖床沉积物、周缘活动沙丘、沙质草原地表土壤及古代弃荒土地的粒度组成分析,论述干涸湖床沉积物对沙尘天气的影响。古居延泽湖床沉积粒度分析结果表明,干涸湖床的地表湖相沉积物粒径小于10μm的颗粒占64%以上,可以在一般风暴条件下在大气中搬运几千公里,这意味着西北地区干涸湖床产生的粉尘在风暴作用下可以横扫整个东亚北部地区。中国西北地区冬、春季多西北风造成沙尘暴或扬沙天气,西部沙漠、沙地或沙质草场遭遇强风时沙尘被席卷进气流,但其中粗砂粒扬起的高度、搬运的距离有限,当风力稍稍减弱,粗颗粒砂粒沉降,而粉尘继续悬浮运移。当强风途径下一个沙区时新的沙尘加入,沙尘暴呈“接力方式”继续向东南部移动。     

NOAA卫星遥感与常规观测中国积雪的对比研究

利用30a来NOAA卫星遥感和常规观测的中国积雪资料,对比研究了二者在不同季节和不同年代的逐月积雪日数.研究表明:全年、秋季、冬季和春季全国64%以上地区卫星遥感与常规观测的月积雪日数显著相关,其中东北(包括内蒙东部)和北疆地区显著相关;华北和内蒙中部冬季相关最为显著;青藏高原相关程度明显偏低.值得注意的是,高原上无测站分布地区对于NOAA卫星遥感的高原空间平均年积雪日数影响不显著.NOAA卫星遥感与常规观测的青藏高原空间平均全年积雪日数未达到显著相关,二者年际变化存在一定差异.     

Wind erosion occurrence probabilities maps in the watershed of the Ningxia–Inner Mongolia reach of the Yellow River,China

The watershed of the Ningxia–Inner Mongolia reach of the Yellow River suffers serious wind erosion hazards and the areas with high wind erosion probabilities need to be identified to help in the building of the correct wind-sand blown hazard protection systems. In this study, the Integrated Wind-Erosion Modelling System model and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data set were used to identify the distributions of threshold wind speeds and wind erosion occurrence probabilities. Through field observations, the relationships among NDVI, vegetation cover, frontal area (lateral cover), roughness length, and threshold friction velocity were obtained. Then, using these relationships, the spatial distributions of threshold wind speeds for wind erosion at a height of 10 m for the different months were mapped. The results show that the threshold wind speed ranged from 7.91 to 35.7 m/s. Based on the threshold wind speed distributions, the wind erosion occurrence probabilities of different months were calculated according to the current wind speed. The results show that the distributions of wind erosion occurrence probabilities and threshold wind speeds were related to each other. The resulting maps of threshold wind speeds and wind erosion occurrence probabilities would help environmental and agricultural researchers in determining some strategies for mitigating or adapting from wind erosion hazards.     

土地石漠化概念与分级问题再探讨

针对前人研究中将石漠化发生的地域限定在亚热带,将发生的时间限定在人类历史时期,将发生的原因均归结为人为不合理的经济活动,而忽视了石漠化可能发生的其它地域、其它时期和其它成因等问题,对土地石漠化概念作了修正。认为土地石漠化是在湿润、半湿润气候环境和岩溶环境中,由于人类活动和/或气候变化等因素作用,造成地表植被退化、土壤侵蚀、地表水流失、基岩裸露,形成类似石质荒漠景观的土地退化过程,并对其内涵作出释义。在此基础上依据生态基准面的理论,以坡面形态、溶蚀岩溶地貌形态、基岩出露率、土壤厚度和土被覆盖度、土壤侵蚀程度、植被覆盖率和植物种群、土地利用类型等为景观指征,将石漠化土地分为轻度、中度、重度和极重度4个等级,并以粤北岩溶山区为例,拟定了区域性石漠化土地分级及其综合景观指征。      

中国北方东部沙质荒漠化的地学观

中国北方东部的土地荒漠化主要受新构造运动以来的构造-沉积特征、青藏高原隆升所引起的全球气候变化、尤其是亚洲季风等地质背景控制。北方东部沙质荒漠化区域地质分类,按其成因可分为就地起沙型、风沙型和土地粗粒化型等3种类型。其中,就地起沙型沙质荒漠化主要分布在东部毛乌素、科尔沁、浑善达克、呼伦贝尔等沙地内,流经这些沙地的古河道,广泛发育河湖相砂质沉积物以及以砂质沉积物为母质的土壤分布区。风沙型沙质荒漠化主要分布在上述沙地的边缘地带,如毛乌素沙地以南的覆沙黄土区等。土地粗化主要分布在内蒙古锡林郭勒草原-河北坝上草原,其土壤类型多为含砾沙土,其土壤母质为基岩风化壳、残坡积或冲洪积物。荒漠化发展趋势上,尽管就地起沙型沙质荒漠化在毛乌素、科尔沁和浑善达克沙地的局部地区均有所逆转,但总体上,在北方广大地区,主要以地表土壤粗化为主的荒漠化和风沙型荒漠化等均有不同程度的扩大。上述不同类型的沙质荒漠化,总体上受地质背景控制。其中,第四纪以来的构造-沉积特征控制着不同类型荒漠化的区域分布,气候变化控制着荒漠化的进程,人类活动则是在上述背景的基础上进行。