Biogeochemistry of silica in Devils Lake: implications for diatom preservation

Diatom-salinity records from sediment cores have been used to construct climate records of saline-lake basins. In many cases, this has been done without thorough understanding of the preservation potential of the diatoms in the sediments through time. The purpose of this study was to determine the biogeochemistry of silica in Devils Lake and evaluate the potential effects of silica cycling on diatom preservation. During the period of record, 1867–1999, lake levels have fluctuated from 427 m above sea level in 1940 to 441.1 m above sea level in 1999. The biogeochemistry of silica in Devils Lake is dominated by internal cycling. During the early 1990s when lake levels were relatively high, about 94% of the biogenic silica (BSi) produced in Devils Lake was recycled in the water column before burial. About 42% of the BSi that was incorporated in bottom sediments was dissolved and diffused back into the lake, and the remaining 58% was buried. Therefore, the BSi accumulation rate was about 3% of the BSi assimilation rate. Generally, the results obtained from this study are similar to those obtained from studies of the biogeochemistry of silica in large oligotrophic lakes and the open ocean where most of the BSi produced is recycled in surface water. During the mid 1960s when lake levels were relatively low, BSi assimilation and water-column dissolution rates were much higher than when lake levels were high. The BSi assimilation rate was as much as three times higher during low lake levels. Even with the much higher BSi assimilation rate, the BSi accumulation rate was about three times lower because the BSi water-column dissolution rate was more than 99% of the BSi assimilation rate compared to 94% during high lake levels. Variations in the biogeochemistry of silica with lake level have important implications for paleolimnologic studies. Increased BSi water-column dissolution during decreasing lake levels may alter the diatom-salinity record by selectively removing the less resistant diatoms. Also, BSi accumulation may be proportional to the amount of silica input from tributary sources. Therefore, BSi accumulation chronologies from sediment cores may be effective records of tributary inflow.     

京津冀区域协同治理与国外大都市区比较研究

随着区域一体化发展不断成熟,良好的区域治理机制愈发重要。京津冀区域协同治理具有重要的战略意义,积累了良好的基础,也面临许多挑战。为了更好地认识京津冀区域协同治理模式的特征,提出优化建议支撑区域规划落实。论文立足比较研究的视角,以治理机制为核心,围绕参与主体、治理手段、协调机制3个维度建立起比较研究框架,概括总结了京津冀地区、德国柏林—勃兰登堡地区、日本东京首都圈、法国巴黎大都市区等首都所在区域的治理模式特征,并开展横向比较。结果表明：①多元主体参与是良好区域治理的基本特征,关键在于建立明晰的主体间权责关系;京津冀相比国外实践,虽主体多元,但权责关系有待进一步厘清;以设立承上启下的区域机构为契机,应加快梳理相关关系。②行政手段、市场手段与法律手段相辅相成,是保障区域治理效率的基础;京津冀相比之下更侧重行政手段,市场手段有限,法律手段相对薄弱;应优先增强立法建设,进而促使市场手段与行政手段相互平衡、良性互动。③多边协商机制是区域治理有序运行的保障;京津冀在决策中已有较好的协调机制,但矛盾仲裁与动态监管方面仍显不足;应加快健全整体协调机制,贯穿治理实践的各个环节。     

Modeling dynamic urban land-use change with geographical cellular automata and generalized pattern search-optimized rules

A novel generalized pattern search (GPS)-based cellular automata (GPS-CA) model was developed to simulate urban land-use change in a GIS environment. The model is built on a fitness function that computes the difference between the observed results produced from remote-sensing images and the simulated results produced by a general CA model. GPS optimization incorporating genetic algorithms (GAs) searches for the minimum difference, i.e. the smallest accumulated residuals, in fitting the CA transition rules. The CA coefficients captured by the GPS method have clear physical meanings that are closely associated with the dynamic mechanisms of land-use change. The GPS-CA model was applied to simulate urban land-use change in Kunshan City in the Yangtze River Delta from 2000 to 2015. The results show that the GPS method had a smaller root mean squared error (0.2821) than a logistic regression (LR) method (0.5256) in fitting the CA transition rules. The GPS-CA model thus outperformed the LR-CA model, with an overall accuracy improvement of 4.7%. As a result, the GPS-CA model should be a superior tool for modeling land-use change as well as predicting future scenarios in response to different conditions to support the sustainable urban development.     

Assessing the performance of a diatom transfer function on four Minnesota lake sediment cores: effects of training set size and sample age

Paleolimnological information is often extracted from diatom records using weighted averaging calibration and regression techniques. Larger calibration sample sets yield better inferences because they better characterize the environmental characteristics and species assemblages of the sample region. To optimize inferred information from fossil assemblages, however, it is worth knowing if fewer calibration samples can be used. Furthermore, confidence in environmental reconstructions is greater if we consider the relative importance of (A) similarity between fossil and calibration assemblages and (B) how well fossil taxa respond to the environmental variable of interest. We examine these issues using ~200-year sediment profiles from four Minnesota lakes and a 145-lake surface sediment training set calibrated for total phosphorus (TP). Training set sample sizes ranging from 10 to 145 were created through random sample selection, and models based on these training sets were used to calculate diatom-inferred (DI) TP data from fossil samples. Relationships between DI-TP variability and sample size were used to determine the minimum sample size needed to optimize the model for paleo-reconstruction. Similarly, similarities between fossil and modern assemblages were calculated for each size training set. Finally, fossil and modern assemblages were compared to determine whether older fossil samples had poorer similarity with modern analogs. More than 50–80 samples, depending on lake, were needed to stabilize variability in DI-TP results, and >110 training set samples were needed to minimize modern-fossil assemblage dissimilarities. Dissimilarities appeared to increase with sample age, but only one of the four studied cores displayed a significant trend. We have two recommendations for future studies: (1) be cautious when dealing with smaller training sets, especially if they are used to interpret older fossil assemblages and (2) understand how well fossil taxa are attuned to the variable of interest, as it is critical to evaluating the quality of the diatom-inferred data.     

A chironomid-based salinity inference model from lakes on the Tibetan Plateau

Previous studies have shown chironomids to be excellent indicators of environmental change and training sets have been developed in order to allow these changes to be reconstructed quantitatively from subfossil sequences. Here we present the results of an investigation into the relationships between surface sediment subfossil chironomid distribution and lake environmental variables from 42 lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that of the 11 measured environmental variables, salinity (measured as total dissolved solids TDS) was most important, accounting for 10.5% of the variance in the chironomid data. This variable was significant enough to allow the development of quantitative inference models. A range of TDS inference models were developed using Weighted Averaging (WA), Partial Least Squares (PLS), Weighted Averaging–Partial Least Squares (WA–PLS), Maximum Likelihood (ML), Modern Analogues Technique (MAT) and Modern Analogues Techniques weighted by similarity (WMAT). Evaluation of the site data indicated that four lakes were major outliers, and after omitting these from the training set the models produced jack-knifed coefficients of determination (r ²) between 0.60 and 0.80, and root-mean-squared errors of prediction (RMSEP) between 0.29 and 0.44 log₁₀ TDS. The best performing model was the two-component WA–PLS model with r ² _jack = 0.80 and RMSEP_jack = 0.29 log₁₀ TDS. The model results were similar to other chironomid-salinity models developed in different regions, and they also showed similar ecological groupings along the salinity gradient with respect to freshwater/salinity thresholds and community diversity. These results therefore indicate that similar processes may be controlling chironomid distribution across salinity gradients irrespective of biogeographical constraints. The performance of the transfer functions illustrates that chironomid assemblages from the Tibetan Plateau lakes are clearly sensitive indicators of salinity. The models will therefore allow the quantification of long-term records of past water salinity for lacustrine sites across the Tibetan Plateau, which has important implications for future hydrological research in the region.     

黄土高原植被恢复潜力研究

黄土高原从1999年开始大规模退耕还林（草）,植被覆盖发生了较大变化,对黄土高原植被恢复现状和恢复潜力进行评估具有重要意义。本文使用1999-2013年SPOT VEG NDVI数据,采用线性回归、Hurst指数分析法、统计学方法以及地理空间分析技术,对黄土高原植被恢复状况和潜力进行了探讨。结论主要为：① 1999年退耕还林（草）以来,黄土高原植被覆盖度呈显著上升趋势,黄土高原三分之二地区的植被将会持续改善;② 植被响应曲线分析表明,黄土区植被覆盖度和干旱指数呈显著的指数关系,且缓坡相关性大于陡坡。土石山区植被响应函数为线性函数,相关系数下降;③ 整个黄土高原地区平均植被恢复潜力为69.75%。植被恢复潜力值东南高而西北低,黄土高原东南地区植被恢复状况较好,其植被恢复潜力指数较小,而植被恢复潜力指数较高的地区主要为北方风沙区及西部丘陵沟壑区;④ 不同降水量条件下,植被恢复速度差别显著,其中降水量在375~575 mm之间的地区,植被恢复最快。植被恢复措施应该“因水制宜”,避免因造林带来的土壤干化加剧。研究结果以期为黄土高原生态文明建设提供科学支撑。     

物候学方法在历史气候变化重建中的应用

利用历史物候记录重建的气候变化结果,显著地增进了人类对过去气候变化特征的认识。但现有研究在历史物候记录的提取与处理、重建方法的选择、重建结果的精度评估等方面需要进一步总结梳理。通过归纳历史物候记录的资料源以及在历史物候记录预处理过程中需要解决的物种鉴别和物候期确定问题,对现有重建方法进行总结,发现较早的研究采用了古今对比法,而近年来的研究多采用更为复杂的回归和过程模型法。上述物候学方法的重建结果对认识中世纪暖期、小冰期和近百年等典型时段的历史气候变化特征提供了重要依据,同时物候学方法重建结果与其他代用资料重建结果往往表现出较高的一致性。未来研究可在历史物候记录的整编与利用、重建方法的准确性评估与改进以及不同重建结果比对等方面,进一步深入开展工作。     

南方典型山区土地利用变化GPS野外测量方法--以攀枝花仁和区为例

在ＧＰＳ空间信息技术综合应用于山区土地资源动态示范研究背景下,总结山地ＧＰＳ野外测量方法和经验。山地ＧＰＳ测量作业的主要问题是如何在保证测量数据质量的前提下提高工作效率、减少工作强度。ＧＰＳ测量数据已成为国土资源动态监测和管理领域的新型数据源。     

广州市海珠区高密度城区扩展SLEUTH模型模拟

高密度城区是城市的核心区,也是城区扩展的源,对该区域的精确识别以及扩展模拟研究,具有重要的意义与价值。以广州市海珠区1979、1990、2000、2008 年4 期Landsat 影像为数据源,运用非渗透表面端元选取模型(V-I-S) 与归一化混合光谱分析模型(NSMA) 相结合的方法,辅以单窗算法反演地表温度数据(LST),高精度提取非渗透表面丰度,进而设置合适阈值表征研究区高密度城区范围。在此基础上基于SLEUTH模型设置4 种场景模拟和预测海珠区高密度城区扩展,并用景观指数分析方法对研究区1979-2050 年长达70 年的空间扩展状况进行分析。主要结论为：① SLEUTH模型同样适用于小尺度区域的扩展模拟。② SLEUTH模型模拟中基于自然、人文以及城市扩展内在动力机制等条件参数的设置,促使模拟结果精度更高。③ SLEUTH模型模拟结果表明,自1979 至今,海珠区高密度城区以较快扩展速率扩张,尤以1990-2004 年间变动增长最快;未来的20 年其增长速率减缓,并于2030 年前后趋于稳定。这种扩张格局与变化状况与研究区产业结构、经济政策、土地规划决策等因素密不可分。     

Automatic change detection in lane-level road networks using GPS trajectories

Lane-level road network updating is crucial for urban traffic applications that use geographic information systems contributing to, for example, intelligent driving, route planning and traffic control. Researchers have developed various algorithms to update road networks using sensor data, such as high-definition images or GPS data; however, approaches that involve change detection for road networks at lane level using GPS data are less common. This paper presents a novel method for automatic change detection of lane-level road networks based on GPS trajectories of vehicles. The proposed method includes two steps: map matching at lane level and lane-level change recognition. To integrate the most up-to-date GPS data with a lane-level road network, this research uses a fuzzy logic road network matching method. The proposed map-matching method starts with a confirmation of candidate lane-level road segments that use error ellipses derived from the GPS data, and then computes the membership degree between GPS data and candidate lane-level segments. The GPS trajectory data is classified into successful or unsuccessful matches using a set of defuzzification rules. Any topological and geometrical changes to road networks are detected by analysing the two kinds of matching results and comparing their relationships with the original road network. Change detection results for road networks in Wuhan, China using collected GPS trajectories show that these methods can be successfully applied to detect lane-level road changes including added lanes, closed lanes and lane-changing and turning rules, while achieving a robust detection precision of above 80%.     

基于GPS的“雪龙”船冲击式破冰模式识别研究

"雪龙"号破冰船是我国目前唯一的极地考察船,破冰航行是极地船舶的重要特征之一。以"雪龙"号破冰船的GPS数据为基础,通过建立模型算法识别冲击式破冰这一特殊的航行状态,在整个中国第28次南极考察航次的数据分析中,整体识别率超过86.1%,识别正确率达到98%以上。利用此算法,在中国第27次南极考察航次的破冰识别率也超过85%,识别正确率达到93.5%。雪龙船两个航次实测GPS数据验证了本文算法的可用性,而破冰识别统计结果表明,不同航次的破冰模式具有较大的差异。     

Kinematics and dynamics of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

On the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau lies a large region which seismicity and GPS data show to be actively deforming. This paper describes the active faulting in the region, and how it relates to the velocity field observed with GPS. In places the velocity field is accommodated by rotations about vertical axes, and most or all of the strain at the surface in the region appears to be released seismically. GPS velocities are then compared to velocities calculated using a model for deformation driven by gravitational driving forces. Using rheologies estimated from experimentally derived mineral flow laws, the model provides velocities that are in good agreement with observed GPS velocities. It is not possible to uniquely determine the rheology or flow velocity at depth, and there are two forms of model solution which match the observed horizontal surface velocities. In one of these, vertical planes deform by pure shear, and in the other vertical gradients of horizontal velocity are present within the crust. Two distinct regions of normal-faulting earthquakes are present in the region, and have mechanisms which are most easily explained by gravity-driven deformation.     

Uncertainties in the geographic context of health behaviors: a study of substance users’ exposure to psychosocial stress using GPS data

ABSTRACT

This study examined how contextual areas defined and operationalized differently may lead to different exposure estimates. Substance users’ exposures to environmental stress (in terms of two variables: community social economic status and crime) were assessed from global positioning systems (GPS) data. Participants were 47 outpatients with substance use disorders admitted for methadone maintenance at a research clinic in Baltimore, Maryland. From 35.2 million GPS tracking points, we compared 7 different methods for defining activity space. The different methods yielded different exposure estimates, which would lead to different conclusions in studies using only one method. These results have important implications for future research on the effect of contextual influences on health behaviors and outcomes: whether a study observes any significant influence of an environmental factor on health may depend on what contextual units are used to assess individual exposure.     

气候变化下中国未来综合环境风险区划研究

综合环境风险区划是变化环境下开展综合防灾减灾工作的基础,对于综合风险防范措施的制定具有指导意义。以农业、生态和人群3个系统为主要受灾体,从作物产量、生态系统变迁、高温热浪对人群的影响3个方面综合评估了4种典型浓度路径（Representative Concentration Pathways）RCP2.6、RCP4.5、RCP6.0和RCP8.5情景下21世纪末期（2071~2099年）的中国综合环境风险,并以RCP8.5情景为例编制了未来综合环境风险区划。结果表明,该时期中国综合环境风险主要出现在黄淮海地区、华南部分地区和青藏高原部分地区。综合环境风险区划共分为6个一级区和43个二级区;一级区分别为西北低风险区、东北生态较低风险区、青藏高原生态中度风险区、晋陕生态-农业中度风险区、华南农业高风险区、黄淮海农业-热浪高风险区。     

五个中国特有针叶树种树轮宽度对气候变化的敏感性

本文对采自四川西部的鳞皮冷杉、铁杉、红豆杉、高山松和青海东部的青海云杉等5个中国特有针叶树种树轮宽度对气候变化的敏感性进行了研究。这五5个针叶树种的年轮纹印清晰,伪年轮和丢年轮较少(麦秀云杉0.247%,飞水崖红豆杉0.202%),便于确定年代和量测宽度,用COFECHA程序对定年结果进行检验,证明交叉定年的结果是可靠的。统计分析结果显示,这5个中国特有种差值年表包含丰富的气候信息。相关分析显示,树轮宽度数据和气象数据有着显著的相关关系。5个树种对气候因子较为敏感的响应表明,它们是适于进行树轮气候学分析的树种;在树轮气候学的研究中具有很大的潜力和应用前景。     

沈阳市城市扩展与土地利用变化多情景模拟

利用基于遥感手段获取的沈阳市城市扩展与土地利用变化历史数据,对SLEUTH城市扩展模型进行校正,对未来(2005~2030年)不同管理情景下的城市扩展与土地利用变化过程进行模拟,并对其发展变化趋势和生态环境影响进行分析与比较。结果显示,在三种管理情景下,未来的沈阳市城市建设用地都将持续增加,大量的耕地资源被侵占;但不同管理情景下,城市景观格局和区域面临的景观生态风险却表现出明显差异。SLEUTH模型的模拟结果较好地反映了沈阳市不同土地利用政策、规划方案等对未来城市扩展和土地利用变化以及区域景观生态风险的潜在影响,同时也指出了当前城市增长管理政策中存在的不足之处。     

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,a new cost-effective tool for quantitative analysis of biogeochemical properties in long sediment records

Measurements of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) in the mid-infrared (MIR) region were conducted on sedimentary records from Lake El’gygytgyn, NE Siberia, and Lake Ohrid, Albania/Macedonia. Calibration models relating FTIR spectral information to biogeochemical property concentrations were established using partial least squares regression (PLSR). They showed good statistical performance for total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and biogenic silica (opal) in the sediment record from Lake El’gygytgyn, and for TOC, total inorganic carbon (TIC), TN, and opal in sediments from Lake Ohrid. In both cases, the calibration models were successfully applied for down-core analysis. The results, in combination with the small amount of sample material needed, negligible sample pre-treatments, and low costs of analysis, demonstrate that FTIRS is a promising, cost-effective tool that allows high-resolution paleolimnological studies.     

Assessing the distribution and impacts of Prosopis juliflora through participatory approaches

Invasive species pose global biological and economic challenges. Over the past four decades, Prosopis taxa have emerged as a major invader of the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Prosopis juliflora, one of the highly invasive Prosopis species, is dominantly present in the Afar region of Ethiopia and continues to spread into the surrounding areas. The objective of this study was to aid the mapping, utilization, and management of the invasive P. juliflora in Afar, by employing participatory research techniques. We assessed the introduction history, impacts, uses, and control strategies of invasive P. juliflora by interviewing 108 pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. In addition, we used Participatory Mapping (PM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and remote sensing technologies and approaches to map sites invaded by P. juliflora. Sketch maps were produced by men, women, pastoralist and agro-pastoralist groups. Experts aggregated, scaled and reproduced the sketch maps with support from the Afar communities. We provided GPS and GIS trainings to selected community members who assisted us in collecting the GPS locations of more than 70 key features and landmarks. The sketch maps were digitized and geo-referenced by experts using the 70 GPS records as control points. Geo-referenced community maps were superimposed on pan-sharpened Landsat 8 satellite images and presented to the communities for verification. We overlaid the verified community maps on ancillary land-cover layers, and detected the land-cover classes that were most affected by P. juliflora invasion. Despite its uses as source of fire wood, charcoal, and animal fodder, the species has adverse impacts on native species and livestock resources. Afar communities mapped P. juliflora infestations, particularly those that occurred near their villages, using high and moderate density classes. The two highly invaded land-cover categories were dense grassland, and exposed sand & soils. Participants collaborated in creating the produced maps, suggesting that participatory research approaches are another tool for early detection of invasive species and guiding fine-scale management strategies.     

Diatom taphonomy and silica cycling in two freshwater lakes and their implications for inferring past lake productivity

Diatom preservation can be a major taphonomic issue in many lakes but is often unrecognised and its impacts on qualitative and quantitative inferences (such as productivity and biodiversity estimates) from sedimentary archives are seldom explored. Here two palaeolimnological case studies of 20th-century anthropogenic eutrophication of freshwater lakes in Northern Ireland (Lough Neagh and Lough Augher) are re-visited and new data presented on diatom preservation. Assessing problems of taphonomy challenges previous interpretations of silica dynamics and diatom productivity at these sites. Diatom preservation was assessed in both sediment trap material and sediment cores from Lough Neagh, and in sediment cores from Lough Augher. Preservation data, combined with geochemical analysis (Si, Fe), provide an insight into silica cycling and diatom accumulation over a range of temporal scales from these lakes. Diatom preservation was generally good for the Lough Neagh material, although differential (better) preservation of the smaller Aulacoseira subarctica compared to the larger Stephanodiscus neoastraea sensu lato valves was clear, especially in sediments. Porewater silica showed a complex seasonal pattern in the upper sediment, against expectations of steady-state. The Lough Augher material was generally poorly preserved, although preservation (dissolution) was significantly (and positively) correlated to bulk sedimentation rate, and was found to be a major control on (net) diatom accumulation rate across the basin. Past seasonal and severe anoxia at Lough Augher did not improve diatom preservation, contrary to some previous studies, which may be due to extreme changes in sedimentary redox conditions. Finally, using published experimental relationships between dissolution and diatom valve loss, correction factors were applied to previously published profiles of diatom accumulation over the last ~150 years (biovolume from Lough Neagh and frustule accumulation rate from Lough Augher), which suggest that diatom productivity estimates from sedimentary records are underestimated by a factor of 2–4 due to dissolution effects alone. The results clearly have implications for the reliability and accuracy of diatom-based inferences made from sediment records, both qualitative and quantitative, especially for those that employ diatoms as direct measures of productivity or biodiversity.     

Environmental Changes at the Desert Margin: An Assessment of Recent Paleolimnological Records in Lake Qarun, Middle Egypt

Lake Qarun has been profoundly affected by a combination of human activities and climatic changes during the past 5000 years. Instrumental records available for the 20th century show that during most of this period both lake water level and salinity increased and that by the late 1980s lake water salinity was approximately that of seawater. Sediment cores (c. 1 m long) were collected from this shallow (Z_max 8.4 m) saline lake in 1998 and the master core (QARU1) was used to examine the potential of paleolimnology for reconstructing the recent environmental history of the site. According to ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb radio-assay, the recent sediment accumulation rate in QARU1 was around 5 mm year⁻¹ during the latter half of the 20th century but radionuclide levels were low. Spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) were present in the upper c. 30 cm of QARU1 and indicates contamination by low level particulate pollution, probably beginning around 1950. The record of exotic pollen (Casuarina) indicated that sediment at 51–52 cm depth dated to around 1930. Otherwise the pollen spectra indicated a strongly disturbed landscape with high ruderals and increased tree planting particularly since c. 1950. Diatom records were strongly affected by taphonomic processes including reworking and differential preservation but typical marine diatoms increased after the 1920s. Instrumental records show that the lake became more saline at this time. Freshwater taxa were present at approximately similar abundances throughout the core. This distribution probably reflected a combination of processes. Reworking of ancient freshwater diatomites is one likely source for freshwater diatoms in QARU1 but some taxa must also be contributed via the freshwater inflows. Overall, the diatom stratigraphy indicated increasingly salinity since the 1920s but provided no firm evidence of lake eutrophication. Diatom inferred salinity reconstructions were in only partial agreement with instrumental records but inferred for the lower section of the core (pre 20th century to the 1960s) accord with measured water salinity values. Surficial sediments of Lake Qarun contain environmental change records for the 20th century period but high sediment accumulation rate and pollen reflect the high degree of human disturbance in the region. Because of poor preservation and evidence of reworking, the relationships between diatom records and past water quality changes require careful interpretation, especially in the upper section of the core. Nevertheless, early to mid 20th century measurements of increasing lake water salinity are well supported by sediment records, a change that is probably linked to ingress of saline ground water